Sea Eagle Scuba
Bench
- Messages
- 4,854
Manly has confirmed its premiership credentials, leapfrogging the Newcastle Knights into the NRL top four with a gutsy 16-14 win at EnergyAustralia Stadium.
Up 10-8 at the break, Sea Eagles winger Chris Hicks went over with six minutes on the clock to confirm the two competition points.
Halfback Matt Orford's sideline conversion proved crucial with Josh Perry ensuring a nail-biting finish with a try under the posts just three minutes later.
The match ended in acrimonious circumstances with Knights skipper Andrew Johns penalised after complaining to sideline official Matt Cecchin over what he believed was a missed knock-on late in the contest. The home side started stronger with Manly fullback Brett Stewart forced to clear a rolling ball from his own in-goal before Johns gave his side something to show for its early dominance with a try in the corner.
Manly prop Kylie Leuluai was then put on report for hitting Brian Carney high as he looked to add some much-needed venom to the Sea eagles defence.
The visitors didn't really threaten the Knights line before an Orford bomb near halfway confused the Newcastle defence as it travelled across field, Travis Burns regathering before putting Steve Bell in the clear for a try to the former Melbourne centre.
But luck soon deserted the Sea Eagles with Brent Kite ruled to have knocked on in front of his own sticks from the restart, replays indicating the ball may have been stripped.
It mattered little to the Knights however with Matt Gidley brushing through a weak Anthony Watmough tackle in the ensuing set of six.
Orford gave his side the halftime lead with a smart dart from the base of the scrum close to Newcastle's line, Thaiday guilty of racing up too quickly in defence.
The Sea Eagles suffered a blow when inspirational captain Ben Kennedy limped off with a knee injury only minutes into the second stanza, his desperate bid to get back on the field lasting just three minutes before he was forced off for good.
Having weathered three straight sets due to penalties on their own line the Knights looked like regaining the lead as Johns directed play down the right side of the field, but poor options at the most inopportune of times left them frustrated.
Instead it was Manly which went closest, the video referee denying Hicks the match-sealer 13 minutes from time due to a Stewart knock on in the lead-up.
Up 10-8 at the break, Sea Eagles winger Chris Hicks went over with six minutes on the clock to confirm the two competition points.
Halfback Matt Orford's sideline conversion proved crucial with Josh Perry ensuring a nail-biting finish with a try under the posts just three minutes later.
The match ended in acrimonious circumstances with Knights skipper Andrew Johns penalised after complaining to sideline official Matt Cecchin over what he believed was a missed knock-on late in the contest. The home side started stronger with Manly fullback Brett Stewart forced to clear a rolling ball from his own in-goal before Johns gave his side something to show for its early dominance with a try in the corner.
Manly prop Kylie Leuluai was then put on report for hitting Brian Carney high as he looked to add some much-needed venom to the Sea eagles defence.
The visitors didn't really threaten the Knights line before an Orford bomb near halfway confused the Newcastle defence as it travelled across field, Travis Burns regathering before putting Steve Bell in the clear for a try to the former Melbourne centre.
But luck soon deserted the Sea Eagles with Brent Kite ruled to have knocked on in front of his own sticks from the restart, replays indicating the ball may have been stripped.
It mattered little to the Knights however with Matt Gidley brushing through a weak Anthony Watmough tackle in the ensuing set of six.
Orford gave his side the halftime lead with a smart dart from the base of the scrum close to Newcastle's line, Thaiday guilty of racing up too quickly in defence.
The Sea Eagles suffered a blow when inspirational captain Ben Kennedy limped off with a knee injury only minutes into the second stanza, his desperate bid to get back on the field lasting just three minutes before he was forced off for good.
Having weathered three straight sets due to penalties on their own line the Knights looked like regaining the lead as Johns directed play down the right side of the field, but poor options at the most inopportune of times left them frustrated.
Instead it was Manly which went closest, the video referee denying Hicks the match-sealer 13 minutes from time due to a Stewart knock on in the lead-up.
