A gallant Manly Warringah Sea Eagles fought hard to the very end in going down 29-22 to the New Zealand Warriors in Auckland tonight in an attempt to keep their season alive.
The Sea Eagles scored some fine tries in the first half to lead 22-16 at the break after trailing 16-6 after 17 minutes at a sold out Daniel Anderson Stadium as Manly chanced their arm in a spirited performance.
Winger Jason Saab crossed for his third hat-trick for Manly since joining the club in 2021.
Full-back Reuben Garrick also passed the great Ron Willey to move into fifth place on the record list for Most Points for Manly.
The Sea Eagles got off to the perfect start when new five-eighth Jakob Arthur reached out to score next to the posts for a 6-0 lead after Manly forced a mistake from the Warriors on the second tackle of the game.
The Warriors replied with a try next to the posts to prop Tohu Harris in the eighth minute for a 6-all scoreline.
A drop ball from Manly prop Sean Keppie led to a try to Warriors winger Dallin Watene-Zelezniak in the corner for a 10-6 lead after 11 minutes.
Nine minutes later, Watene-Zelezniak crashed through several defenders to score his second try for a 16-6 lead.
Manly then capitalised on a mistake from the Warriors from the restart for winger Jason Saab to score in the corner untouched for a 16-10 scoreline after 18 minutes.
Some slick hands to the left from the Warriors saw five-eighth Luke Metcalf cross but the try was denied by the bunker for an obstruction in the 26th minute.
The Sea Eagles were then denied a try to Reuben Garrick after the bunker ruled he failed to ground the ball from an initial offload from Jake Trbojevic.
However, Manly were not to be denied a second time when a flick pass from Garrick saw Saab dive over for his second in the corner. Garrick converted for a 16-all scoreline after 30 minutes. In converting the try, Garrick moved into fifth place on the record books for most points for Manly.
Garrick then extended Manly’s lead after converting Saab’s third try from the sideline after a pass from Daly Cherry-Evans hit the ground untouched for the winger to score for a 22-16 lead.
The Warriors drew level in the 52nd minute when Dallin Watene-Zelezniak crossed for his hat-trick for a 22-all scoreline.
With the tension mounting, Garrick had the chance to break the deadlock but missed a 25 metre penalty goal from out wide in the 68th minute.
Three minutes later, Daly Cherry-Evans had a field goal attempt charged down before the Warriors crossed soon after through Marata Niukore for a 28-22 lead with six minutes remaining.
Shaun Johnson then landed a field goal in the 78th minute to seal Manly's fate.
