Against the Odds: Sea Eagles vs Titans

We take a look at one of the classic Manly Warringah Sea Eagles victories against the Gold Coast Titans in our new series, Against The Odds.

The two clubs will do battle this Saturday at 4 Pines Park. Tickets available here

Round 15, 2021

Manly fans could have been excused for leaving Cbus Super Stadium at Robina at half-time.

The Sea Eagles trailed 24-8 at half-time after the Titans finished the first half with a 24/24 completion rate to starve Manly of possession and field position.

However, whatever Manly Coach Des Hasler said at half-time certainly had the desired effect on his men with the Sea Eagles running in an unbelievable nine tries to score 48 unanswered points. 

Winger Reuben Garrick scored four tries to put his name in the club's record books for most tries in a match, joining the likes of Bob Fulton, Ken Irvine, Russel Gartner and Steve Menzies to name a few.

Garrick also kicked six goals from 11 attempts for a personal haul of 28 points.

Brilliant full-back Tom Trbojevic scored three tries to record his third hat-trick for Manly and his second against the Titans.

The match marked the 250th game for Sea Eagles Captain Daly Cherry-Evans since making his NRL debut for Manly in the opening round of the 2011 season. The game also saw the 150th NRL match for Dylan Walker.

Four minutes into the second half, Jason Saab crossed for the first of his two tries after picking up a loose pass from Cherry-Evans to race 55 metres to score for a 24-12 scoreline.

Two minutes later, Garrick dived over in the left corner after some nice hands from Foran and Trbojevic for a 24-16 scoreline.

The class and skill of Cherry-Evans then saw Saab score his second try in the 52 minute when he pounced on a short grubber. Garrick converted his first goal to leave Manly trailing 24-22. 

Two tries within two minutes to Garrick saw Manly jump to a 32-24 lead with 20 minutes remaining before Trbojevic crossed for his third try.

Garrick then scored his fourth try out for a 44-24 lead before second-rower Haumole Olakau'atu and Cherry-Evans scored each inside the final 10 minutes for the 56-24 scoreline.

Manly 56 (Reuben Garrick 4, Tom Trbojevic 3, Jason Saab 2, Haumole Olakau’atu, Daly Cherry-Evans tries; Garrick 6/11 goals) d Gold Coast Titans 24 (Greg Marzhew 2, Jayden Campbell, Patrick Herbert, David Fifita tries; Jamal Fogarty 2 goals) at Cbus Stadium. Half-time: Titans 24-8.