Sea Eagles enjoy great weekend in Junior Reps

Author: Manly Media
Timestamp: Mon 28 Mar 2022, 09:26 AM

The mighty Manly Warringah Sea Eagles tasted success in all three grades of the NSWRL competitions on the weekend.

We take a look at all of the Sea Eagles action in our Monday wrap up.

Jersey Flegg Cup

- By Ricky Newell

The Sea Eagles recorded their first win of the season with a fine 26-12 victory over the Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs in Round 3 at 4 Pines Park.

Having the honour of being the first Manly team to play on the new look 4 Pines Park, the Sea Eagles really lifted for the occasion under Coach Adam McEwen to knock over the then third placed Bulldogs following losses in the opening two rounds.

Manly started perfectly in the fifth minute when centre and captain Jason Smyth found himself in open space to throw a big dummy pass to score for a 4-0 lead.

The Bulldogs replied in the 19th minute through second-rower Jackson Topine for a 6-4 lead before Manly winger Cameron Brown continued his recent tryscoring form when he dived over after a stunning over the top cut-out pass from half-back Flynn Angles-Corke. Boney converted for a 10-6 lead to Manly.

The lead was short lived when the Bulldogs scored a length of the field try to full-back Joash Papalii for a 12-10 lead at half-time.

Manly hit back four minutes after the break when second-rower Zane Dunford slipped through the defence to outpace Papalii to score. Boney converted for a 16-12 lead.

The Sea Eagles were in again in the 46th minute when centre Sunia Siasau beat several defenders to score for a 20-12 lead.

Seven minutes later, Manly prop James Uesele dived over under the posts after a high ball was allowed to bounce. Boney converted for the 26-12 lead with the Sea Eagles defence remaining firm for the final 15 minutes to take a well-deserved victory.

Manly 26 (Jason Smyth, Cameron Brown, Zane Dunford, Sunia Siasau, James Uesele tries; Donovan Boney 3 goals) d Bulldogs 12 (Jackson Topine, Joash Papalii tries, Eli Clark 2 goals), 4 Pines Park.

That winning feeling...Manly Jersey Flegg players celebrate with our Sea Eagles Pathways Academy Partner, Kay van Norton Poche, from Poche Centre for Indigenous Health, at 4 Pines Park on Sunday. ©NRL Photos

SG Ball Cup

- By Wayne Cousins

Manly Warringah Sea Eagles recorded a hard fought 42-26 victory over the Victoria Thunderbolts at Hinchinbrook on Saturday in round seven of the SG Ball Cup.

Some very poor defence, a disjointed attack, and plenty of errors featured in an ill-disciplined performance from Manly against a gallant Thunderbolts team who almost stole their first win of the season.

The Sea Eagles lacked energy in the opening 20 minutes, conceding two tries before scoring one through prop Caleb Navale for a 10-6 scoreline.

A disallowed try to the Thunderbolts on a double movement call woke the sleeping Sea Eagles up, who went back to back with tries to forward James Malauulu after he crashed his way over the line before centre Josh Feledy dived over for an 18-10 lead after 30 minutes.

The Thunderbolts were in again two minutes later to trail 18-14 before promising centre Fletcher Myers crashed over on stroke of half-time for a 24-14 lead to the Sea Eagles.

Whatever Manly Coach Brett Fulton said to his players during the break had an immediate effect with Navale rolling his way over the line for a converted try for a 30-14 lead three minutes into the second half.

Despite being a player short still in the sin-bin, the Thunderbolts scored three tries in 12 minutes to trail 30-26.

After soaking up some desperate defence on their own line, the Sea Eagles extended their lead to 36-26 through a converted try to second-rower Dylan Coutts before Feledy showed great speed from a dummy half run to score his second try for the 42-26 win.

The Sea Eagles scored seven tries to six with the big difference being the brilliant goal-kicking of half-back Tylor Bunting who kicked seven from seven compared to the Thunderbolts one from six goals.

Manly 42 (Caleb Navale 2, Josh Feledy 2, James Malauulu, Josh Feledy, Fletcher Myers, Dylan Coutts tries; Tylor Bunting 7 goals) d Victoria Thunderbolts 26 (Suliasi Prescott 2, Iakopo Falefitu 2, Harry Sio, Emmanuel Vili tries; Joshua Berryman 1 goal), Aubrey Keech Reserve, Hinchinbrook.

Harold Matthews Cup

Fresh from their first win of the season last week, the Sea Eagles made it back-to-back victories under Coach Alex Moore.

The Sea Eagles ran in six tries to three at Hinchinbrook in a 30-14 victory over the Central Coast Roosters.

Manly led 14-6 at half-time through tries to wingers Nepote Taufa and Calvin Lehy and one to centre Thomas Klem.

The Roosters got back to 14-10 early in the second half before the Sea Eagles put the foot down to score through prop Simione Laiafi, and a second each to Levy and Taufa for a 30-10 lead late in the game.

Half-back Jackson Cahill-Smith kicked three goals in Manly’s win.

Manly 30 (Nepote Taufa 2, Calvin Levy 2, Thomas Klem, Simione Laiafi tries, Jackson Cahill-Smith 3 goals) d Central Coast Roosters 14 (Atticus Fotofili, Riley Burke, Matthew Humphries tries, Humphries goal), Aubrey Keech Reserve, Hinchinbrook.