A 78th minute try from Brett Stewart gave Manly a luck escape in their 26-24 win over the Canberra Raiders, keeping their finals hopes alive.
>>MATCH REPORT: Lucky Manly continue NRL finals run
Canberra 24 def. by Manly 26
The seventh placed Canberra Raiders host the in-form Manly Sea Eagles in a do-or-die match for both sides’ chances of playing in September. Join The Roar for all the action from 2:00pm (AEST)
The Raiders come into this game off a disappointing loss at home to the Tigers.
In contrast Manly are running hot, having won two in a row – firstly, smashing the ladder-leading Broncos, then dismissing the defending premiers, Souths.
Edrick Lee returns for the Raiders, with Sisa Waqa moving into the centres while Joey Leilua serves a suspension.
For Manly, Josh Starling starts in the front row for the suspended Willie Mason, with Ligi Sao on the bench.
For the Raiders to finally win at home, their halves have to control the tempo. For Manly the key man are obviously Daly Cherry-Evans, Brett Stewart and Kieran Foran. Manly’s forwards, led by rookie Jake Trbojevic, need to dominate the middle to give their backs the momentum to capitalise on field advantage.
Prediction
Manly’s forwards should prove too strong for the Raiders big boys and make it three on the trot.
Manly by 16.
Can the Raiders break their home-ground drought, or will Manly extend their winning run? Join The Roar from 2:00pm (AEST) for updates and debate in our live blog.
Az
Guest
Support from an offside position
Cugel
Roar Rookie
Watch the first 2-3 tackles of most kick returns, there's a ton of those offsides.
Jono
Guest
To add insult to injury it looks like the final try by Stewart should have been disallowed but now of the officials noticed Stewart offside. To be fair I didn't see it either at the time. Just another example of the Raider's frequent poor luck with the refs at home. Things will turn, but obviously not to have any impact on this year.
Cugel
Roar Rookie
Had to laugh at Taufua getting reported for a shoulder charge. It's either laugh or throw your hands up and give up on the game.
steveng
Roar Rookie
Haha! Another Ricky Stuart hater that only pops his head up when the Raiders are not doing well.
Geoff from Bruce Stadium
Guest
A couple of things I would like to ask Ricky Stuart. Firstly, why on earth are you choosing Kurt Baptiste on the bench and not even using him? That is two weeks in a row that he has had no game time off the bench. If you are not intent on not using him pick another forward who can make a contribution. Secondly, why aren't you giving Mark Nicholls a chance to prove himself? Earlier in the year he played some solid games which contributed to Raiders wins. In the past month Shillington has been an absolute passenger - today he almost single handedly cost them the game - plus he's moving on to play with the Titans from next season. Why wouldn't you play Nicholls who is busting to prove himself? I can't believe you are just letting him go to the Storm next season. I don't get it. You'd better come up with some decent forward recruits. Lastly, what instructions are you giving the halves when they are trying to close out games? Whatever it is they appear incapable of carrying them out.
Jono
Guest
If it wasn't obvious last week, it should be now: their losses at home has had a major mental impact on the team. They don't look like they believe they can win it when it's close because of their past recent history at GIO. Hopefully this will make the core of the team stronger and next year when things start anew that they take the lessons, the pain, from how things have gone at home and turn it around. This year they weren't a real finals contender, but maybe, just maybe, next year they will be.
Geoff from Bruce Stadium
Guest
Just got back from the game. Once again the Raiders manage to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory. Great game to watch though. At 16 nil down the Raiders could have disappeared but played strongly to get in front 24-16.Great tries from Edrick Lee and Austin. Somehow they managed to gift possession to Manly in the final 10 minutes - mainly through stupid blunders by Dave Shillington. Would have been better if he got rubbed out after that stupid head butt attempt last week. I think he gave away about 4 penalties in the last 10 minutes plus made a stupid offload on the second tackle. Thankfully we won't have to put up with Shillington for much longer. Can't blame the refs this week. The Raiders had their chances to win but once again couldn't close it out in the final 10 minutes. The halves again need to take some responsibility for this. They should have kept Manly defending their own try line for the last 8 minutes. Glad I went though - good atmosphere - good crowd - good game. Agree with others - the Raiders simply aren't good enough to play finals footy this year.
Doug Graves
Guest
Haha! The Ricky Stuart effect has taken hold of the Raiders!
Cugel
Roar Rookie
Every week we find a new way to lose.
Renegade
Roar Guru
Yeah they certainly did some dumb things out there.... They should have won it once they got out to 24-16 - any top 8 side would have got the job done. That's why they won't be playing finals footy.
sham
Guest
Not one manly player is a poor defender but several Raiders are. The Raiders are mentally weak at tines as well. Sezer should make a difference.
Andrew Konstantinidis
Roar Guru
FULLTIME WRAP It was a do or die game for either side and they certainly did not disappoint. Manly started out very strongly capitalising off the back of some ill-discipline by the raiders to score the first three tries of the game through Matai Stewart and then Lyon. Lyons try was superb as he used his footwork to get on the outside of Croker and fend him off to cross over. However, the Raider were not going to go away as a nice pass by Hodgson to Vaughan gave the Raiders some confidence to go into halftime with. In the second half, the Raiders forwards really stepped up their game in particular Paul Nuuausala, Vaugha,Boyd and Kennedy which allowed the Raiders halves to put some nice pressure on Manly. However, the first of the Raiders tries in the second half came off the back an length of the field intercept try by Edrick Lee who pounced on a Cherry-Evans pass. Eight minutes later, Austin showed why he is thought of as one of the best buys of the season as he beat five players to give the Raiders lead. And if things weren't already bizzare, they were about to get a whole lot weirder. A kick by Williams to the sideline was watched by Brett Stewart to the point where he was trapped and the bounce of the ball makes it ricochet off his legs and into the arms of Kennedy to extend the raiders lead for the first time in the match. Manly however showed why they arguably have the best backline in the competition scoring straight after some ill-discipline allowed the Manly side to steamroll up the field and allowed Lyon to score his second. In the couple minutes of the game, Manly thought they had lost the game as Ballin threw a pass forward but in the last minute still one more set to conjure something. A Sao left foot set allowed him to pop a nice pass to a supporting Cherry-Evans who broke the line and throw a pass but to who else - Brett Stewart who score right next to the post and seal the Manlys side victory. Canberra's season has now ended with their semi-final aspirations all but over with Manlys hops just beginning again sending a warning to the other right teams in the top eight that they will not go away without a fight. Man of the match would have to be Jamie Lyon who was involved in everything and showed his class which at time made his opposite number in Croker look like a NSW Cup player. FULLTIME CANBERRA 24 MANLY 26
The eye
Guest
wouldnt wanna be a raiders fan for kuids..shillington..last week dumb this week dumber..was Croker crying at full time ? He should have been..inept..manly did their job nothing more
Renegade
Roar Guru
Their forwards will struggle in the big games but gee when their backline clicks - it's entertaining to watch. I'm pretty confident the sharkies will own them up the middle but the young backs outwide will have to produce their best individual defensive performances because honestly this side have the ability to score from anywhere if the passes stick. In that last 10 minutes the forwards couldn't get them out of their own 20 and only made any ground once they started spreading it.
Andrew Konstantinidis
Roar Guru
FULLTIME The short kick-off does not work for the Raiders and the Manly side run through the set and will crush the Raiders supporters hopes of semi-final football as the Manly momentum train keeps on rolling for four in a row. Wonderful game of Rugby League ! CANBERRA 24 MANLY 26
Muzz
Guest
Jesus. Do we really need Manly in another final series?
Renegade
Roar Guru
WOW! Honestly I don't know why Manly don't spread it early every set.... How do you defend against that?! It's the best backline in the comp - they should be playing in September.
Andrew Konstantinidis
Roar Guru
Thanks Mate
Andrew Konstantinidis
Roar Guru
79' CONVERSION SUCCESSFUL Lyon converts to give Manly the lead. CANBERRA 24 MANLY 26