Match Report: Round 13 vs Broncos

Manly's first NRL game against the Broncos at Brookvale in 11 years sure had an eventful first two minutes.

A break in the opening set by Manly fullback Lehi Hopoate almost led to a try before the Bunker intervened to deny Clayton Faulalo a four-pointer moments later.

Faulalo was luckier upon his second visit to the Broncos’ end when he collected a Daly Cherry-Evans grubber, which was fumbled in goal, to grab first points of the night.

The Broncos hit straight back to make it 6-4 when Ezra Mam grounded an in-goal kick in the 12th minute, which came from a nice short kick by centre Gehamat Shibasaki.

Mam then played his part in Manly's second try when he knocked on coming out from his own end. 

The Sea Eagles made the most of an opportunity on their right with Hopoate throwing a peach of a pass across the face of Garrick for Faulalo to grab his second.

Garrick landed the conversion from the eastern sideline to put his team ahead 10-6.

Cherry-Evans laid on the next try in the 28th minute with another well-weighted kick in goal that was pounced on by Nathan Brown, the try converted by Garrick to make it 16-6

Brown’s first try in 51 games came after a clever long-range play down the western touchline involving Luke Brooks and Tolu Koula.

Manly were in again two minutes out from half time after another clever kick from Cherry-Evans. 

The Sea Eagles captain kicked in behind the Broncos defensive line on the fourth tackle and forty metres out from Brisbane’s line, the ball bouncing kindly for Hopoate who had Haumole Olakau’atu in support.

The Sea Eagles went to the break up 22-6, with the score line unchanged until the final 10 minutes.

Cherry-Evans' first half short kicking game turned into a second half long kicking game as the points dried up and Manly patiently waited for opportunities.

Camped in the Broncos back thirty after a Luke Brooks’ forty-twenty, and several Brisbane mistakes, the first points of the second half came in the 71st minute.

A perfectly weighted cross field kick by Brooks was plucked out of the night sky by Olakau’atu who out-jumped Shibasaki.

Garrick’s fourth goal had his team leading 28-6 with seven minutes to play before Koula steamed onto a beautiful Luke Brooks short ball in the 77th minute to ice a great night for Manly, ending a run of three straight losses at home.