After three straight losses, any win is a good win.
That was the case tonight for the Manly Warringah Sea Eagles after holding on for a 26-20 win over the Melbourne Storm at 4 Pines Park tonight.
In front of their fourth sold out crowd in five home games, the Sea Eagles showed their true Manly mentality to grind their way to the two competition points after leading 12-6 at the break.
The match marked the NRL debut of 19-year-old Manly full-back and local junior Lehi Hopoate, who has come through the pathways system at the Sea Eagles.
Following a Reuben Garrick penalty goal in the seventh minute, both sides tested each other out in defence several times before Manly second-rower Ben Trbojevic slid across in the left corner for the first try. Garrick converted for an 8-0 lead after 27 minutes.
Manly took a 12-0 lead through centre Tommy Talau two minutes later after the ball managed to touch the tryline in a sliding attempt.
Sea Eagles v Storm – Round 12, 2024
The Storm scored a minute from half-time through second-rower Eliesa Katoa off a Jerome Hughes grubber kick to leave Manly leading 12-6 at the break.
Sea Eagles supporters roared with sheer delight when one of their much-loved sons Jake Trbojevic crossed the line for an 18-6 lead after 50 minutes.
The Storm hit back quickly through a converted try to centre Nick Meaney for an 18-12 scoreline. Meaney then converted a penalty goal two minutes later to make it 18-14 after 59 minutes.
Talau then grabbed his second when he finished off a nice shift to the left to score out wide. Garrick converted for a 24-14 lead.
A penalty to Garrick after a disallowed try to Luke Brooks saw Manly take a 26-14 lead before a try to Jahrome Hughes in the 75th minute made for a nervous final five minutes.
In the end, the Sea Eagles held on for a gutsy win as Manly fans breathed a huge sigh of relief in front of a very happy crowd.
Sea Eagles: Round 12
