The Manly Sea Eagles have slumped to a season defining loss, beaten 30-16 by a spirited Canterbury Bulldogs side at ANZ Stadium on a cold and windy Sunday afternoon.
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Final score
Canterbury Bulldogs 30
Manly Sea Eagles 16
It’s pride and not much else on the line for the Canterbury Bulldogs when they host the finals-bound Manly Sea Eagles at ANZ Stadium on a balmy Sydney Sunday afternoon. Join The Roar for live scores and a blog from 4pm AEST.
We’ll start with Des Hasler’s home side, and there’s not a huge amount more that’s left to be said. For the Canterbury-based franchise, they’ll already be planning for 2018.
They’ve lost two of their last twelve matches and have been nothing short of abysmal in attack, averaging less than 12 points in those 12 fixtures.
If you then consider that stars Josh Reynolds and Sam Kasiano have been ruled out with injury, their task becomes that much more difficult.
Their back three have been totally ineffective in 2017, William Hopoate in particular is still to register his first try this year.
Their halves therefore have a lot to do this afternoon if the Dogs are to register an unlikely win. Matt Frawley has shown glimpses in the limited game time he’s had this season, Chase Stanley too hasn’t been all that bad.
On the other end of the ledger, the fourth placed Manly will be desperate for a win after a lacklustre last couple of performances. They were dreadful in the second half against the Wests Tigers last weekend, and will be looking to right the wrongs of that match.
Daly Cherry-Evans was mercurial in the first forty minutes against the Tigers, and will need all of that form this afternoon with a more than capable group of outside backs ready to finish whatever he can serve up to them.
Where the game will be won
The outside backs. The Bulldogs have enough grunt up front to largely match it with the Sea Eagles, but the battle of the outside backs is a completely different story.
Morris, Hopoate and Brenko Lee have had nightmares defending their right edge for so long now, and Manly’s back three of Turbo Tom, Uate and Wright could have a field day if their passes stick.
Prediction
The Sea Eagles spluttered last Sunday, it won’t happen again.
Sea Eagles by 24.
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Emcie
Roar Guru
haha, fair enough. Congrats mate, it's been a long time coming
The Barry
Roar Guru
I was watching the game with my cousin so wasn't on the blog. It felt a bit dirty and disrespectful to the Roar's Manly contingent to come on here late and start crowing after the Dogs had won. Pretty happy though.
Danno1
Guest
Looks like the Dogs had a collective "I'll show you how good I can play Des" game. Lichaa was creative, his running from dummy half dangerous, James Graham was passing again, Frawley and Moses were kicking like they should, find the ground and aim to the corners, they gave the ball to Josh Morris in space, and what do you know he can be beat players one on one, who'd have thought that after his brilliant SOO performances over the years. They ran straight, they passed between themselves they played like they realised the previous scripts were crap and they decided to play like knew they could, and it worked. Having said all that Manly were awful, disinterested, and beside Walker, JT and Uate no one really wanted to show aggression or interest. They have collapsed post SOO. Does it have something to do with their salary cap story? TB was probably like me, locked in a cave away from the computer, watching the game between two pillows scared about what might happen. But it was a pleasant Sunday for a doggie.
Scott Pryde
Expert
Traffic leaving ANZ Stadium makes me shudder.
Alex L
Roar Rookie
He may well have been at the ground, and by extension stuck in traffic / on trains.
Wild Eagle
Guest
Manly were crap but they were just as bad under Hasler in his first two years. Barrett has gone from a likely wooden spoon winning coach according to the critics to a potential title winning coach according to the critics and now he doesn't have what it takes. Luckily most critics have no idea about the future and can't imagine beyond one week.
nathan smith
Guest
match fixed for sure told use to put the super on the bulldogs or everything u had fkn scammers
Scott Pryde
Expert
I've never felt so weird. The Bulldogs won and I'm happy. This is a bad feeling. Yuck.
Tom G
Guest
With the greatest of respect to the Dogs who turned up to play, where is the desire in this Manly team?. After those huge losses a couple of weeks ago they've played one decent half of football. Theyre clunky in atttack and downright inept in defence. On this performance they will play the Warriors back to form and get lapped by the Panthers
Emcie
Roar Guru
The Barry have a heart attack? thought he'd be all over this game
Nick Kelland
Roar Guru
» Click here to read the full match report
Johnybulldog
Guest
Cheers EJ...a rare joy.
Nick Kelland
Roar Guru
80′ TRY EAGLES! Bulldogs 30 – 16 Sea Eagles Lewis Brown runs past a couple of tired Doggies defenders and scores past Hopoate. Soft, but no celebration. Barrett leaves the coaches box in a huge.
Nick Kelland
Roar Guru
78′ Bulldogs 30 – 10 Sea Eagles Penalty Manly and they go quickly through Koroisau. It's with Wright now and he's taken by Montoya.
Nick Kelland
Roar Guru
77′ Bulldogs 30 – 10 Sea Eagles Story of the night. 4 man cut out pass to Matt Wright drifts forward and Manly are denied again. This game will Peter out from here you'd think...
eagleJack
Roar Guru
Nick Kelland
Roar Guru
76′ Bulldogs 30 – 10 Sea Eagles DCE looks dejected doesn't he. He will never want to watch a replay of this game.
Nick Kelland
Roar Guru
75′ Bulldogs 30 – 10 Sea Eagles Bulldogs with the ball on halfway and Graham takes the tackle 40m out from the Manly line.
Roberto
Guest
There is something funny with DCE's performance today. He let in two tries and made zero effort to handle the ball when in attack in Dogs red zone. Match-fixing-Manly at it again. Betting agencies beware!
eagleJack
Roar Guru
Good win mate. Your boys certainly turned up to play!