A see-sawing contest has seen the Manly Warringah Sea Eagles walk away with a 34-30 victory over the Gold Coast Titans at Cbus Super Stadium tonight.
In a match that saw the lead change seven times, the Sea Eagles started strongly to lead 10-0 before the Titans hit back to take a 24-22 lead into half-time after an enthralling first half in front of a crowd of 13,336.
The lead again changed hands throughout the second half with Manly able to manage to control the game late to take a vital two competition points to record their fourth win after seven rounds of the Telstra Premiership.
The Sea Eagles welcomed back winger Jason Saab and prop Matthew Lodge from injury and centre Reuben Garrick (concussion).
A nice play out the back saw Manly full-back Tom Trbojevic stroll over for a try after a poor defensive read from Titans centre Brian Kelly for a 6-0 lead after six minutes.
Two minutes later, Saab finished off a nice play to the right to dive over in the corner for a 10-0 lead.
Titans five-eighth Kieran Foran caught Saab out with a floating pass to send winger Alofiana Khan-Pereira over for a 10-6 scoreline after 15 minutes.
Foran then put centre Brian Kelly through a gap past Saab to send Khan-Pereira over for his second try for a 12-10 lead after 21 minutes.
Manly regained the lead when powerful second-rower Haumole Olakau'atu crashed over out wide for a 16-12 lead five minutes later.
The Titans then took the lead back when giant forward David Fifita burrowed his way through the defence from dummy half to score next to the posts for an 18-16 lead five minutes out from half-time.
An inside kick from Foran saw full-back AJ Brimson fly high to outleap Tom Trbojevic to score next to the posts for a 24-16 lead.
Trbojevic then grabbed his second try when he combined with Saab down the right side to score to leave the Sea Eagles trailing 24-22 at half-time.
Manly hit back immediately after half-time when centre Tolu Kolu took an intercept pass off Boyd to race 60 metres to score untouched for a 28-24 lead.
The see-sawing lead continued when Boyd converted his own try in the 55th minute for a 30-28 lead to the Titans.
A drop ball from the re-start by Titans hooker Chris Randall saw the Sea Eagles capitalise quickly in the next set when forward Ethan Bullemor crashed over under the posts for a 34-30 lead.
