An inspired Warriors have welcomed the return of Shaun Johnson’s spark in a dominant 34-14 NRL win over Manly in Christchurch.
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Final score
Manly Sea Eagles 14
New Zealand Warriors 34
The Manly Sea Eagles take a home game to Christchurch, as they take on the New Zealand Warriors at AMI Stadium. Join The Roar for for live scores and a blog of the match from 3pm (AEST).
Off the back of a disappointing Round 13 loss to the Cowboys, Manly will be looking to rediscover some of their early season form and stay in the hunt for a top-eight spot.
While the Warriors enjoyed a bye in Round 13, their last start was an emphatic defeat at the hands of a rampant Rabbitohs.
In team news, Manly have named influential brothers Tom and Jake Trbojevic to back up from rep duty with NSW, with Shaun Lane moving to the back row after filling in at lock last week. Youngster Jack Gosiewski is missing due to suspension, with Taniela Paseka coming on to the interchange bench.
The Warriors will welcome the long-awaited return of Shaun Johnson from an ankle injury, which will see Blake Green move back to five-eight, Peta Hiku to the centres, and Gerard Beale dropping out of the starting side. Elsewhere, Isaiah Papali’i also returns to the second row, with Simon Mannering moving back to the interchange bench.
This game shapes as a do-or-die clash for the underperforming Sea Eagles. However, they can’t expect an easy afternoon in Christchurch as fans will turn out in huge support for the away team in this match.
Prediction
The Warriors will have too much attacking flair for an underwhelming Manly defence.
Warriors by 20.
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Forty Twenty
Guest
The long kicks for touch were a realistic game plan but to not change it up and surprise the Warriors as the game progressed with a few attacking bombs was just daft. A few teams have woken up to the inside pass as an attacking ploy as opposed to a lay off style inside pass for a hit up and they are reaping the rewards but we rarely do it and just look too predictable. I suppose we had a long spell of gloom as the Northern Eagles and beyond and we'll just have to be patient again. Some teams at the top of the table have had some lean years recently so there is always hope for next year.
Brad Thorne
Roar Pro
I really felt as though Manly’s defence was slow and lethargic. Very hard to stop a rampaging Warriors attack with that kind of defensive attitude. I wouldn’t say Manly’s players were easy to tackle though. Taupau was a handful all game, and Lane was promising, poking holes through the defence on the edge. Manly’s woes mainly caused be decision making in the halves. Last tackle options were extremely poor. As you said, there were a very small number of sigificant attacking kicks. DCE kicked for himself about 3-4 times. Never a good sign. I think finding the line was a tactic heading into the game to negate the Warriors big outside backs get a head of steam up and causing problems bringing to ball back. Works in theory, but the likes of Fusitua, Kata and Maumalo still found themselves in the thick of things and causing Manly’s defence some big headaches. My main concern is that the halves, DCE mainly, didn’t pick up that the game plan wasn’t working, and change it up. When they finally starting running hard and looking for offloads, it was 34-8 and the game was well and truely gone. Poor game in a poor season for Manly.!
Forty Twenty
Guest
For some reason Manly's tackles rarely stuck in this game the Warriors were hard to bring down but our players were easy to tackle mostly. Manly's attack is so predictable at the moment and I didn't watch the whole game but just about all our kicks were defensive. I couldn't believe when we were ten points behind and close to the Warriors line on the last tackle , Hodgko tries to grubber it over the sideline . For crying out loud , attempt to score a try or get a repeat set when 10 behind and not playing well , a defensive grubber is abysmal.
Sylvester
Guest
Yes, they're playing this match in Christchurch for another two years.
Big daddy
Guest
Did manly take this match to nz as a home game. They are on the NRL site as home game ????
Brad Thorne
Roar Pro
I agree, looked flat at best to me. Warriors attack looked great in that second half. Their right edge is probably the most potent attack in the comp. The form of Issac Luke today was probably the best thing to see from a Warriors perspective. He looked great. Dangerous every time he jumped out of dummy half. And how about that ball to Fusitua.. wow!
Brad Thorne
Roar Pro
So the Warriors flex their attacking muscle and put on a show for the fans who turned out to AMI Stadium in Christchurch. The less said about Manly's performance, the better. They played safe footy, and granted, had a reasonable completion rate. However, just having the ball is not enough to win games. They showed next to nothing in attack for the majority of this game, and only started to move the ball around when the game was already over. While their kicking game was executed fairly well, the tactic was way off. Weather looking to find touch from every kick was a plan going into the game, or was something that came out from DCE and Hokko during, it didn't work.... and neither of them acknowledged this and looked to change it up. After Manly opened the scoring through Api Koroisau, the hooker was taken from the field limping. He wouldn't return for the match and was a big loss to Manly from the opening minutes. Tries to Papali'i and Harris from some fantastic ball playing by Blake Green, saw the Warriors go into half time with a 12-8 lead. Defensively, Manly held their own in the first 40 minutes, but the way it played out, it felt as though it was only a matter of time before the Warriors cracked them open. Johnson crossed just 3mins into the second half to make it 18-8. The Warriors then looked to put the foot down and at about the 60min mark, they cracked Manly open in a big way. A 10 minute hat trick to left winger David Fusitua saw the Warriors go out to a commanding 34-14 lead. Issac Luke and Shaun Johnson were instrumental in the enterprising Warriors attacking play. After the 10 minute flurry of points from the New Zealanders, they appeared to take their foot off the gas and look to see out the final 15 minutes. To Manly's credit, they probably outplayed the Warriors in the last 10-15mins with some strong running and plenty of offloads. This saw young centre Brian Kelly cross for a quality try from a Cherry-Evans offload. It was a consolation try at best and both teams just went through the motions for the closing minutes. This was a big loss for Manly, which could effectively end their 2018 season. Barring a miracle and plenty of results going their way, they are huge outsiders to make the top 8 come finals time. For the Warriors, it would have been a sight for sore eyes watching Johnson running freely and having a huge impact on the game. He was probably Man of the Match, although, Issac Luke was fantastic also. This game sends a message to the rest of the competition that the Warriors are a serious threat in 2018. The victory means they maintain their top 4 spot heading into round 15, and with their attack clicking the way it did today, other sides will be on notice. Well that's it for The Roar's live blog coverage of the Manly Sea Eagles vs New Zealand Warriors, thanks for tuning in. Be sure to jump over to the coverage of Roosters vs Newcastle, should be a belter of a game! Cheers for now!
eagleJack
Roar Guru
That Tommy Turbo “forward” pass to Uate was frustrating. Made no difference to this game. But it is clear the referees are guessing and it will cost teams games. Which it has done already. Good win Warriors. Big, strong well run team. In a year where no team is a clear standout, the Warriors are as good a chance as any.
Brad Thorne
Roar Pro
The game ends with an emphatic win to the Warriors 34-14. It looked as though things could have been a lot worse for Manly at one stage, but the Warriors appeared to take their foot off the gas in the final 10 minutes.
Brad Thorne
Roar Pro
FULLTIME Manly scrum, as this game is all but over. Both sides are awaiting the whistle. Good tackle on Tom Trbo from Harris. Cherry-Evans on the last kicks from the left back toward the centre, cleaned up yet again by Hiku. The Warriors take a few slow dummy half runs and that the game folks.
Brad Thorne
Roar Pro
A slow set sees Warriors over half way on the 4th. Another big right edge shift, but the ball is put down by Beale.
Brad Thorne
Roar Pro
76' Manly working the ball out of their own end and Taupau is again proving a handful, before a few offloads and strong running see manly up to the attacking 20m. Poor play the ball from Paseka called back. Scrum to the Warriors.
Brad Thorne
Roar Pro
The Warriors get over half way and on the last Green rolls to ball into touch on Manly's 10m line. Good gamesmanship shown there by Green.
eagleJack
Roar Guru
Cheers jimmmy Wed night was great. First time at the MCG too so that added to the experience. But yeah long way to go in the series. Hopefully NSW have learnt from last year. QLD will come out firing in Sydney.
Brad Thorne
Roar Pro
Manly now running strong get a restart of their set on halfway after an offload was touched. Left side attack makes some good enroad, Taupau crabs across field palming off 2 would be tacklers, but is taken down by Harris. Tom Trbo throws a looping ball to Taufua that's called forward. Contentious call there.
Brad Thorne
Roar Pro
TRY - Manly - Kelly The bunker are reviewing something that may have happened in the back play. But can't see anything to disallow Kelly. Good strong try there to the Manly centre. Hodkinson adds the extra 2. Manly 14 Warriors 34
Dutski
Roar Guru
Just clicked on... what the maximus happened?
Brad Thorne
Roar Pro
Warriors get a penalty but turn the ball over early in the set to Manly who look to get on the attack. 4th tackle deep in the Warriors half, after strong carries, namely from Taupau,Cherry-Evans looks wrapped up but pop an offload to Kelly who plants the ball down. Video ref called in.
jimmmy
Guest
The highs and lows of the nrl EJ. I know how you feel. Congrats for Wed. Too good. Just remember the fat lady.
Brad Thorne
Roar Pro
66' Manly with a rare attacking set, Kelly pops an offload to TomTrbo who drifts across field and is tackled on the right. Big shift to the left and Kelly puts grubber in comes off legs and called not played at. A second kick finds Parker back to Cherry-Evans who tries a kick for himself. Taken by Kata and he's away. Rounded up on half way. Maumalo tries to fire a pass out right and Hodkinson sticks a hand out, scrum to the Warriors. What a mintue of play that was.