A spirited and gutsy Manly Warringah Sea Eagles suffered a 24-6 loss to the Melbourne Storm at AAMI Park tonight.
The Sea Eagles produced plenty of grit and determination in a much improved performance following a disappointing effort against Parramatta last week but some poor mistakes proved costly in the second half after only trailing 10-6 at the break.
Manly Coach Anthony Seibold made a few changes to his Round 17 team named on Tuesday, with Kaeo Weekes dropped from the full-back role for centre Reuben Garrick.
Morgan Harper moved into his familiar centre role for Garrick with Raymond Tuaimalo Vaega starting on the wing for the injured Jason Saab (shoulder). Prop Aaron Woods started at lock.
Sea Eagles captain and half-back Daly Cherry-Evans also backed up after leading Queensland to an Origin series victory. It was Manly's first match without Tom Trbojevic after the brilliant full-back was ruled out for the season with a torn pectoral muscle injury from Wednesday's Origin match.
The Sea Eagles were aggressive in defence in the opening 10 minutes with some heavy hits pressuring the Storm into mistakes, and also stopping a try to winger Xavier Coates after he was taken into touch short of the line.
The hard work was rewarded when Cherry-Evans put through a neat grubber kick for second-rower Haumole Olakau’atu to score out wide. Garrick converted for a 6-0 lead after 15 minutes.
A miraculous flick pass back inside from winger Will Warbrick saw half-back Jerome Hughes cross for the Storm in the 26th minute for a 6-4 scoreline.
The Storm took a 10-6 lead into half-time after five-eighth Jonah Pezet dived on a Hughes grubber kick for a converted try next to the posts.
Melbourne forward Aaron Pene was placed on report a minute after half-time for a forearm to the throat to Manly hooker Lachlan Croker.
Storm second-rower Nelson Asofa-Solomona extended the lead to 16-6 in the 58th minute after slicing through a hole to score next to the posts following an initial mistake from Manly forward Sean Keppie.
A spilt grubber kick from Tuaimalo Vaega saw Coates swoop on the ball to score in the corner for a 20-6 lead after 65 minutes.
Oates secured victory for the Storm six minutes from full-time with a diving try in the corner for a 24-6 lead.
The loss leaves the Sea Eagles in 12th position, three points outside the top eight with nine games remaining.
The Sea Eagles return home to 4 Pines Park on Sunday, July 2 to tackle the Sydney Roosters at 4.05pm.
