Manly Warringah Sea Eagles recorded a superb 38-24 victory over Brisbane Broncos at Suncorp Stadium tonight in round 10 of the Telstra Premiership.
In the second match of the third annual Brisbane Double Header, the Sea Eagles recorded their third win of the season to end a five game losing streak in front of a crowd of 31, 118 in what was a home game for Manly at Suncorp.
The win was built on the back of plenty of energy, passion, and commitment from the Sea Eagles who overcome a 14-8 deficit after 25 minutes to lead 18-14 at half-time before going on with the job in the second half.
It was also the first time Manly had recorded a victory in the three 'home' matches played against Brisbane at Suncorp.
The match marked the NRL debut for 20-year-old Tom Wright in his third season at the Sea Eagles after being one of the shining lights for Manly in the premiership winning U20s side last year.
The Sea Eagles opened the scoring in the third minute when lock Jake Trbojevic scored under the posts after the ball bounced off two Brisbane players and back into the arms of Api Koroisau for the ball to go backwards for Trbojevic to score. Captain and half-back Daly Cherry-Evans converted for a 6-0 lead.
Two minutes later, Jake Trbojevic found open space but his inside pass to brother Tom Trbojevic was knocked down by Brisbane full-back Darius Boyd. Cherry-Evans was on the right of Jake unmarked.
The Broncos, on the back of four consecutive penalties, hit back a minute later when hooker Andrew McCullough twisted his body in a two man tackle to ground the ball to score. Winger Jamayne Isaako converted from next to the posts for a 6-all scoreline after eight minutes.
Cherry-Evans converted a penalty goal from in front of the posts for an 8-6 lead after Brisbane forward Alex Glenn lost the ball from the re-start.
The Broncos punished a drop ball by Tom Trbojevic when McCullough gave a short ball for prop Sam Thaiday to score next to the posts. Isaako converted for a 12-8 lead after 18 minutes.
Isaako converted a penalty goal to give the Broncos a 14-8 lead after 25 minutes when the Sea Eagles were penalised for raking the ball out on the last tackle next to the posts.
Thompson got the Sea Eagles back trailing 14-12 when a good short pass from Cherry-Evans isolated Brisbane half-back Kodi Nikorima for the second-rower to score out wide.
Jake Trbojevic then scored his second try when he scored off an inside pass from Tom Trbojevic who was almost over the line himself. Cherry-Evans converted to give Manly an 18-14 lead after 36 minutes. The score remained that way to half-time.
The Sea Eagles lost giant prop Taniela Paseka in the 42nd minute with a right ankle injury before Cherry-Evans kicked a penalty goal a minute later for a 20-14 lead.
A darting run from dummy half saw hooker Api Koroisau score under the posts. Cherry-Evans converted for a 26-14 lead after 47 minutes.
Manly winger Akuila Uate took the lead to 30-14 when the ball was shifted left through Tom Trbojevic and Brian Kelly for the Fijian international to score in the corner in the 56th minute.
The Broncos reduced the margin to 30-20 when Brisbane five-eighth Anthony Milford grasped the ball from the hands of Cherry-Evans to score from a Nikorima kick in the 62 minute.
Thompson grabbed his second try when he swooped on a nice grubber kick from Cherry-Evans to score for a 34-20 lead after 68 minutes. Cherry-Evans converted for a 36-20 scoreline.
Cherry-Evans landed a 35 metre penalty goal in the 74th minute for a 38-20 lead.
The Broncos scored a late consolation try three minutes later through Isaako for a 38-24 scoreline.
The Sea Eagles play premiers Melbourne Storm in Melbourne next Saturday night.
