Cherry-Evans stars as Manly stun Warriors
By Justin Chadwick, 29 Jul 2012
- Tagged:
- auckland warriors, Jason King, Manly Sea Eagles, NRL, Rugby League
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Manly skipper Jason King was taken to hospital as the Sea Eagles staged a remarkable NRL comeback to defeat the Warriors 24-22 at Perth’s Patersons Stadium on Saturday night.
The Warriors were in complete command after racing out to an 18-0 lead inside 32 minutes, and still looked to have the game in the bag when they led 22-6 after Manu Vatuvei’s 45th-minute try.
But two tries to Manly halfback Daly Cherry-Evans in the final eight minutes tied up the scores, before co-captain Jamie Lyon kicked the match-winning conversion.
Lyon had missed three earlier conversions and the relief was evident to see when he finally found his range when it mattered most.
But King’s injury soured the night somewhat for Manly, who kept their top-four hopes alive with their 11th win of the season.
King walked gingerly from the field in the 16th minute after coming off second best while making a tackle, and was sent to hospital for further assessment.
The exact nature of the injury wasn’t immediately clear.
Manly were woeful in the first 39 minutes, but a sensational try to winger Jorge Taufua on the stroke of halftime gave the reigning premiers hope of a revival.
Taufua ran onto a pin-point cross-field kick from Kieran Foran and beat two lunging tackles in a 50m sprint to the line to finally get the Sea Eagles on the board.
The first half produced a series of bruising tackles, with several players set to face nervous waits after delivering high tackles.
Manly centre Steve Matai was one to deliver a high hit, while Warriors substitute Sione Lousi produced a crunching sling tackle.
Vatuvei’s 45th-minute try gave the Warriors the momentum early in the second half, but from there it was all Manly as the defending premiers staged a stunning comeback.
Tries to David Williams and Foran got the Sea Eagles back into the contest, before Cherry-Evans left the Warriors stunned with a double at the death.
New Zealand’s sixth straight loss to Manly left the Warriors’ finals hopes dangling by a thread, with last year’s beaten grand finalists two points adrift of eighth spot.
In an added blow, centre Konrad Hurrell was helped off the field after just 15 minutes with what appeared to be a serious ankle injury, although he later returned to the field.
A crowd of 20,095 attended the match in another boost to Perth’s bid to win their own NRL side.
But it hardly felt like a home away from home for Manly, who had to contend with a pro-Warriors crowd despite the game being in Australia.
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The Crowd Says (14) | Page 1 of Comments
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- Explore:
- auckland warriors, Jason King, Manly Sea Eagles, NRL, Rugby League
July 29th 2012 @ 7:46am
eagleJack said | July 29th 2012 @ 7:46am | Report comment
The great comeback shows there is plenty of fight in the team. But I hope the result doesn’t mask the terrible lack of cohesion in our play at the moment. So many passes were dropped, thrown forward or completely missed their target. T-Rex needs to be relegated to the bench for impact. He looks lost out there and you can see other players are frustrated with his mistimed runs and wrong lines. But I guess if Watmough is suspended then he’ll keep his spot. Geez I hope he fires up before he moves to the Dogs. Mentally it seems he is already there.
When the team clicks they will be dangerous. Just hope it happens soon.
July 29th 2012 @ 9:00am
Mals said | July 29th 2012 @ 9:00am | Report comment
I agree mate, T-Rex does not deserve a starting spot at the moment. He appears disinterested & lazy.
A rare (ugly) win without Brett Stewart, we will take it!
July 29th 2012 @ 9:26am
Edward Kelly said | July 29th 2012 @ 9:26am | Report comment
Manly seem to be using T-rex as a dummy runner and pass behind him more often than not. Early in the year when he was a wrecking ball he was given the ball at full pelt and just before the line and was unstoppable. Why go away from what was working? I blame the dummy half and halves for his lack of impact, same happened in S of O.
July 29th 2012 @ 1:04pm
sean maguire said | July 29th 2012 @ 1:04pm | Report comment
Totally agree Jack we look terrible in attack and very disjointed. Still it was a great win and Foran and Cherry Evans really stood up. Can’t wait till Stewart is back and I’d like to see Tafua keep his spot.
July 29th 2012 @ 7:59am
steve b said | July 29th 2012 @ 7:59am | Report comment
The Warriors had it in the bag ,,but the never say die Manly produced a great comeback to snatch the victory ,,The Warriors just seem to turn off …
July 29th 2012 @ 11:57am
mick h said | July 29th 2012 @ 11:57am | Report comment
great game of football perth should have a team good crowd congrats to manly for moving the game
July 29th 2012 @ 2:31pm
NF said | July 29th 2012 @ 2:31pm | Report comment
Just get it over and done with and give WA a team for god sake.
July 29th 2012 @ 12:28pm
Old Hand said | July 29th 2012 @ 12:28pm | Report comment
The Jamie Lyon knock-on ruled against Warriors was close to the worst error of the year. Cost NZ the match and probably a possible 8 spot – enhanced Manly’s chances immeasurably. I do not follow either team but believe referees should be punished for bringing the game into disrepute on this one.
July 29th 2012 @ 12:47pm
eagleJack said | July 29th 2012 @ 12:47pm | Report comment
“Close to the worst error of the year”
Way to be melodramatic there Old Hand!! Yes it was a mistake. But it was close to the only 50-50 call Manly got all night. Locke’s hands were in there and while Lyon did knock it back there wasn’t much in it. If you think that is the worst call of the year then it must have been the first game of league you have watched.
That occurred in the 66th minute. Score was 22-10. Manly scored another 3 tries after that. While momentum is a big thing I think you would be hard pressed to find a person at the Warriors who blames that one call on the capitulation of their season. They let an 18-0 lead slip for the 2nd week in a row. They have nobody to blame but themselves.
July 29th 2012 @ 1:04pm
MyGeneration said | July 29th 2012 @ 1:04pm | Report comment
Not to mention Manly only getting a penalty when David Williams was brought up an inch short (if that) by foul play in the first half. Could easily have been a penalty try there to the Seags. Have forgiven the refs now, though
July 29th 2012 @ 1:21pm
eagleJack said | July 29th 2012 @ 1:21pm | Report comment
Can’t help but think that if Wolfman had dropped the ball when hit high it would have been a penalty try. So he was disadvantaged by keeping possession of the ball. Another sign of the game going soft? Reward the dive?
July 29th 2012 @ 1:07pm
Old Hand said | July 29th 2012 @ 1:07pm | Report comment
Take you point but one of those tries was a direct result of that shocker. Manly only won by 4? Maybe I should have said season defining blooper! Incidentally, what will happen with Matai – surely a long holiday? I think they’d let him on the field with an axe?
July 29th 2012 @ 1:23pm
eagleJack said | July 29th 2012 @ 1:23pm | Report comment
By 2! No doubt it was a crucial call but you have to overcome those in this game.
Matai, I think, has been cleared by the preliminary MRC meeting saying it was accidental as Locke was on his knees.
Watmough Im not confident about.
July 29th 2012 @ 5:21pm
Bearfax said | July 29th 2012 @ 5:21pm | Report comment
Skin of our teeth. Shades of one of South’s recent wins. We’ll take it but its not a top four quality team playing at the moment in the mroon and white.Brett Stewart may addthe spice, but against Souths next week even though they are without Inglis, They’ll have to improve markedly. Finally Foran and Cherry-Evans started to show some of that geniius they showed last year but missing for most of this year so far.