Kieran Foran engineered another Manly victory at Brookvale Oval on Friday, a 40-8 NRL demolition of the Wests Tigers.
Foran scored two tries and threw the final pass for Clinton Gutherson’s 51st-minute try that put paid to any chance of a comeback from the joint venture, and was again instrumental in Daly Cherry-Evans’ final try just before fulltime.
The win lifts Manly to the outright lead on the NRL ladder on 26 points, with Penrith and Canterbury behind them on 24 points with games to play in round 18.
The loss leaves the disappointing Tigers 8-8 and with an increasingly tough battle to make the top eight.
After an early no-try ruling against Tigers winger David Nofoaluma, when he appeared to touch the ball down on the chalk, referee Shayne Hayne neglect to refer the decision to the video official and Manly swiftly cranked into gear.
Peta Hiku scored in the fourth minute after Manly worked a set play 40m upfield and Brett Stewart broke the line to offload to his winger.
Hiku scored out wide again four minutes later, then Foran opened his account in the 25th minute after rookie winger Gutherson broke the Tigers’ line on a kick return and Manly led 16-0.
Foran added his second just before the break after Manly worked a set move around the ruck and the Kiwi five-eighth again burst his way through the Tigers’ defence.
Before 13,432 fans, Manly led 22-0 at halftime and, when Gutherson added to that, the game was all but over as a contest in what was Sea Eagles captain Jamie Lyon’s 250th NRL game and Tigers utility Dene Halatau’s 200th.
Tries to Keith Lulia in the 58th minute and Nofoaluma in the 69th added some respectability to the scoreline before Brett Stewart raced away for his 76th try at the venue and 142nd overall.
A Cherry-Evans soccering effort that included lead-up work by Stewart and Foran finished off the win in style.
Tigers winger Pat Richards left the field with an ankle injury in the 18th minute and didn’t return.
Gutherson limped off late in the match, also with an ankle injury.
Tigers skipper Robbie Farah was put on report for a dangerous tackle on Josh Starling in the seventh minute.
Manly back-rower Justin Horo was also put on report for a crusher tackle on Mitchell Moses four minutes later.
Manly coach Geoff Toovey was impressed with the way his side backed up from last week’s below-par effort in their loss to Canterbury.
“We were a lot more committed and a lot more composed,” he said.
“Our execution was a lot better than it has been in previous weeks.
“When we made breaks, we were able to take our opportunities.”
Tigers coach Mick Potter said he couldn’t understand why Hayne didn’t refer Nofoaluma’s possible try to video referees Steve Chiddy and Luke Patten.
“I was watching on the video and, if I was ruling on it, I thought it was a try,” he said.
“The referees have the luxury to be able to call on it, in such a crucial moment of the game.
“It would have taken three seconds and you would have known what the result is.
“Yet for some unknown reason, we don’t use it in that particular instance.
“It just seem ludicrous.”
Paul
Roar Rookie
The Cowboys team and fans have been gracious when they've had contentious decisions go against them. My wife's a Cowboys fan and she's a member of their " Cowboys were robbed" Facebook page. Have a look at that when they lose mate.
Blaze
Guest
When has farah ever actually said that he is the best hooker in the game? Please, I'd really like to see him say it...
S.L. Craven
Guest
I agree with the Pelican. I turned off the game after 25 minutes because I was sick of referee errors. The problem is not one of whether referees are favouring one team or another - as the Pelican says, the problem is referee competence. All teams are subject to it and the losers are the fans of all the teams in the comp.
Western Fuglie
Guest
I read some where about how family's of refs had been targeted for abuse or children even spat at .... Memo to Shayne buy the kids a rain coat
TheTruth
Guest
As a neutral, I sat down ready for a great game of footy between the likely premiers and an up n coming Tigers. What I got was SHayme giving the Manly side a 12 point turn around in the opening 10 minutes, followed by clanger after clanger for the next ten minutes. There are not many teams that can give that kind of start to Manly and come back. Channel was changed as I really didn't see the point. As it stands, the biggest blight on the game to the fans is not incidents like Bubblergate, but the poor quality of refereeing we are seeing each and every week
Vivalasvegan
Guest
Seemed like a lot of bad decisions on the bounce. Soon after the 'no try' and the subsequent Manly try, Tigers player was tackled on the line in the air. Poor decision and drop out led to another try. Manly too good a team to not take advantage. It is very boring to incessantly go on about the refs but I am honestly on the verge of giving it up. I am turning into Mr Angry every weekend!
Buzzard
Guest
The refs had a bet on the 1st try scorer and he wasn't from the Tigers!!!
eagleJack
Guest
If Hayne was on the payroll then he would have been quickly removed after his efforts in the decider last year. Just an incompetent ref. Nothing more. Nothing less. We saw it in Origin this year. "Hometown" favoured the Maroons at Suncorp. Then changed his allegiances in Origin II in Sydney.
Jacksyd
Guest
Apart from the Manly supporters, I can't recall this many posts on various sites regarding the disgraceful performance of Shayne Hayne. If this isn't another example for the case in favor of the video ref having more influence in overruling obvious ref blunders, then good luck to all supporters when your team is in a tight struggle, especially during a semi, let alone a GF. Whilst it will not always be right, the percentage of errors can be cut many fold and I am at a loss why this is continuing to not be implemented. Yes, the tigers were well beaten may have still lost the game, but had the obvious try in the opening minutes been rightfully awarded, who knows what influence this would have had for the rest of the game? For starters, instead of manly scoring very soon after that, it should have been their kick off with the tigers in possession and in a full momentum frame of mind.
Paul
Roar Rookie
Have a look at the headlines then have a look at what the person is actually quoted as saying in the story. Usually the two dont match up especially in a news limited newspaper such as the courier mail and especially around origin time.
Cowboys
Guest
Why? When has he ever spoken himself up in public? Paul you need to be aware the media have an agenda to make money usually at the cost of their own souls, especially in a NSW orientated game. Robbie Farrah saying he is the best hooker, than a week later calls someone arrogant.
Cowboys
Guest
Get over it, happened in the first 3 mins, still another 77 mins of football. better side won on the night. Even Robbie said we were beat by 40, so I can't blame the ref. This is a nothing article and you are all a bunch of whingers. It is what it is, has happened all year, continuing to complain about it, hasn't and won't change anything. WELCOME TO RUGBY LEAGUE.
Paul
Roar Rookie
Him and JT
Paul
Roar Rookie
If it was a strip in a tackle the video ref would change the ruling
Elma Dudd
Guest
Where are all the Shame Hayne baggers . If the roosters got those calls all you manly supporters ( sorry some certain manly supporters ... You know who you are ) would be frothing at the mouth this morning .and tooveys head would have exploded in the box . That performance puts your conspiracy theories to rest and proves he is just a goose on any given day or will go to the highest bidder .
Cowboys
Guest
He is the last person I want to hear call others arrogant.
The eye
Guest
Where to now for Shayne Hayne..has to be punted..should be made to get a Clint Gutherson Bert from Sesame Street haircut as part of the punishment...
Andrew
Guest
Tigers were killed off in the first 20, refs have to much power to influence the game, I am not suggesting Hayne is on manlys payroll, but the number of continued bad calls in the first 20 put the tigers on the back foot. Defending sets on their line uses energy, we know the rest. There is no answer though, although, why the video ref didn't step in for the first try is poor, there was enough time.
NSWelshman
Guest
lolol...........It's hilarious how most players end up on the ground in a game of rugby league! Maybe it's the strong breeze that follows!
Paul
Roar Rookie
No captain or coach should blame a loss on poor refereeing however a try to the Tigers in the first 3 minutes denied, Manly get a nothing penalty and score at the other end changes the whole game. A young and inexperienced Tigers side dropped their bundle a bit after the no try and Manly put 3 quick tries on them. It might not have changed the final result of the game but it had an impact on the first 20 minutes or so. I noticed Cherry-Evans brought all his QLD grubby tactics from origin back, he even attempted a trip at one stage.