A superb performance from full-back Tom Trbojevic has inspired the Manly Warringah Sea Eagles to a 9-8 victory over the Sydney Roosters today in round two of the Telstra Premiership.
Trbojevic saved several tries with some desperate defence and also scored the team’s opening try at Leichhardt Oval in a match played behind closed doors due to the coronavirus pandemic. The match was relocated from Central Coast Stadium in Gosford.
With the scores levelled at 8-all, Manly captain Daly Cherry-Evans kicked the winning field goal with four minutes remaining for the one point lead.
The Roosters opened proceedings with a penalty goal in front of the posts to half-back Kyle Flanagan for a 2-0 lead after two minutes.
Sea Eagles winger Reuben Garrick levelled the scores at 2-all five minutes later after Mitchell Aubusson was penalised for offside.
Manly took a 6-2 lead when full-back Tom Trbojevic ran off an inside ball from half-back Daly Cherry-Evans in the 13th minute to score out wide. Garrick failed to convert the try.
The Roosters were denied a try four minutes later after it was ruled Victor Radley stripped the ball from winger Jorge Taufua 10 metres out from Manly’s line.
Two minutes later, the Roosters were denied a try to Mitch Aubusson after they knocked on from an error by Taufua.
Trbojevic and Taufua then pulled off a trysaving tackle two minutes later on Roosters full-back James Tedesco five metres from Manly’s line.
The Roosters drew level in the 29th minute when Luke Keary threw a floating cut out pass for winger Daniel Tupou to score out wide. Flanagan missed the conversion for a 6-all scoreline.
The Sea Eagles lost young forward Sean Keppie to concussion with just over a minute before half-time. The score remained 6-all at half-time.
The Sea Eagles dug deep in defence in the opening minutes of the second half to keep the Roosters at bay after some heavy attacking pressure.
The Roosters bombed a try when Trbojevic whacked the arm of Keary for the five-eighth to lose control of the ball over the line after finding a gap down Manly’s right side.
Trbojevic then pulled off another trysaving tackle when he pulled down Brett Morris just short of the line in the 53rd minute after getting past Moses Suli.
Two minutes later, Trbojevic then kicked the ball dead to prevent another Roosters try.
Garrick then produced a great play to catch a Tedesco chip kick on his line before running crossfield in-goal to get into the field of play with 20 minutes remaining.
Manly took an 8-6 lead when Garrick converted a penalty goal in front of the posts with 16 minutes remaining.
Flanagan levelled things up when he landed a penalty goal from 32 metres out for an 8-all scoreline.
Keary then had a field goal attempt with six minutes remaining but the ball hit the upright and landed into the arms of prop Addin Fonua-Blake.
Two minutes later, Lachlan Croker pulled off a massive hit on Tedesco to see the ball pop loose. It then led to Cherry-Evans kicking a field goal from 20 metres out to give Manly a 9-8 lead.
