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Tigers hang on by the skin of a referee as Warriors go whack

The Tigers will be looking to claim their first big scalp of the year against the Storm. (AAP Image/Dean Lewins)
Expert
24th August, 2018
16

Playing with fear and anxiety, the Tigers and Sea Eagles flayed each other with wet newspapers for the first 40 minutes on Thursday night.

It was an opening half to forget at Campbelltown. Only lone tries from each club and a late penalty conversion to Daly Cherry-Evans bothered the scoreboard attendants as the visitors took a slender 8-6 lead into the break.

There was something fitting about the display. Manly managed to mirror the dysfunctional off-field situation that is stalking the club like a cabinet minister anticipating a spill motion. The Tigers were also clunky and error-ridden.

Thankfully, the second half exploded into something far more representative of the usual standard seen in the NRL and it was, mercifully, far more entertaining.

That explosion was not only in a footballing sense. The Tigers crossed for three early second-half tries to Chris Lawrence, Moses Mbye and Kevin Naiqama and stretched their lead to 22-8 before the Eagles mounted a spirited comeback.

Four-pointers to Trent Hodkinson and Cherry-Evans himself had Manly within two points with only seven minutes remaining and a late penalty goal attempt to force golden point extra time provided an exciting climax.

Cherry-Evans struck the kick well but missed.

Manly might well ask a few questions of the officials, as once again, contentious decisions added to the explosive nature of the contest.

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A disallowed try after 59 minutes from what appeared to be a perfectly timed flat pass may well have cost the Eagles, as did some blatant and unpunished infringements in the ruck from the Tigers late in the game.

Manly did themselves no favours with a comatose-like start to the second half and Addin Fonua-Blake butchered a clear scoring opportunity when he ignored Tom Trbojevic in support.

However, Trent Barrett was right to raise his concerns around the officials in the postgame.

Manly looked the better team for much of the contest but fell asleep at the wheel early in the second half and with an unfortunate call or two, slip further down the table.

If the Warriors were looking to make a statement against the Panthers at Mt Smart Stadium, it would be fair to say that they achieved their goal.

A quick start and a mentally lost Panthers side saw the home team stack an 18-0 lead after 28 minutes. The Warriors played the remainder of the match in little danger of losing the competition points.

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It was a four-try first half as Agnatius Paasi, David Fusitua and Mason Lino that built a substantial lead for the home unit before Josh Mansour added some respectability for the visitors just prior to the break.

After halftime, two further tries to Fusitua as well as another from Solomone Kata stretched the lead to 34-4 before the Panthers managed a rather belated comeback. It had their supporters wondering where the effort and execution had been earlier in the night.

Irrespective of where anyone stands on the sacking of the coach a fortnight ago, the Panthers have now chalked up two losses on the trot.

Phil Gould’s support of that decision now seems a little questionable, personal and less compelling than it may have two weeks ago.

In reality, the past two performances of the men from the foot of the mountains have been poor. With a spot in the top four on the line over the previous two weeks, the Panthers have failed to capitalise on the opportunity.

Shaun Johnson

Conversely, the Warriors are starting to look dangerous as ever as the first week of the finals draws closer.

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Though it will be tough, New Zealand will try to snatch a top-four spot as they look like being one of the most feared sides when September rolls around.

The win puts the Warriors safely clear of the Tigers, who still cling to hopes of a semi-finals berth.

Now, the Broncos remain as Wests’ sole hurdle to climb – a hurdle that would be completely removed if Brisbane manages to knock off the Sydney Roosters at Allianz Stadium tonight.

In the late Friday night game, the North Queensland Cowboys paid fitting tribute to Johnathan Thurston with a 44-6 shellacking of Parramatta at 1300 Smiles Stadium.

It was a fitting, deserved and seemingly pre-destined finish for the mercurial halfback in front of the home fans with the Eels looking almost complicit in the occasion.

The home victory sent Thurston out in a manner of which very few rugby league fans would begrudge him of.

Perhaps more importantly, the win most likely avoided a Cowboys’ wooden spoon and likely anchored Parramatta to the bottom of the table come seasons’ end.

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