A young and spirited Manly Warringah Sea Eagles produced a superb comeback to record a 30-28 win over South Sydney Rabbitohs in Gosford tonight in the opening round of the Pre-season Challenge.
Trailing 18-4 after 22 minutes, the Sea Eagles laid on some fine to take a 20-18 lead into half-time with five-eighth Cooper Johns heavily involved while powerful young prop Viliami Fifita made some damaging runs.
For Johns, the game signaled the start of a homecoming for the former Manly Harold Matthews and SG Ball Cup half, who made his NRL debut for the Melbourne Storm in 2020.
Prop Toff Sipley, fresh from re-signing for a further two years, captained the Sea Eagles in a side that contained
NRL players Christian Tuipulotu, Jackson Ferris, Raymond Tuaimalo Vaega, Cooper Johns, Ben Condon, Ben Trbojevic, Ethan Bullemor, Zac Fulton and Josh Stuckey played in Manly’s first trial match of the season.
The trial also saw the Sea Eagles blood some exciting young talent from their Pathways program headed by Gordon Chan Kum Tong, Samuela Fainu, and Viliami Fifita.
Souths opened the scoring in the fourth minute after winger Tom Carr scored from a grubber kick. Full-back Blake Taaffe converted from the sideline for a 6-0 lead.
The Sea Eagles hit back a few minutes later when Cooper Johns provided a lovely floating cut out pass for winger Raymond Tuaimalo Vaega to dive over in the corner in the seventh minute. Johns failed to convert from the sideline for a 6-4 scoreline.
Souths went to a 12-4 lead after 13 minutes when five-eighth Dion Teaupa scored off his own grubber kick after the ball hit the posts.
Three minutes later, Manly winger Christian Tuipulotu was held up over the line after some good work by Ben Trbojevic and Harrydyn Wilson.
Teaupa grabbed his second try when he backed up a break down Manly’s right side to score near the posts. Taaffe converted for an 18-4 lead after 22 minutes.
Souths were then denied a try in the corner on a forward pass call before Manly had a second try disallowed to Tuaimalo Vaega.
He was not denied a second time when the powerful winger crossed in the corner in the 31st minute. Johns converted from the sideline to leave the Sea Eagles trailing 18-10.
Three minutes later, full-back Jake Toby shows great determination to get through a two-man tackle to score. Johns’ conversion attempt hits upright for an 18-14 scoreline in favour of Souths.
Manly took the lead for the first time when Johns put a grubber kick through for forward Zac Fulton to pounce on to score under the posts. Johns converted for a 20-18 lead after 37 minutes.
It was a great comeback from the Sea Eagles to lead at half-time after being down 18-4 after 22 minutes.
Souths were denied a try next to the posts three minutes after half-time for an obstruction on Ethan Bullemor.
After being denied a try three minutes after half-time for an obstruction on Ethan Bullemor, Souths were in again when Taaffe scored off a spilt bomb by Tuaimalo Vaega. Taaffe converted for a 24-20 lead after 46 minutes.
Manly centre Fletcher Myers then showed some great pace down the left edge for full-back Jake Toby to dive over for a 24-all scoreline after 56 minutes.
Carr was sent to sin bin in the 68th minute for a lifting tackle on Fletcher Myers, who left the field for assessment.
A minute later, Johns and Toby combined to send young winger Cameron Brown over in the corner. Johns converted for a 30-24 lead to Manly.
A solo effort from half Jarrett Subloo saw Souths go over. He failed to convert his own try from close range in the 74th minute for a 30-28 scoreline.
