Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles
42
Match Complete
Newcastle Knights
12
| R. Garrick |  | 78 | ||
| L. Croker |  | 77 | ||
| D. Cherry-Evans | | 69 | ||
| C. Tuipulotu | | 67 | ||
| D. Cherry-Evans | | 65 | ||
| A. Davey | | 64 | ||
| H. Olakau'atu | | 58 | ||
| D. Cherry-Evans | | 50 | ||
| J. Saab | | 49 | ||
| 46 | | K. Ponga | ||
| 44 | | K. Ponga | ||
| D. Cherry-Evans |  | 40 | ||
| D. Cherry-Evans | | 35 | ||
| J. Saab | | 33 | ||
| 17 | | K. Ponga | ||
| 15 | | A. Clune | ||
| D. Cherry-Evans | | 12 | ||
| T. Koula | | 11 |
| 7 | Tries | 2 | ||
| 6 | Conversions | 2 | ||
| 1 | Penalty Goals | 0 | ||
| 0 | Field Goals | 0 |
The Manly Sea Eagles cling to the top 8 with the finals fast approaching, can they stay there against an improved Newcastle Knights side? Join The Roar for live scores and commentary from 5.30pm AEST.
The Sea Eagles are in 8th, only on differential as it stands. By the time this one kicks off the Roosters may very well have jumped them on the ladder, such is the congestion around that part of the table. They have somewhat reinvented themselves in the absence of Tom Trbojevic, unlucky to lose against the 2nd placed Cowboys before they toppled the Melbourne Storm a fortnight ago. Fresh off the bye, they will know full well that they need to keep the wins coming.
The Knights made the Rabbitohs work for their win last week in the Hunter. In the end though it was a case of same old story for the Knights, left to rue their lack of grit as the Rabbitohs came over the top of them. They sit in 12th and a few wins out of the eight, and while it may just be a mathematical possibility, they have nothing to lose.
The Sea Eagles are unchanged from the side that got the win against the Storm last start. They will be sweating on the fitness of leaders Daly Cherry-Evans and Jake Trbojevic after what is sure to be a gruelling State of Origin decider. The Knights have named their Origin trio of Kalyn Ponga, Dane Gagai and Jacob Saifiti to back up. Bradman Best in injured, his spot taken by Gagai. Hooker Jayden Brailey returns to the starting side with Chris Randall dropped to the reserves. Leo Thompson and Mat Croker drop off the bench, replaced by Simi Sasagi and Brodie Jones.
These two sides have already played once this year, Manly emphatic 30-6 winners in Newcastle. The Knights had won the previous three clashes before that including their last start at 4 Pines Park. It isn’t a happy hunting ground for the Knights overall, from 21 attempts they have come away with just 4 wins.
Prediction
If Manly are going to hang onto a spot in the top 8, they have to wins games like this one. Back at home for the third time in a row, these are the wins they need to bank on the way to the finals. In a competition that could very well come down to for and against, it wouldn’t hurt to give it a bit of a boost either.
The Knights just don’t have the ticker at the moment. They play well in patches, but in terms of actually managing a game to get the result, they just don’t have it in them. While Kalyn Ponga is a big inclusion, he isn’t a player renowned for controlling a game. The loss of Mitchell Pearce this year is really starting to show for the Knights.
Manly should win this one fairly comfortably, especially if their Origin stars run out.
Manly by 18
Game information
Kick-off: 5:30pm AEST
Venue: 4 Pines Park
TV/Stream: Kayo Sports, Foxtel
Odds: Sea Eagles $1.35, Knights $3.25 – odds via PlayUp
Manly
1. Reuben Garrick 2. Jason Saab 3. Morgan Harper 4. Tolutau Koula 5. Christian Tuipulotu 6. Kieran Foran 7. Daly Cherry-Evans 8. Sean Keppie 9. Lachlan Croker 10. Toafofoa Sipley 11. Haumole Olakau’atu 12. Andrew Davey 13. Jake Trbojevic 14. Dylan Walker 15. Josh Schuster 16. Martin Taupau 17. Taniela Paseka 18. Josh Aloiai 19. Ben Trbojevic 20. Ethan Bullemor 21. Kurt De Luis 22. Kaeo Weekes
Newcastle
1. Kalyn Ponga 2. Edrick Lee 3. Dane Gagai 4. Enari Tuala 5. Dominic Young 6. Anthony Milford 7. Adam Clune 8. David Klemmer 9. Jayden Brailey 10. Daniel Saifiti 11. Tyson Frizell 12. Mitchell Barnett 13. Kurt Mann 14. Simi Sasagi 15. Jacob Saifiti 16. Pasami Saulo 17. Brodie Jones 18. Leo Thompson 19. Chris Randall 20. Lachlan Fitzgibbon 21. Hymel Hunt 22. Jake Clifford
Badseed
Roar Rookie
Garrick is all class. Making up for Manly losing Gutho. Despite missing Turbo Manly won’t look out of place in the finals.
Badseed
Roar Rookie
I didn’t understand the hype over Pongia until the last Origin. Been hearing it for a number of years but never saw it. Moves ahead of Teddy to be the number 3 fullback in the nrl.
Hard Yards
Roar Rookie
Reasonable night for Manly. But they’re bludgers and should have done better. I will say this, for the first time ever, I will compliment Ponga. He stood up like a man. But he’s not captain material. You guys can probably get it down to two choices.
Tom G
Roar Rookie
I thought it was pretty good for most of the game but then they seem to just tune out for a few minutes and points were scored.
Cyclops
Guest
Manly only checking out early due to their surprise at dominating quality opposition after 2 years of being told they can't beat top 4. They won't falter against teams like Knights... Des has made the point to not even allow the players to discuss the fade outs... they're over.
Redcap
Roar Guru
I thought Lachlan Croker's was pretty good - self deprecating as well - and he just explained it on the radio. Apparently he wasn't much of a batsman.
Phil
Roar Rookie
Good win for Manly. Even though Newcastle is a mediocre team at best, Manly put them to the sword. Newcastle look disjointed whereas Manly look a well drilled outfit.
Jack Aubrey
Roar Guru
Full time The Sea Eagles emphatic winners tonight at Brookvale, dispatching the Knights 42-12. The Knights tried hard for the first hour or so, and were in the contest. But in the last quarter of the game the Sea Eagles would shift the tempo up a notch and the Knights had no answer, conceding four tries in the last 22 minutes. For the Knights, it's much of the same. Good in patches, Ponga keeping them in the contest. But when the going gets tough they can't turn the momentum or win ugly. The Sea Eagles looked to have turned the corner without Tommy Turbo. They are always going to miss him, but they have become very competitive in his absence. They very nearly beat the Cowboys at home, got over the Storm and now have thumped the Knights. The finals are a very realistic prospect for them as they remain in 8th spot on the ladder. The Sea Eagles go Kogarah next week to face the Dragons, who were thumped by the Roosters earlier today. The Knights take on the Roosters at home, but will be long odds with the Roosters desperately needing wins to climb the ladder. Thank you for joining me on the blog this evening. Enjoy the rest of your weekend. Bye for now
Red Rob
Roar Rookie
Ok then I'll give myself an uppercut.
eagleJack
Roar Guru
Yeah Cowboys game was so frustrating. Over the last 5 games they’ve averaged 36 points. They are showing they can score. The D still a bit of an issue.
Tom G
Roar Rookie
Finally a second half where they didn’t check out early. At the end of the season that Cows game could haunt Manly.. it was a game that was such a bad one to lose
78
77
Jack Aubrey
Roar Guru
80' A couple of plays left here, Foran turns it over and the Knights get one tackle. Fitzgibbon tackled and that will do us. Sea Eagles 42 Knights 12
Jack Aubrey
Roar Guru
80' Sea Eagles from the restart as we come into the final minute. Taupau takes a carry. Walker at them, offload again to Croker. Koula has his pass touched by the Knights and the scrum feed goes to Manly. Sea Eagles 42 Knights 12
Jack Aubrey
Roar Guru
Conversion Successful - Garrick 79' Shoddy defence by the Knights, four defenders allowing Walker to offload to Croker to score. Garrick from right in front. Sea Eagles 42 Knights 12
Jack Aubrey
Roar Guru
78' TRY Sea Eagles -Croker Sea Eagles tapping it from the penalty. Taupau a run. Walker the crash play, not held, pops the pass to Croker who is under the sticks. Sea Eagles 40 Knights 12 KTC
Jack Aubrey
Roar Guru
77' No try and we restart play. Walker for Sipley, the late offload, kick for Harper, he nearly gets there. The last and Schuster another kick, finds the Knights who knock it on, offside from the regather. Sea Eagles 36 Knights 12
Tom G
Roar Rookie
Davey definitely had his best game in first grade career tonight. Close to best on park
Jack Aubrey
Roar Guru
77' Davey is OK to continue. Taupau takes the next carry. Davey again on the left within a few metres of the line. They go the big shift and have numbers here, Koula pinning the ears back and making the in-goal but he looks to have been held up. We go upstairs. Sea Eagles 36 Knights 12