Manly Warringah Sea Eagles suffered an excruciating two-point defeat against the Knights, going down 26-24 in round 14 of the Jersey Flegg Cup in Newcastle on Sunday afternoon.
A brave Manly outfit fought back from a 16-4 deficit at the break and fought hard until the end at the Newcastle Permanent Centre of Excellence, Newcastle.
The side scored three tries in the second half to set up a grandstand finish, with the home side managing to hold on thanks to two tries in the final 15 minutes.
Newcastle shot out quickly to a 10-point lead thanks to two quick tries in the opening 20 minutes from Tea-Rani Woodman Tuhoro and Connor Votano.
Manly hit back in the 22nd minute with a superb try to Alton Naiyep after the centre fended off a defender on a 40 metre run to the corner to trail 10-4.
The Knights bounced back as Votano crossed for his second to give his side a 12-point lead at half-time.
The Sea Eagles came out of the gates flying in the second half with tries from prop Carsen Patu and centre Oliver Lawry in the 39th and 44th minute to get themselves back into the contest.
From 10 metres out, Patu carried three defenders over the line to score next to the posts in a show of sheer strength.
Lawry’s try saw him dart over from dummy half after a good 30 metre run from winger Nepote Taufa on the play before see the Sea Eagles lock the scores up at 16-all.
Manly took the lead for the first time in the 50th minute thanks to a converted penalty goal from full-back Kallum Weatherall-Stacey for an 18-16 scoreline.
The Sea Eagles’ control of the match was unfortunately shortlived as the Knights regained their lead.
Two tries in a five-minute period from Jermaine McEwen and Logan Aoake propelled the home side out to a 26-18 lead with less than ten minutes to play.
Manly halfback Travis May crossed for a consolation try in the 65th minute after he scored off his own grubber kick but it was all too late, with Newcastle holding on for the two-point win.
The Sea Eagles head back to 4 Pines Park to take on the St George Illawarra Dragons in round 15 of the Jersey Flegg Cup on Sunday, June 16, at 11.45am, followed by the NRL afterwards at 2pm.
Knights 26 (Tries: Woodman Tuhoro 6’, Votano 18’, 29’, McEwen 56’, Aoake 61’. Conversions: Votano 3/5) d Sea Eagles 24 (Tries: Naiyep 22’, Patu 39’, Lawry 44’, May 65’. Conversions Weatherall-Stacey 4/5)
