Manly Warringah Sea Eagles lost 44-40 to South Sydney Rabbitohs tonight at Allianz Stadium in round 20 of the Holden Cup competition.
The Sea Eagles opened the scoring in the 12th minute when winger Lucas Price dived over in the left corner off a backline play. Nicho Hynes failed to convert the try from the sideline.
South Sydney hit back quickly to score two tries in three minutes through second-rower Brock Gray and centre Bailey Shiach-Wise. Half-back Chad O’Donnell converted both tries.
A short pass from Hynes put back-rower Jayden Hocking over. Hynes converted the try from the sideline for a 12-10 scoreline.
The Rabbitohs then scored two more quick tries through a second to Gray and lock Keaon Koloamatangi for a 22-10 lead after 35 minutes.
O’Donnell then brushed off two defenders to score next to the posts. He converted his own try for a 28-10 lead after 38 minutes.
Second Half
The Sea Eagles started the second half off on the right note when Jaiden Tarrant crashed over next to the posts for a 28-16 scoreline before some poor marker defence saw Souths player Pheonix Hunt dart from dummy half to race 30 metres to score for a 34-16 lead.
Price grabbed his second try a few minutes later to leave Manly trailing 34-20 before Souths scored again through Kalani Illi for a 38-20 lead.
Manly winger Luke Polselli produced a great acrobatic finish to score in the corner. The try was converted to leave the visitors trailing 44-28.
The Sea Eagles then scored two good converted tries through Billy Bainbridge and Brad Parker for a 44-40 scoreline to set up a grandstand finish in the final minute. Souths held on to take the two competition points.
Manly team
1 Tom Wright 2 Luke Polselli 3 Sione Hopoate 21 Brad Parker 5 Lucas Price 6 Nicho Hynes 7 Cade Cust 8 Amoni Tufui 9 Tremaine Brown 10 Elia Faatui 11 Billy Bainbridge (C) 23 Eduard Wulf 13 Darcy Cox; Interchange: 14 Manase Fainu 12 Jayden Hocking 17 John Tuivaiti 18 Jaiden Tarrant
