Daly Cherry-Evans reckons he’s playing better now than when he last played for Queensland, and it showed as he steered Manly into the NRL top four on Sunday with a 35-18 flogging of Cronulla.
» Click here to read the full match report
Final score
Cronulla Sharks 18
Manly Sea Eagles 35
There is more than just the two points on the line when the fourth-placed Cronulla Sharks take on the mercurial but inconsistent fifth-placed Manly Sea Eagles in a battle of the beaches on Sunday afternoon. Join The Roar for live scores and a blog from 4pm AEST.
Let’s start with the men from Cronulla. Despite winning five of their last six contests, all of these have been decided by six points or less.
On paper, they’d be the side to tip this afternoon given their form of late, but the score lines too often don’t tell the tale.
Coach Shane Flanagan has lambasted his sides inability to start quickly, and is disappointed with how long it takes for his troops to work into games.
That being said, there’s nothing wrong with coming home with the wind in your sails, and Cronulla have quickly formed themselves into the most potent second half side in the competition.
With their Origin group all backing up (Maloney, Fifita, Graham, Holmes), they don’t lose any of the fire power needed to overcome their Manly opponents.
The Sharks opposition have also won five of their last six, and crucially are coming off a bye.
Cherry-Evans and company have found their feet, and defensively, they’re one of the toughest teams in the competition to crack.
So, it looks like it will be a game of relentless attack from the hosts, and stout defence from the visitors.
With a spot in the top four on the line, expect neither side to take a backwards step on a brisk afternoon in Cronulla.
Prediction
Both sides have won five of their last six and deservedly sit up the north end of the ladder.
If Cronulla can find their feet in the last 40 as they seem to be making a habit of doing, then Manly’s tired bodies should open up gaps in the defence in the last 20 minutes of the game.
Maloney is one of the coolest heads under pressure, and I can see him guiding the Sharks home for their sixth win in seven starts.
Cronulla by 4 in an arm wrestle.
Join The Roar for live scores and a blog of the match, starting from 4pm AEST.
Oto shark
Guest
Manly setting up a very good team for the future, but I thought the sharks looked very tired .it's been a very long time since I've seen the sharks forwards get dominated like that. Manly were good ,but this could be the wake up call the sharks needed.
Mike
Guest
I don't get why they like to give so many opportunities for the opposing team to lead. There's only so many teams that you can do that to, Manly is too good for that sort of thing and will relish the fight back. They should respect the opposition a bit more, the way they are when they win it's okay but when they lose it sucks.
Mike
Guest
Probably Nu Brown. He might have trouble playing big minutes though, J.Paulo could cover for him late in the game.
danwain
Guest
You guys have been blessed with injuries the last year though Rene. Got to say that result wasn't super unexpected, 5 players backing up from Origin, so tough at this time of year. Great by Manly though, they are formidable when they are on, strike across the field.
Jason Hosken
Roar Guru
Api defence on the inside ball was bullet proof. Played 80, will push Peats for Origin next year.
Renegade
Roar Guru
Yep, that was him. We cant afford to have Brailey and Segeyaro out injured, need Seggy back fit and fast.... will struggle next week as Mortimer is off to England I believe... so not sure who's going to play 9
JVGO
Guest
The result has been coming all year. Sharks (and refs) virtually handed Manly an 18 point lead. Manly should probably have been further ahead but Manly were very impressive. Definite top 4, maybe even GF. Sharks needed this wake up call. I don't know why Prior started on the bench. Manly's size killed us in the first 20.
JVGO
Guest
A couple of players away from a Premiership next year.
JVGO
Guest
There was an ambulance leaving the ground after. Was it Brailey?
Rob
Guest
The Sharks have been making second half come backs for about 3 years. I thought it was the peptides kicking in, but then I thought the Ref just got sick of Gallen whinging and put the whistle away. Now I believe they just give the team behind on the score board a leg up to keep the fans cheering.
Renegade
Roar Guru
Expected a loss this week with 5 backing up, starting to get annoying that they again saved their worst performance of the year when playing manly.... seriously happens every season and I have to listen to my mate telling me how manly always beat cronulla the whole way home? Being the hunted seems to be taking its toll... Brailey injury was bad, and the hunger wasn't there in defence today... you're going to get that through the year at time. Manly was brilliant though, fantastic in the middle and thoroughly deserved the win.
souvalis
Guest
Come on,win the game on your ear and still whinge..with all due respect to the Blues incumbent Korisau is a panels of fencing better player..that was special today..Green,too..too good from the outset and showed the reality of where the Sharks really are..
Joe
Roar Rookie
Two things I have started to get used to. Home town decisions or even the game up decisions if one team is 2-3 tries ahead. Maybe a case of both this afternoon. It has reached the stage that I get disappointed if we don't get the rub of the green at home games.
Joe
Roar Rookie
I agree except if they are good enough to hammer the sharks at home they're good enough to win it. Thay are really coming together and the longer the season goes the better they seem to get.
Joe
Roar Rookie
Wow...what a performance from Manly. They played well across the park. Special mention to Koroisau who kept the middle solid. Tapau and Walker were excellent as well. Both halves played well. The cutout pass by DCE running on the left side of the field for Wrights tries tells me he wouldn't look out of place replacing JT at 6 for qld.
Nick Kelland
Roar Guru
FULL TIME Sharks 18 - 37 Eagles So... No second half fairytale this time around for the men from the Shire. In a truly dominant performance from the Eagles, they never let the Sharks into the game, and in the 30th minute when the Sharks threatened to strike, they were cool, calm and composed at the defensive end. Really, it was the Sharks who were their own worst enemy - coming up with 15 errors for the game. For Manly - Korosau, Sironen and DCE were the best on field. Marty Taupau carried well all day, Korosau and Sironen were equally good in attack and defence, and DCE's pass to Matthew Wright in the 60th minute was something that is sure to turn Kevin Walters' head leading into Origin Three. So - My tip was wrong, the Eagles were outstanding, and the Sharks lacklustre in attack and defence. The Eagles have now won six of their last seven, whilst the Sharks will most likely be on the receiving end of a heavy spray from Shane Flanagan as we speak. Thanks for joining us today, Roarers - join us next week for more bumper NRL action. Until then, Ciao
Tom G
Guest
9-3 penalty count?? Unbelievable refereeing performance
Joel Erickson
Roar Guru
I reckon this core group will win a Premiership at Manly. Probably won't be for a couple of years, but there's some real talent in this team.
eagleJack
Roar Guru
Dominant performance. Always a good effort when you out muscle the Sharks in the middle. 9-3 penalty count. Sharks apparently perfect in the 2nd dig ?
Nick Kelland
Roar Guru
78′ Sharks 18 – 37 Eagles Fifita with a nice carry and Maloney continues to try hard - but the Manly defence is holding very firm. Bird with a nice run from dummy half as I write, and his pass to Mortimer ends up on the ground. Korosau again with the try saver. He's been my man of the match - huge in attack and defence.