Manly Warringah Sea Eagles suffered a 22-12 loss to Cronulla Sutherland Sharks in a Jersey Flegg trial at Henson Park today.
In a match played in warm conditions over two 35 minute halves, the Sea Eagles were under attack from the kick-off following a 30 metre barnstorming run by Sharks prop Franky Pele. From there, Manly had to soak under some goal line pressure for three minutes on the back of repeat sets from Cronulla.
Jonaiah Lualua opened the scoring for the Sharks when he swooped on a drop ball to race 20 metres to score out wide for a 4-0 lead after 12 minutes.
The Sea Eagles were denied a try six minutes later when winger Zhirvago Fa’i Tupulua was held up over the line from a flick pass from centre Ben Trbojevic.
Three minutes later, Manly winger Roly Podesta dropped the ball over the line after the Sea Eagles spread the ball well to their left.
Cronulla took an 8-0 lead two minutes before the break when second-rower Kai Parker scored after Manly full-back Max Lehmann lost sight of the ball from a bomb due to the sun. Five-eighth Kai Broadhurst converted the try for a 10-0 lead at half-time.
Six minutes after half-time, the Sharks went to a 14-0 lead when Parker scored his second try fromn a grubber kick. Broadhurst converted for a 16-0 lead.
The Sea Eagles got on the board with 14 minutes remaining when Trbojevic scored off a nice offload from Jonah Palota-Kopa. Half-back Zane Harris converted the try from near the posts for a 16-6 scoreline.
Three minutes later, Lehmann crossed behind the posts after finishing off a nice backline play down the left flank. Harris converted for a 16-12 scoreline.
Cronulla secured victory when Jesse Colquhoun scored under the posts with two minutes remaining from a drop ball by Manly. Broadhurst converted for the 22-12 scoreline.
Manly team
1 Max Lehmann, 2 Zhirvargo Fa’i Tupulua, 3 Ben Trbojevic, 15 Jonah Palota-Kopa, 5 Roly Podesta, 6 Flynn Angles-Corke, 7 Zane Harris, 8 Neihana Oldham, 9 Jack Birt, 10 Viliami Fifita , 11 Sean Vaivelata, 12 Caleb Pese, 13 Jacob Sykes; interchange: 14 Jamie Lawler, 19 Andrew Hadchiti, 23 Harry Dickens, 20 Potusa Fuilala, 4 Keegan Turner, 17 Livingstone Chee Kham, 16 Will Saunders, 18 Ethan Mokoia, 21 Luke Butfield
Photos: Jordon Ovington
