The Cronulla Sharks have beaten the Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles by 28-22 in the NRL trial at Southern Cross Group Stadium.
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Final score
Cronulla Sharks 28
Manly Sea Eagles 22
The Cronulla Sharks and Manly Sea Eagles meet in a NRL trial with the season proper just three weeks away. Join The Roar for live scores and commentary from 7:30pm (AEDT).
After one of the most controversial off-seasons in the club’s history, the 2016 Premiership winning Cronulla Sharks will once again take a powerful and deep squad into the NRL season.
Their preparations continue tonight when they face the Sea Eagles in Cronulla and with so much happening off the field, the players might enjoy some peace and quiet on the park, doing what they do best.
New coach John Morris has a huge job before him, with limited time at the helm and the respect of the playing group seemingly an issue after the 11th-hour departure of Shane Flanagan.
The side that Morris will send onto the park tonight is far from full strength and keeping a keen eye on a few of the youngsters will be his main aim in this match.
Manly have yet to confirm their squad for this match and should do so in the hours before kick-off. After a dismal 2018 where just seven wins were recorded, the club has re-hired previous coach Des Hasler and gelling a team of promising youngsters is his first task.
Previous coach Trent Barrett never had the Eagles looking consistently dangerous and if there is one thing Hasler is renowned for, it is safety first football.
This should mean that the Sea Eagles will look a little less flashy at times yet should be competitive in most matches.
Prediction
Manly will prove a little too strong in this match, against a young, inexperienced and experimental Sharks side. For what it is worth, look for a high scoring affair.
Cronulla Sharks 42 Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles 22
Catch all the action on The Roar live coverage from 7:30pm (AEDT).
Where: Southern Cross Group Stadium, Sydney
When: Saturday 23rd February 2019, 7:30pm (AEDT)
TV: Live streaming on the NRL website and app
Sea Eagles
Daly Cherry-Evans, Cade Cust, Kane Elgey, Brendan Elliot, Manase Fainu, Addin Fonua-Blake, Tevita Funa, Reuben Garrick, Jack Gosiewski, Trent Hodkinson, Albert Hopoate, Brian Kelly, Semisi Kioa, Api Koroisau, Brad Parker, Taniela Paseka, Lloyd Perrett, Toafofoa Sipley, Curtis Sironen, Moses Suli, Kelepi Tanginoa, Jorge Taufua, Martin Taupau, Joel Thompson, Jake Trbojevic, Tom Trbojevic, Corey Waddell, Dylan Walker, Frank Winterstein
Sharks
1. Will Kennedy, 2. Sosaia Feki, 3. Bronson Xerri, 4. Josh Morris, 5. Sione Katoa, 6. Kyle Flanagan, 7. Chad Townsend, 8. Ava Seumanufagai, 9. Blayke Brailey, 10. Braden Uele, 11. Briton Nikora, 12. Scott Sorensen, 13. Jack Williams. Interchange: 14. Jaimin Jolliffe, 15. Billy Magoulias, 16. Brayden Trindall, 17. Cruz Topai-Aveai, 18. Ronaldo Mulitalo, 19. Daniel Vasquez, 20. Luke Polselli, 21 Isaac Lumelume, 22 Jackson Ferris, 23 Jack A Williams, 24 Teig Wilton, 25 Josh Carr
Stuart Thomas
Expert
The Cronulla Sharks have beaten the Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles by 28-22 in the NRL trial at Southern Cross Group Stadium. In a match marred by some awful weather in the first half, as squalling winds and rain swept across the ground, the Sharks looked the better team for the final 60 minutes of the contest. Early on, it appeared to be a night for the eagle rock as the visitors took an early lead, yet the Sharks used a little luck and some good management to claw their way back into the game. Des Hasler has returned to the Eagles with a reputation for negative and grinding play that became the Bulldog's trademark. Their appeared little sign of that in the Eagles' performance tonight, as the attacking potency of the men from the northern beaches was clear for all to see in the first half. Later in the match, when Hasler had benched his stars, the Sharks looked far more comfortable and capitalised accordingly, yet one couldn't help but feel that when the game was up for grabs, the Eagles had the ascendancy. Martin Taupau was the standout for the Eagles tonight with a dominant display in the middle third of the field. Curtis Sironen and Dylan Walker also had good moments in the first half yet when the troops left the field in the second, Kane Elgey was left to command a ship that appeared to have no rudder and the Sharks took control. The Sharks fans and coaching staff will be getting excited about the form of Bronson Xerri after a wonderful solo try and Kyle Flanagan tried hard in attack. The were some excellent second half performances from members of the Sharks bench and Isaac Lumelume and Daniel Vasquez made a late impact on the match. It was a real shame that Manly didn't share their squad numbers with the media earlier in the week so callers could prepare for the action more diligently. Combined with the very poor quality of the NRL stream, it made for a tough night at the office if one was calling the game. Hopefully things are far better prepared for the second week of trials. Both teams will walk away from this game knowing they did a lot right and aware of the handling and positional errors they made in defence. Both Hasler and John Morris will be excited by what they saw. Final Score Cronulla Sharks……..……………….28 Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles……..22
AE47
Roar Rookie
whilst it wasn’t a win I can vouch for most Manly fans , the body language and attitude was very different , like Donny singe said it’s not about winning but how you turn up to play , finally after to long I’m gonna really love watching my footy side play
Jordan Klingsporn
Roar Guru
Not what i wanted but good effort from Manly.
Stuart Thomas
Expert
FULL-TIME The Sharks have won it! Cronulla Sharks……..……………….28 Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles……..22
Stuart Thomas
Expert
80' The Eagles try a risky off-load, it goes to ground and the game is over. Cronulla Sharks……..……………….28 Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles……..22
Stuart Thomas
Expert
80' Just seconds remain. Cronulla Sharks……..……………….28 Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles……..22
Stuart Thomas
Expert
80' Carr runs the ball well and then Trindall kicks high. Manly ball on their own line. Cronulla Sharks……..……………….28 Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles……..22
Stuart Thomas
Expert
79' The Sharks defence holds firm and the Sharks retrieve the long kick and bring the ball back. Cronulla Sharks……..……………….28 Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles……..22
Stuart Thomas
Expert
79' Have the Eagles got one more attack in them? Cronulla Sharks……..……………….28 Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles……..22
Stuart Thomas
Expert
78' A conservative set from the Sharks and the high kick is taken in the corner. Cronulla Sharks……..……………….28 Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles……..22
Stuart Thomas
Expert
76' The Eagles work through the centre.....the pass is dropped and the Sharks survive. Scrum feed for the Sharks. Cronulla Sharks……..……………….28 Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles……..22
Stuart Thomas
Expert
75' Now the Sharks err with a forward pass and the Eagles will have a scrum and another chance to attack. Cronulla Sharks……..……………….28 Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles……..22
Stuart Thomas
Expert
75' That was a comedy of errors! Cronulla Sharks……..……………….28 Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles……..22
Stuart Thomas
Expert
74' Now the Sharks are penalised for an incorrect play the ball and the Eagles fail to find the line. HA. Cronulla Sharks……..……………….28 Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles……..22
Stuart Thomas
Expert
74' No imagination from the Eagles in attack there. Cronulla Sharks……..……………….28 Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles……..22
Stuart Thomas
Expert
74' Elgey kicks on the last tackle of the set and the Sharks take it well at the back. Cronulla Sharks……..……………….28 Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles……..22
Stuart Thomas
Expert
72' The Sharks go the length of the field and kick into the in-goal. It runs dead and the Eagles will start at their 20. Cronulla Sharks……..……………….28 Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles……..22
Stuart Thomas
Expert
71' The kick to complete the set is high and the Sharks earn a PENALTY for a player tackled in the air. Cronulla Sharks……..……………….28 Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles……..22
Stuart Thomas
Expert
70' The Sharks are solid through their next set and kick long. Here come Manly once again. Making easy metres. Cronulla Sharks……..……………….28 Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles……..22
Stuart Thomas
Expert
69' Now the Eagles get close to the Sharks line but the kick from Townsend is poor and Feki cleans up at the back. Cronulla Sharks……..……………….28 Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles……..22