Sea Eagles grind out tough win over Sharks
A fully committed Manly Warringah Sea Eagles recorded a tough 24-22 win over the Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks in the NSWRL Jersey Flegg Cup at Pointsbet Stadium on Thursday night.
It was the Sea Eagles’ second win of the season with Coach Adam McEwen’s men again showing what this talented team is truly capable of after an ill-disciplined loss to St George-Illawarra the week before.
Exciting full-back Kaeo Weekes wasted little time in his return to the team with the Manly NRL top 30 squad player crossing for two fine tries.
Skillful Manly Development squad players Gordon Chan Kum Tong and Jamie Humphreys also made big impacts, with Chan Kum Tong scoring two tries and Humphreys kicking four goals.
Chan Kum Tong got his first try in the second minute when he pushed through the tackle of full-back Kane Ball to score from dummy half next to the posts. Humphreys converted for a 6-0 lead.
Ball made amends three minutes later when he took the line on to beat second-rower Siua Fotu with a classic dummy to score. Half-back Ryan Rivett missed the conversion for a 6-4 lead to Manly after seven minutes.
Five minutes later, Humphreys split two defenders to race 40 metres to send Weekes over untouched behind the posts. Humphreys converted for a 12-4 lead.
A poor tackle by Sosaia Moala saw centre Jordan Samrani dive over in the 26th minute after picking up a loose pass. Rivett converted from the sideline to leave the Sharks trailing 12-10.
The Sharks then took a 16-12 lead five minutes later when Rivett converted a try to centre Noah Lester after Ball showed his pace.
Four minutes after half-time, Chan Kum Tong then showed his elusive speed when he sliced through three defenders in a great run from dummy half to score near the posts. Humphreys converted for an 18-16 lead.
The see-sawing continued when Ball stepped past five-eighth Flynn Angles-Corke to find open space to send winger turn second-rower Tom Rodwell over. Rivett converted for a 22-18 lead after 43 minutes.
The Sea Eagles regained the lead 10 minutes later when Humphreys converted Weekes’ second try for the 24-22 lead after Humphreys’ turned the ball back inside for the full-back to score untouched.
The Sharks threw plenty of attacking raids at the Sea Eagles in the last five minutes but the Mankly defence stood firm to record a well deserved win.
Hard working props Viliami Fifita and James Uesele also had fine games with lock Zac Fulton again getting through a tremendous amount of work.
Sea Eagles 24 (Kaeo Weekes 2, Gordon Chan Kum Tong 2 tries; Jamie Humphreys 4 goals) d Sharks 22 (Kane Ball, Jordon Samrani, Noah Lester, Tom Rodwell tries; Ryan Rivett 3 goals), Pointsbet Stadium.
Manly team: 21 Kaeo Weekes, 2 Sanele Aukusitino 4 Fletcher Myers 15 Sunia Siasau 5 Ashton Kolinisau, 6 Flynn Angles-Corke, 7 Jamie Humphreys, 8 James Uesele, 9 Gordon Chan Kum Tong, 10 Viliami Fifita, 11 Siua Fotu, 12 Iverson Mapu-Satiu, 13 Zac Fulton; interchange 1 Luke Tucker, 14 Oliver Clements, 16 Sosaia Moala, 19 Feao Tongia; reserve Seturi Iakopo
