Manly Warringah Sea Eagles suffered a 56-16 loss to South Sydney Rabbitohs at ANZ Stadium tonight in round 15 of the Telstra Premiership.
The Sea Eagles welcomed back prop Addin Fonua-Blake from a knee injury. Fonua-Blake started the game with Martin Taupau dropping back to the bench. Tevita Funa shifted to full-back with Reuben Garrick back to the wing.
The Rabbitohs opened the scoring in the eighth minute when winger Steven Marsters crossed in the right corner on debut after Jorge Taufua came off his wing. Half-back Adam Reynolds converted for a 6-0 lead.
Two minutes later, Souths crossed in the opposite corner after the ball was shifted to their left for winger Alex Johnston to beat Garrick to dive over. Reynolds converted from the sideline for a 12-0 lead after 13 minutes.
Johnston then scored his second try after Manly’s outside back rushed up again. The try was awarded a penalty try after Funa was sent to the sin-bin for a swinging arm in making the tackle on Johnston. Reynolds converted from the sideline and in front of the posts for a 20-0 lead after 17 minutes.
Souths crossed for their fourth try a minute later when quick hands down the left flank saw Campbell Graham dive over. Reynolds converted from the sideline for a 26-0 lead after 20 minutes.
Reynolds was denied a try a minute later off a bomb when the bunker ruled he was tackled short of the tryline.
Graham grabbed his second try in the 34th minute after the ball was shifted to the left quickly following a drop ball by Taupau from a Reynolds grubber kick. Reynolds converted from the sideline for a 32-0 lead.
South Sydney full-back Latrell Mitchell then crossed for a gift try in the 37th minute when he took an intercept pass from Funa who beat the first tackle to offload from a kick. Reynolds converted for a 38-0 lead at half-time.
The Sea Eagles got on the board when Jack Gosiewski crossed from a Curtis Sironen pass in the 50th minute. Garrick failed to convert the try from out wide.
Garrick then crossed for a try off a Daly Cherry-Evans crosskick on the last tackle to score behind the posts. He converted his own try for a 38-10 scoreline after 62 minutes.
South Sydney extended their lead to 42-10 when prop Tevita Tatola crashed through three defenders to score next to the posts. Reynolds converted for a 44-10 lead with 11 minutes remaining.
Mitchell scored his second try from a Mark Nicholls offload. Reynolds converted from next to the posts for a 50-10 lead with six minutes remaining.
A grubber kick from five-eighth Cody Walker saw lock Cameron Murray cross out wide for a 54-10 lead. Mitchell converted for a 56-10 scoreline with three minutes left.
Garrick grabbed his second try from a kick before converting his own try in the dying seconds for a 56-16 scoreline.
The loss was Manly's fourth in a row and leaves the Sea Eagles in 11th place with five rounds remaining.
Manly play Melbourne Storm at Sunshine Coast Stadium next Sunday.
