Manly Warringah Sea Eagles secured a 22-16 win over South Sydney in an NRL trial at Campbelltown Sports Stadium tonight.
In a match played in very humid conditions, the Sea Eagles led from start to finish in their first 80 minute hit out for the season. The game was played over 4 x 20 minute quarters in front of a small crowd who braved the heat.
The new halves pairing of captain Daly Cherry-Evans and Blake Green were very strong as was centre Dylan Walker.
The Sea Eagles opened the scoring through a try to forward Jarrad Kennedy.
It came from a great cut out pass by Daly Cherry-Evans to winger Brian Kelly who magically flicked the ball inside for Dylan Walker to run across field to give a short ball to Kennedy to score. Walker converted for 6-0 lead
Kelly did well a few minutes in defence to hold up Souths winger Tautalatasi Tasi from scoring after a cut out pass by Robbie Farah. The Sea Eagles led 6-0 at the end of the first quarter.
The Sea Eagles stretched their lead to 10-0 when centre Jono Wright crossed over in the left corner. Walker converted from the sideline for a 12-0 lead after 28 minutes. The score remained that way at half-time.
South Sydney opened their account through a try to winger Sitiveni Moceidreke in the right corner for a 16-4 scoreline.
The Rabbitohs were in again minutes later when centre Siosifa Talakai scored near the posts. Five-eighth Eli Levido converted to leave South Sydney trailing 16-10.
The Sea Eagles stretched their lead to 20-10 when Cherry-Evans stepped the defence before putting in a smart grubber kick behind the line for winger Peter Schuster to score. Walker converted from the sideline for a 22-10 lead at the end of 60 minutes.
Sea Eagles Coach Trent Barrett rested the majority of his top line up in the final quarter with the likes of Blacktown Workers Sea Eagles players Tom Amone, Matt Place, Jake Samoa, Dean Parata, Pat Mataele and Jerry Key getting a run.
South Sydney scored a try in the 78th minute through Ed Murphy, converted by Adam Doueihi for the 22-16 scoreline.
Sea Eagles team
1 Tom Trbojevic 2 Jorge Taufua 3 Dylan Walker 4 Jonathan Wright 5 Brian Kelly 6 Blake Green 7 Daly Cherry-Evans (C) 8 Lloyd Perrett 9 Lewis Brown 10 Addin Fonua-Blake 11 Frank Winterstein 12 Curtis Sironen 13 Jarrad Kennedy Interchange: 15 Brenton Lawrence 16 Shaun Lane 19 Pita Godinet 20 Peter Schuster 23 Tom Amone 24 Joey Lussick 25 Nate Myles, 14 Cade Cust, 17 Matt Place, 18 Pat Mataele, 19 Jerry Key 20 Dean Parata, 21 Jake Samoa
