Manly Warringah Sea Eagles soared to a dominant 54-12 win over the Wests Tigers in their final match of the 2023 NRL season at 4 Pines Park on Friday night.
The win marked their biggest victory over the Tigers, beating the scoreline of 40-6 from a Round 7 match in 2021.
The Sea Eagles got off to a flying start with a try in the opening minute and never looked back as they pushed out to a 20-point lead at half-time following five first half tries.
Tries to Haumole Olakau’atu, Raymond Tuaimalo Vaega, Gordon Chan Kum Tong and Daly Cherry-Evans in the second half capped off a spectacular performance.
Jake Trbojevic played his 200th career NRL game and did so in style, crossing for a try in the 56th minute as well as racking up 31 tackles as 'Mr Reliable' made it a night to remember in front of the 'Manly Faithful'.
The Sea Eagles started in electric fashion with a try for Tolutau Koula in just 40 seconds. The play started at the halfway line through Haumole Olakau’atu, with the second-rower breaking through a tackle down the right edge before finding Koula with a pass. The fullback then used his blistering speed to outpace his opposite number to race away and score. Cherry-Evans converted for an early 6-0 lead.
Cherry-Evans was pulling the strings once again and should’ve had a try assist to his name in the fifth minute if not for an unfortunate error. The halfback ran at the line and put in a well-placed grubber kick towards the in-goal area for Brad Parker. The ball bounced up perfectly for the centre who unfortunately wasn’t able to hold onto the ball, losing it in the process as he turned the ball over. The Tigers had a chance to hit back in their next set but were thankfully denied by some scrambling Sea Eagles defence.
Wests Tigers half-back Apisai Koroisau, who played 77 games for Manly between 2016 and 2019, scored in the 10th minute after burrowing through the defence. He converted his own try from next to the post to make the score six-all.
Manly hit the lead again in the 16th minute with a second try for Koula next to the posts. The play was set up with strong runs and offloads through the middle of the field by Cherry-Evans, prop Toafofoa Sipley and second-rower Ben Trbojevic, with the latter being dragged down metres out from the line after a barnstorming run. Parker quickly scopped the ball out of dummy half and passed to Koula, who ducked and weaved through the defence to score. “DCE” converted to take the score to 12-6.
Saab crossed for his 13th try of the season in the 29th minute with a well-worked try in the corner, orchestrated by five-eighth Jake Arthur with a perfectly placed cut-out pass to find the winger for a 16-6 lead.
The Sea Eagles were playing fast and aggressive football as Saab crossed for his second try of the night just two minutes after his first. The winger broke down the sideline and threw a pass infield that hit the deck. Olakau’atu, who was in support, scooped up the ball with a phenomenal pick-up and passed back to Saab who dived over in the corner for a 20-6 scoreline.
Manly forward Ethan Bullemor scored under the posts for his side's fifth try on the stroke of half-time. Olakau’atu, who set up the previous try, was involved once again as he showed his aerial threat. The second-rower leapt ahead of the Tigers players and took a wonderful catch metres out from the line before offloading to Bullemor who was in support. Cherry-Evans converted from in front for a 26-6 lead at half-time.
The Sea Eagles carried the momentum and almost had a try after two minutes of play in the second half. Saab broke down the sideline and kicked the ball in-field towards Cherry-Evans and Arthur. The latter chased hard and had a chance for a try but was unfortunately unable to ground the ball, knocking it on during his attempt and turning over the ball. In the moments that followed, Ben Trbojevic left the field with a HIA.
The home side hit 30 points with a well-deserved try for Olakau’atu in the 49th minute. The second-rower took a pass from Cherry-Evans inside the ten-metre line and stepped past the defender to find a gap and crash over. Cherry-Evans converted from next to the post for a 32-6 scoreline.
The milestone man, Jake Trbojevic, went over for his first try of the season in the 56th minute in what would be the easiest try of his career. Cherry-Evans broke through the line and ran towards the middle of the in-goal after beating the fullback with a good step. Rather then scoring himself, he opted to pass to Trbojevic who grounded the ball for a try. “DCE” converted from in front to bring to bring up 700 career points and to take the score to 38-6.
Manly’s Tuaimalo Vaega got his name on the scoresheet thanks to a lucky bounce after a low pass, grounding the ball in the left corner four minutes after the side’s last try to bring the score to 42-6.
Sea Eagles utility Gordon Chan Kum Tong, who made his NRL debut last week, crossed in front of the Lyons-Menzies Stand for his first career try in the 62nd minute. Koula and Saab combined to break through the Tigers poor defence and the latter broke through to find himself in the clear. Similar to Jake Trbojevic’s try, instead of grounding the ball he chose to pass to Chan Kum Tong to assist his first try. Cherry-Evans converted for a 48-6 scoreline.
Cherry-Evans burrowed through the defence to score two minutes after the last for his sides tenth of the night. The captain scooped the ball out of dummy half and pushed past the defender to ground the ball. He converted his own try to take the score to 54-6.
The Wests Tigers scored a consolation try with ten minutes remaining through winger Asu Kepaoa. Koroisau converted from the sideline for a 54-12 scoreline.
