Pathways Wrap: 31/03/25

The Sea Eagles' Harold Matthews Cup side have made it two wins on the fly with a convincing 30-6 victory over the St George Dragons at Jubliee Stadium, Kogarah.

The win sees them sit in fifth place on the ladder with 12 competition points, tied with three other teams and only two points behind first and second place.

Manly soared to an 18-0 lead at the break thanks to three first half tries from Ashton Large, Kai Brennan and Max Prykiel.

Hooker Large used his agility and strength to burrow under the defence from dummy half for a try in the sixth minute.

Prop Brennan used his brute strength to force his way over the line after taking a short ball from lock Lukas Butler inside the ten-metre line.

Brennan pushed past three defenders to score and take his side's lead to 12-0 with 13 minutes played.

The Sea Eagles switched it on in the 24th minute with a well-worked team try to send half-back Max Prykiel over.

A quick shift to the right edge found the side in open space, with a draw and pass back infield finding fullback Oscar Crotty with his opposing number to beat.

Crotty was patient and drew Cody Field in with ease before passing to Prykiel to send him over untouched for an 18-0 scoreline.

Manly carried their momentum into the second half with a try for Sifa Oldfield in the 46th minute.

The captain created something from nothing in a moment of sheer brilliance, breaking through a tackle at the halfway line and streaking downfield with defenders chasing before grounding the ball under the posts for a 24-0 lead.

The Dragons scored their only try in the 49th minute through Jasais Ah Kee before Oldfield crossed again for his second eight minutes later.

Manly's second-rower chased in support as winger Tom Longland and replacement Beau McKee combined down the right edge to break through the defence, with the latter offloading to Oldfield at the ten-metre line to set up the try for a final scoreline of 30-6.

Final Match: Round 9 vs Parramatta Eels @ Sydney Academy of Sport and Recreation, Sunday April 6 at 10am.

SG Ball Cup

Manly's under 19's side showed grit and determination despite the outcome as they went down the the Western Suburbs Magpies 28-24 in round 8 at Seddon Park.

The Sea Eagles shot out to a quick 12-0 lead in the first 11 minutes thanks to tries from centre Brendan Couzens and half-back Beau Alexander.

Couzens capitalised on a mistake from the Magpies on their own tryline off the back of a grubber kick to ground the ball for a simple try in the sixth minute.

Five minutes later and Manly were in again thanks to a crafty link-up between Alexander and centre Max Davies.

The latter found space down the sideline with some silky footwork and grubber kicked back infield towards Alexander, who gathered the ball and scored to take his side's lead to 12-0.

The Magpies bounced back with tries to Riley Oitmann and Luani Tuifua in the moments before half-time to see the scores locked up at 12-all at the break.

Western Suburbs' prop Christian Taupau-Moors used his strength to force his way past four defenders for a try in the 37th minute, giving the visitors an 18-12 lead.

The Magpies extended their lead with two quick tries to Callum McMenemy and Sonny Edwards-Moeke in the 42nd and 56th minute to propel their lead to 28-12 with 23 minutes remaining.

After a big break to surge into the Magpies' territory, Manly utility Lachlan Simpson capitalised on the sleepy defence to score out of dummy half.

Simpson scooped the ball up and pushed past two defenders to score and cut the deficit to 28-18, with a comeback still on the cards.

The Sea Eagles scored on the stroke of full-time, with victory unfortunately out of reach.

Simpson began the attack in his own half, weaving through the defenders before finding Davies in support. The latter passed to full-back Cooper Elkins, who stepped past one defender to score for a final scoreline of 28-24.

Final Match: Round 9 vs Parramatta Eels @ Sydney Academy of Sport and Recreation, Sunday April 6 at 11:30am.

Lisa Fiaola Cup

Manly's Under 17's side slumped to a 48-0 defeat to the Central Coast Roosters in round 8 at Berkeley Vale Oval on the Central Coast.

The Roosters stormed out to a 32-0 lead at half-time thanks to seven first-half tries as the rain poured down on the Central Coast.

Manly were no match as the Roosters ran rampant in the second half, scoring four more tries for a final scoreline of 48-0.

Final Match: Round 9 vs Canberra Raiders @ Sydney Academy of Sport and Recreation, Sunday April 6 at 1pm.

Tarsha Gale Cup

The Sea Eagles' Tarsha Gale Cup side also suffered defeat on the Central Coast, going down to the Sydney Roosters Indigenous Academy 30-0 in the penultimate match for the season.

Four quick tries in the opening 20 minutes gave the visitors an 18-0 lead, with Fa'agase Tupuola-Palale and Manisha Seebeck each grabbing a double.

Tupuola-Palale shot out the gates in the second half for the Roosters with two more tries in the 34th and 43rd minute to take her tally to four tries for the match.

Te Raukura Leafe scored the Roosters' final try in the 59th minute for a 30-point victory.

The Sea Eagles had a handful of chances throughout the match but weren't able to capitalise and break through the Roosters' compact defence.

Final Match: Round 9 vs Canberra Raiders @ Sydney Academy of Sport and Recreation, Sunday April 6 at 2:30pm.