Manly’s glittering finals reputation has taken a massive hit at the hands of an Adam Reynolds-inspired South Sydney in a 40-24 hammering in the opening to the NRL finals at Allianz Stadium on Friday night.
The Rabbitohs dominated every facet of the qualifying final that mattered against a hapless Sea Eagles before 25,733 fans, as Souths claimed brutal retribution for their loss to the same opponents in last year’s preliminary final.
Souths bashed their way to a 40-0 lead after 56 minutes before Manly added some respectability to the scoreline with four tries in the last 16 minutes.
Reynolds scored two tries, as did Alex Johnston, in a personal haul of 20 points as the Rabbitohs progressed to the third week of the finals and their third successive preliminary final.
Already hit hard by injuries to Glenn Stewart, Matt Ballin and Jamie Buhrer, Manly’s cause wasn’t helped by a neck injury to stand-in dummy half Jayden Hodges, who went down after a 14th minute tackle on Greg Inglis and was taken to hospital at halftime for precautionary scans.
Winger Peta Hiku filled in for him.
But it is doubtful whether a fit Hodges would have made any difference as the 2008 and 2011 premiers were swamped in their 10th successive finals series.
Manly next Friday meet the winner of Sunday’s elimination final between Melbourne and Canterbury at AAMI Park and Anthony Watmough (dangerous throw), Jamie Lyon (dangerous throw) and Kieran Foran (high tackle) face nervous waits over their availability.
Souths opened their account in the 11th minute when Reynolds latched onto a Dylan Walker grubber.
With the Rabbitohs totally dominating the forward exchanges, Souths added to their lead in the 18th minute when Reynolds kicked for his halves partner Luke Keary to cross. And the favourites picked up a 12-0 lead on the back of Walker and Kirisome Auva’a combining for a 60m move on the Rabbitohs’ left hand side.
It was around the same time in the 2013 preliminary final that Manly fought their way back from 14-0 down, but Souths just surged on this occasion.
With Manly on the back foot and Hodges struggling with the injury, winger Lote Tuqiri outjumped his opposite Jorge Taufua for a spectacular touchdown from a Reynolds highball in the 27th minute.
Manly hardly had the ball out of their own half in the first 40 minutes and Alex Johnston added to their misery in the 35th minute when he scored out wide off a set play, that came after he dropped the ball over the line in the 23rd minute.
That sent the Rabbitohs to the break 22-0 ahead and the one-way traffic continued in the second half.
Reynolds grubbered for himself to add his second just two minutes after the restart and Walker crossed off a set move through some more soft goalline defence from Manly in the 52nd minute.
Johnston then streaked away for his double in the 55th minute for Souths to gap the lead to 40-0.
Manly finally scored in the 64th minute through Brett Stewart and Jamie Lyon added to that four minutes later.
Tom Symonds added to that in another consolation effort for Manly in the 75th minute, before Cheyse Blair added Manly’s fourth in the shadows of fulltime.
Brendan
Guest
Well done on a sensible and well thought out response.. I tip my hat to you sir
Wascally Wabbit
Guest
Manly Man, did you watch the game ? Souths smashed the Manly hooker until he had to go to hospital ? He put his head in the wrong place tackling G I and his head collected G I's hip. Or is that G I's fault as well for having his hip in the wrong place ? We beat you "without 3 players". Manly only had a 14 man rotation ? Grub inspired team ? The last 2 years have a look at Manly's record against Souths. Several spear tackles, elbow to the head, high tackles, eye gouge. KEARY small man syndrome ? You call yourself a Manly man but can't spell T-O-O-V-E-Y. Helped for last 3 years -- by who ?
BrumbyJack
Guest
As I predicted, Souths too big and string and 13+ never an issue. $2.25 was nice. I was at the game last night and walked past Manly on their way to the ground. They are small. Jason King is their biggest forward and he is not huge. They looked beaten on their way into the ground. Dispirited and disjointed. Bye bye Manly
Arthur Beatsons Mum
Guest
I suspect DCE is on the outer with a few of his team mates, there are bigger issues within both the player group and the board. it,s got to do with money and who is worth what and who is worth keeping and who to let go. Players are turning on each other. Manly remind me of a ouroboros.
Arthur Beatsons Mum
Guest
@MM Four simple words and i have given you a brain aneurysm. I know both Manly,s captain and coach are prone to tantrums but i didnt mean to induce you to tears. My apologies, life is still worth living.
Arthur Beatsons Mum
Guest
Not Mason, Better off with some younger talent and blood them early. its harder with the older blokes because they are more injury prone. there should be some good young talent available if not within NRL then go to England or Union. Starling appears to have worked out. Manly are great at pinching players from other clubs.How do you think you have been so successful over the last 30 years, certainly not to your juniors. Penrith juniors currently appear to be producing a lot of great players with potential. Just need a very good recruitment program. The issues at Manly seem to becoming from within the board. The best thing Manly could do would be to put as much distance between the club and that Peter Peters clown.
Macca
Guest
Brisbane won 5 premierships from 92 to 02 that's alot closer to a decade of dominance than manlys 2 premierships
Worlds Biggest
Guest
The former I think, Madge going off at them was great, they put the queue in the rack at the 60 minute mark. Come on Bunnies !
bully
Guest
+1 he must be the only manly fan that is gracious in defeat. Many need to rebuild big time forwards and backs and imho i think they will be down for at least a few years might be good for their fans.
Statler and Waldorf
Roar Guru
home ground advantage wasn't taken away as people who don't know the policy would have you believe. for 4 (?) years now the rule is that all sydney teams play finals at alliance or anz, this game was never going to be at brookie and so it was not 'taken away'
Nate
Guest
Brookie - 20K max, last night could have been a lot more, hence the reason for the move. Unfortunately for Manly their fans forgot to show up.
Jack
Guest
Excuses excuses. It's been this way for ages now and if you can't get off your asses to support your team at a stadium that actually isn't that far from your home ground anyway, then frankly your a crap fan and don't deserve any sympathy. The way some of you whiny Manly fans are carrying on, you'd think the game had been played out up in Newcastle.
john badseed
Guest
Here's another one. Good honest win by the bunnies, totally outplayed us across the park. Reynolds made Cherrybomb look very ordinary. Free flowing footy saw the bunnies backs look like champs. No reliance on the bomb as their only attacking option. I reckon souths look the most likely. Still Manly did bounce back last season. I can't write them off. Bunnies even kept $hame out of the match! Snake, Choc and Matai looked like they've already got their bags packed. Such a pity.
Midfielder
Guest
Interesting 25K at the match 20K at Brookie would have been the crowd .. big call by the NRL for 5K and take away home ground advantage.
Jackson Henry
Roar Guru
Yeah, but that's happpened in reverse to Manly countless times over the past few years, to put it mildly. I guess from their perspective it was unfortunate it happened at the start of a finals series.
Jackson Henry
Roar Guru
Owen 43. Mister Meaner. 5 stars.
Jackson Henry
Roar Guru
You guys will be right in the next few years. There's a real strong winning culture there. I'm not mad for guys like Lyon, Matai and the Stewarts, but Buhrer is really underrated - and I think Foran is probably THE most underrated player in the comp. People talk about Cherry, but for mine, Foran is at least on par. Really love the way Manly plays in attack, particulalry the shifts - I think the Rabbits took a leaf out of your book last night. Souths can only play what's in front of them, but it didn't help that you had one of your three most influential players out last night.
Flyhead
Guest
Need to buy a couple of Big Boppers but not too many on the market.........,.,,Willie Mason, Sam Kasiano, Fui Fui perhaps even from Superleague. Manly lacking size, intimidation and mongrel.......time to go shopping Tooves
Nate
Guest
Wait, what? A Manly fan with a measured analysis? I have no doubt that Manly will be back although I think they are done for this year. Getting the boardroom sorted out will make a big difference.
Flyhead
Guest
Wow........great win Souths, Power/speed/skill/desire and look mentally tougher then in the last couple of years. Look I'm an avid Manly fan but also a Rugby League fan and admire a good footy side like Souths. A great, youthful, skillful, we'll balanced roster......the future looks bright