Manly Warringah Sea Eagles suffered a 36-18 loss to the Gold Coast Titans at Lottoland tonight in round 11 of the Telstra Premiership.
The Sea Eagles wore a special Cliff Lyons jersey to celebrate his wonderful career as part of the NRL Indigenous Round.
In front of a crowd of 7465, the Sea Eagles opened the scoring in the sixth minute when winger Jorge Taufua strolled over in the left corner from a pass from five-eighth Cade Cust that came on the back off an initial break from half-back Kane Elgey from an intercept. Winger Reuben Garrick converted for a 6-0 lead.
The Titans were denied a try five minutes later to winger Anthony Don on an obstruction call.
Three minutes later, Don knocked the ball on in trying to ground it off a kick from Ashley Taylor targetting the edges of the Sea Eagles.
Elgey was denied a try in the 17th minute after the video referee ruled centre Dylan Walker impacted the play from an offside position.
Four minutes later, Manly full-back Brendan Elliot pulled off a try saving tackle on a runaway Alexander Brimson. The tackle paid dividends when Walker picked up a loose pass to run downfield before offloading to Garrick to race away to score his sixth try in 11 games in his debut season in the NRL. Garrick converted his own try for a 12-0 lead after 23 minutes.
The Titans opened their account when former Sea Eagles player Brian Kelly bumped off Walker to send winger Dale Copley over in the left corner in the 34th minute. Half-back Ash Taylor converted from the sideline for a 12-6 scoreline.
Brimson got the Titans' second try a minute before half-time from a grubber kick by Tyrone Roberts through to beat Elliot to score. Taylor failed to convert from close range to leave Manly leading 12-10 at half-time.
The Titans took a 14-12 lead in the 47th minute when Taylor sent Roberts over in the corner. The try was not converted.
Gold Coast went to an 18-12 lead when Copley finished off some second phase play from Kelly to score in the left corner in the 55th minute. Taylor converted from the sideline for a 20-12 lead to the Titans.
Copley crossed for a hat-trick in the 62nd minute when he caught a long floating pass from Taylor for a 24-12 lead. Taylor converted for a 26-12 lead with 17 minutes remaining.
Manly hit back two minutes later when centre Brad Parker proved too strong from close range to score off a pass from Cade Cust. Garrick converted to leave the Sea Eagles trailing 26-18 with 14 minutes remaining.
The Titans went to a 30-18 lead when Bryce Cartwright scored after toeing the ball through with 10 minutes remaining. Taylor converted for a 32-18 lead.
Roberts sealed the win when he crossed for his second try after a spilt kick from Manly for a 36-18. Taylor failed to convert the try.
The Sea Eagles now play Penrith at Panthers Stadium next Thursday night.
