[Video] Manly Sea Eagles vs Newcastle Knights: NRL live scores, blog, highlights

20th May, 2014

Meeting the Manly Sea Eagles at Brookvale after they’ve tasted defeat is a big challenge. Can the Newcastle Knights avoid a humiliating scoreline? Join us for live scores and coverage from 7pm AEST.

Manly blew a victory when ahead 19-10 against Melbourne last Saturday. They lost by three points after conceding two tries in the final ten minutes, and only kicked one goal from five attempts.

Given Jamie Lyon went off injured, Kieran Foran and Glenn Stewart were out and Anthony Watmough and Daly Cherry-Evans appeared to be struggling with fitness, the Sea Eagles have every reason to be proud of their efforts.

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Only one change has been made to the Manly side this week, with James Hasson pushing Tom Symonds out of the squad.

Newcastle were poor against a weakened Panthers side last week.

Wayne Bennett has resisted the urge to make any major changes, although he does welcome back Willie Mason and Korbin Sims to the bench. They replace last week’s debutants Joseph Tapine and Pat Vaivai who return to an extended bench and NSW Cup respectively.

The battle of the centres should be a highlight. Between them Newcastle pair Dane Gagai and Joey Leilua have broken 89 tackles this season, though Leilua needs to improve in defence.

Manly boast the powerhouse Kiwi paring of Peta Hiku and Steve Matai. Matai has scored 11 tries this season, while Hiku scored four tries in his last game on the wing at Brookvale Oval.

The Knights have won just two of their past eight against Manly, and have lost 12 of 14 matches at Brookvale.

For Newcastle to win they need to exhibit superior ball control, a precision long kicking game and hassle Manly into mistakes. On current form, that appears unlikely.

Manly by 14

The Crowd Says:

2014-05-20T00:53:42+00:00

Mals

Guest

That statistic is incorrect. Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles Golden Point Outcomes Played 6 Won 1 Drawn 2 Lost 3

2014-05-19T11:09:52+00:00

Ben

Guest

Incredibly lucky for manly. We just can't take a trick. The best teams always seem to have the luck -- Comment from The Roar's iPhone app.

2014-05-19T11:03:34+00:00

The Spectator

Roar Guru

Newcastle turns up, Manly still on the bus and last minute win, I hate monday night football. Thats the worst Manly have played since 2012 v Mel with premiers burn out. Why play Little-John if Toove's has no confidence in him by taking Stewart out of position when against Canberra he did the job yet v Mel makes Snake play a 5/8 roll and again tonight when it stuff's up Snakes fullback roll! it's obvious the last 2 roumds Snake is trying to play 5/8 thinking im out of position, trust Little-John and leave Snake at the back. No Manly players in the NSW squad on that performance, although i'd still select Stewart at fullback.

AUTHOR

2014-05-19T10:55:27+00:00

Adam Julian

Roar Guru

FULLTIME: Manly: 15 v Newcastle: 14 Could Manly play any worse and win? Mistakes a plenty in the first hour. At one stage that had only completed 12 out of 27 sets. Newcastle 30 out of 35 sets completed. The turning point was the Gidley penalty miss in the 68th minute. Top Tacklers MATT BALLIN: 52 CHRIS HOUSTON: 39 Top Run-Meters ANTHONY WATMOUGH: 167 DARIUS BOYD: 212

2014-05-19T10:51:36+00:00

Sir Jamie Lyon

Guest

Doin the eagle rock whoa ooo oooa

AUTHOR

2014-05-19T10:50:33+00:00

Adam Julian

Roar Guru

Manly only 1 from 7 in golden point games, so that was a good result for Manly.

AUTHOR

2014-05-19T10:49:29+00:00

Adam Julian