Sea Eagles fall short to Souths in Jersey Flegg

Manly Warringah Sea Eagles were defeated 25-22 by the South Sydney Rabbitohs at Accor Stadium on Saturday night in round four of the Jersey Flegg game.

The majority of the Rabbitohs attack and points scored came in the opening 20 minutes of the match, holding out the Sea Eagles side for the remainder of the match for the win .

Manly had their chances but couldn’t capitalise, being within seven points of their opposition several times throughout the match. They showed grit and determination to keep themselves in the game but were unfortunate in the end.

The Sea Eagles struck first six minutes into the match with a strong try from second-rower Iverson Mapu-Satiu. Halfback Harradyn Wilson was influential to the try, running into the line with a big hit-up and dragging in a defender before offloading to his back-rower metres out from the line, sending him over untouched. Fullback Blake Metcalfe converted from in front for a 6-0 lead. 

The Rabbitohs hit back nine minutes later with a try from centre Samuel Jinks in the right corner after a fine shift through the backline. Halfback Joseph Nohra converted from the sideline as the rain began to pick up, levelling the scores at 6-all. 

South Sydney found the line again three minutes later in the 19th minute through Romano Cook after a grubber kick through the line deflected, sitting up perfectly for the hooker to dive on. Nohra converted for a 12-6 lead.  

In an effort straight from kick-off, the home side ran the length of the field after making a break down the left edge to score underneath the posts. Saldanha scored as Nohra converted from in front, pushing the lead out to 18-6.  

Manly five-eighth Joshua Russell scored for the side in the 25th minute after latching onto a deflected grubber kick that bounced off an opposition player, going over next to the posts. Centre Koby Douglas made a barnstorming run through the middle of the field two tackles prior to set up the play. Metcalfe converted to bring the score back to within a converted try at 18-12.  

Minutes before half-time, the Sea Eagles had one last chance to score through Russell. The five-eighth found himself with just the fullback to beat after a fine offload from forward Brayden Ottmann, who helped drag in the opposing defenders with a powerful run. In his efforts, Russell was wrapped up by Emmanuel Di Bartolo and was unfortunately carried from the field with a leg injury after the attempted try. 

Nohra slotted a 30-metre field goal just before the siren sounded, handing South Sydney a seven-point lead heading into the break.

Manly forward Jonathan Chan was taken from the field in the 40th minute with an arm injury as the Rabbitohs dropped an easy chance on the right edge through winger Leon Te hau. In the following set, Sea Eagles lock Caleb Navale broke through the middle of the field with a massive run, crossing the halfway mark and passing to Ottmann who was supporting. Possession was turned over the very next tackle as Wilson tried a grubber kick and chased himself, to no avail. 

The Sea Eagles duo of Nathaniel Bakon and Tom Jarrett combined in the corner in the 47th minute to keep out Saldanha, preventing him from scoring his second try with a strong tackle to hold him up. 

A string of solo defensive efforts won possession back for Manly as South Sydney continued to knock on their door. A handful of sets on their line ended with the Sea Eagles being awarded a penalty and ending the onslaught of constant defence. 

The home side went out to an 11-point lead after a try through Te Hau on the right wing. Despite their best attempts to hold them out, Manly were unable to stop the attack as the Rabbitohs shifted the ball well to extend their lead to 23-12 with 15 minutes remaining. 

The Sea Eagles crossed over the line with a phenomenal try in the 62nd minute through Navale, coming off the back of a stunning kick in field from winger Cameron Brown. The ball was shifted to the left sideline with quick passes through the hands, leaving the defenders grounded in their spots. Navale leapt up and beat a Rabbitohs player and two other Manly players to take the kick to score. Metcalfe converted to bring the score back within a converted try at 23-18.  

Nohra converted a penalty goal for the Rabbitohs side with just under two minutes remaining in the match, taking their lead back out to seven points.  

The Sea Eagles scored a late consolation try through winger Una Uasi after a grubber kick in-goal deflected off a Rabbitohs player, allowing for Uasi to scramble and get his hands on the ball.

Metcalfe elected for no conversion attempt in hopes of one more chance to score from the kick-off. Unfortunately, the siren sounded for full-time with South Sydney holding on for a three-point victory, 25-22.  

Manly take on the Newcastle Knights next week on Sunday April 2, at 1pm, at HE Laybutt Field in round five of the Jersey Flegg Cup, still searching for their first win.