Sea Eagles crush Bulldogs in record 66-0 win

A multiple record breaking performance has seen the Manly Warringah Sea Eagles record a thumping 66-0 win over the Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs at Bankwest Stadium today.

The Sea Eagles ran riot, scoring 11 tries with winger Reuben Garrick kicking 11 from 11 goals with Manly leading 36-0 at half-time. The only disappointing part was the game was played behind closed doors without fans due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The win moves Manly into outright fifth position on the ladder on 20 points, just four points behind Parramatta (third) and South Sydney (third, game in hand).

On a day of sheer dominance for Des Hasler's men, the Sea Eagles set the following records:

• recording their biggest ever win in their proud 75 year history, passing the previous 63-point win against the Penrith Panthers in 1973.
• Becoming just the fourth team in history to score 50 points or more in three straight games, joining the Eastern Suburbs Roosters (1935), Parramatta Eels (2001) and the Bulldogs (2003);
• Reuben Garrick equaling the Manly Club records of Ron Rowles (1954) and Matthew Ridge (1996) for most points in a match with 30;
• Garrick equaling the Club records of Mike Eden and Matthew Ridge with 11 goals. The record for most goals in a match is 14 (Graham Eadie in 1973).

Manly went into the game looking to cap off a good week for the Club following the re-signings of Brad Parker, Sean Keppie and Reuben Garrick. Origin players Tom Trbojevic and Daly Cherry-Evans also backed up for the Sea Eagles.

The opening three minutes of the match was a back-and-forth battle, with Manly putting forward the best attacking opportunity when centre Brad Parker made a break down the left edge, only to be dragged down just inside the 20-metre line.

After a handful of penalties and three consecutive sets at the Bulldogs’ line, the breakthrough came with Sea Eagles winger Reuben Garrick scoring in the fifth minute. Fullback Tom Trbojevic was involved heavily with a stunning catch and pass for his 18th try assist in his ninth match this season. The tryscorer nailed the conversion from the sideline to give his side the 6-0 lead.

Canterbury had their chances to reply with two sets at the Sea Eagles’ line, only to fall short after a poor grubber kick from halfback Jake Averillo and an infringement against Trbojevic, leading to a penalty for the Manly side.

The Sea Eagles struck again in the 14th minute, with Trbojevic involved again to grab his 12th try of the season. The right edge of Morgan Harper and Jason Saab linked up around the halfway line thanks to some quick hands, with the latter finding some space before handing it off to the star fullback. Garrick was successful with his conversion, extending the lead to 12-0.

Within three minutes of their last, Manly looked to have found the line again with a smart run out of dummy-half from hooker Lachlan Croker, only to be overturned after the ball was dropped metres short.

Some strong defence from lock Sean Keppie and the rest of the forward pack helped prevent the Bulldogs from scoring their first try, with the home side still unable to put together any points on the board ending with an error from winger Corey Allan after a sloppy pass.

In the 24th minute, forward Toafofoa Sipley, in his 28th match, grabbed his first NRL try after a strong run through a hole in Canterbury’s defence. Croker dragged in three defenders before offloading to the forward who crashed over under the posts. Garrick converted to bring the score to 18-0.

After the first tackle off the kick-off, Manly were on the attack again, with Saab showcasing his speed to break down the right wing before finding captain Cherry-Evans. The halfback found who else but Trbojevic, dragging a defender over the line for his second try of the match. Garrick made the conversion for a 24-0 scoreline.

The Sea Eagles were running riot as they continued to take advantage of the in-experienced Bulldogs left edge. Trbojevic grabbed his third try (second hat-trick of the season) after supporting Saab who once again found himself in open space. Garrick converted for a 30-0 lead.

Manly weren’t looking to stop but were for the second time in the match denied a try after its original decision. Parker and Trbojevic combined down the left edge, with the latter making his way through the line and putting a grubber kick through. Cherry-Evans toed the ball along the ground and appeared to over-kick it, only to dive over the deadball line and bat the ball back in for second-rower Karl Lawton. The decision was overturned after Cherry-Evans was shown to step on the deadball line, handing the ball over.

With six minutes to play in the first half, Sipley scored his second career try after showing his strength to carry three defenders across the line and ground the ball. Utility Dylan Walker did well in the lead up to the try, holding up the ball up well before the forward ran a stunning line. Garrick nailed the goal to extend the lead to 36-0 at half-time.

Two clumsy penalties in the opening minutes from the Sea Eagles invited the Bulldogs for some points on the board. Despite this, the young Canterbury side was unable to puncture Manly’s strong defence with Cherry-Evans ultimately diving on a loose ball.

After he was denied a try in the first half, Lawton bagged himself a try in the 48th minute after running hard off a pass from Croker out of dummy-half for his side's seventh try. Garrick made the conversion for a 42-0 scoreline.

Open-space chances from second-rower Haumole Olakau’atu and centre Morgan Harper almost saw Trbojevic go over on both of the occasions, only to be stopped metres short each time by some luck and some last-ditch efforts from the Canterbury side.

Canterbury centre Will Hopoate was sent to the sin-bin in the 58th minute for a professional foul, with the Sea Eagles utilising the number advantage. Cherry-Evans threw a brilliant cut-out pass to Garrick who pushed past two to score his second try. Garrick converted from the sidelines for a 48-0 lead.

Seven minutes later, Saab scored his first try after Trbojevic threw a cut-out pass for another try assist. The try saw the Sea Eagles become the fourth side in history to score 50 points in three consecutive matches. Garrick nailed the conversion to make it 52-0.

From the kick-off, Trbojevic ran to the side that was still reeling from the sin-bin and found centre Brad Parker who made a line-break down the sideline. The ball floated around the middle of the field before making its way back to Tom. The fullback was looking to score his fourth before passing to his brother Ben who dived over, only for the decision to be overturned due to an obstruction back downfield, robbing the youngster of his first NRL try.

An abysmal effort from the Bulldogs on their own 20 metre saw Saab gather up a loose ball before scoring his second of the day. Garrick converted the Sea Eagles 10th try of the day as the Sea Eagles hit 60 points for the first time since 1994 (a 61-0 win against St George on this day - July 3 - in 1994).

Saab joined Tom Trbojevic in grabbing himself a hat-trick (in nine minutes), diving over for a try in the 73rd minute after latching onto a Cherry-Evans cross-field kick. The try under the posts saw Garrick easily convert, bringing the score to 66-0 and also levelling the Manly points scoring record in a match in the process.

The Bulldogs attempted to grab a consolation try but it didn’t amount to anything, as the siren sounded for full-time, the score finishing 66-0.

Garrick finished the match with 30 points (2 tries and 11 conversions), Tom Trbojevic grabbed three tries and one try assist, Jason Saab also grabbed three tries as well as two try assists and ran for 283 metres.

Cherry-Evans had a hat-trick of assists among many other stunning performances in the Manly side.

The Sea Eagles host the Canberra Raiders at 4 Pines Park on Thursday, July 8, at 7.50pm in round 17 of the Telstra Premiership.