Head to Head overall in the NRL:
Sea Eagles: 11
Bulldogs: 15
Last time they met: Barely over a month ago was the last time these two sides faced off. Brookvale Oval was the setting for the Round 3 clash as the Sea Eagles were unlucky to lose in a close contest against the Bulldogs.
The match was a close encounter that could have gone either way. Daly Cherry-Evans was in scintilating form for Manly as he managed three try-assists for the Silvertails. Tim Lafai opened the scoring for the visitors after solid build up play from Josh Jackson and Trent Hodkinson.
Feleti Mateo responded for the home side as he stormed through the Belmore side’s defensive line to even the score for Manly.
The Bulldogs received a stroke of luck when a high kick bounced awkwardly in favour for Sam Perrett who swung his pass inside for Tim Lafai to score his 2nd of the game and to give the visitors a converted try lead going into the sheds at half time.
Steve Matai responded early in the 2nd half to put Manly within two points of levelling the scores. The scores were not levelled as yet another conversion was wasted by the home side.
Matai was forced off with an elbow injury just shortly after his try heroics which was a huge blow for the home side. The wounded Sea Eagles did well to keep out the determined Bulldogs side but they became unstuck when Perret crossed over from out wide to put the side from Belmore further ahead.
The Manly side were not finished though and a Daly Cherry-Evans high pass found its way to Peta Hiku who scored to make sure the final five minutes of the match were going to be a tense spectacle.
Unfortunately the Silvertails could not find the finishing touches as the side from Canterbury-Bankstown ran out 16-12 winners.
Last five meetings:
June 14th 2013. Round 14, Sea Eagles 20-6 Bulldogs, Stadium Australia
June 6th 2014. Round 13, Sea Eagles 32-10 Bulldogs, Brookvale Oval
July 4th 2014. Round 17, Sea Eagles 16- 23 Bulldogs, Stadium Australia
September 20th 2014. Semi final Sea Eagles 17-18 Bulldogs, Sydney Football Stadium.
March 20th, 2015. Round 3, Sea Eagles 12-16 Bulldogs, Brookvale Oval
General Stats:
Daly Cherry-Evans was impressive against the Dogs at Brookvale last month, collecting all three try assists for the Sea Eagles in the 12-16 loss.
Cherry-Evans and Bulldogs lock Pat O’Hanlon hail from the same junior club, Mackay Brothers.
Peta Hiku and Greg Eastwood also played for the same junior side in New Zealand, the Manurewa Marlins.
Manly’s biggest win against the Bulldogs in the NRL came in Round 13 of the 2011 season when the Sea Eagles stormed to a 38-4 win at Stadium Australia. Captain Jamie Lyon scored two tries in that game.
Jamie Buhrer made the most tackles last week out of any other player in the game against the Panthers, racking up 43 in total.
