Manly Warringah Sea Eagles will be looking to bounce back hard this Saturday in the SG Ball Cup following a 20-all draw with Parramatta Eels last weekend.
In a fiery contest at New Era Stadium, Cabramatta, the Sea Eagles overcame a 20-8 deficit midway through the second half before storming home to almost take the two competition points against their arch-rivals.
Parramatta started strongly at home to take a 10-0 lead before the Sea Eagles scored their lone first-half try to winger Uluaki Tuipulotu from a fine cut out pass from five-eighth and captain Josh Schuster (pictured below)
Trailing 12-4 at half-time, the Sea Eagles hit back early in the second half with a try to Siua Fotu to trail by four before a converted try to Parramatta extended their lead to 18-8.
A penalty goal to the Eels gave them a 20-8 lead before Schuster scored from a scrum play for a 20-14 scoreline.
Manly then produced the try of the match when the ball was shifted left through several hands for winger Simon Tito to score to send their supporters into a frenzy to lock it up at 20-all in the 64th minute.
The final few minutes were very tense but neither side could manage an extra point to claim victory.
“We had a chance late there to win the game but we couldn’t finish it off,’’ said Sea Eagles Coach Brett Fulton.
“Josh Schuster was very good. He scored one try and was involved in three of our four tries as well.
“Ben Trbojevic (pictured below) went pretty well too in first game back from injury.
“We are now looking forward to playing our first home game at Lottoland this Saturday against the St George Dragons after being on the road for the past three weeks.
“It will be great to see plenty of Manly fans at Lottoland to cheer the boys on.”
Manly team to play St George
Saturday, March 2, 11am, Lottoland
1 Kaeo Weekes
2 Keegan Turner
3 Simon Tito
4 Ben Trbojevic
5 Uluaki Tuipulotu
6 Josh Schuster (c)
7 Jamie Lawler
8 Alec Tuitavake
9 Jack Birt
10 Christian Castles
11 Zac Fulton
12 Siua Fotu
13 Sione Fainu
Interchange
15 Angus O'Donnell
16 James Uesele
17 Viliami Fifita
20 Gordon Chan Kum Tong
23 Cameron Brown
24 Sam Pinomi
Coach: Brett Fulton
