Match Report: Pre-season Challenge vs Warriors

A team brimming with youth and part-time footballers was more than a match for the more experienced home side, leading 16-10 at half time, and running in six tries to four after 80 minutes.

The Warriors opened the scoring after just five minutes in slippery conditions when a well-placed cross field kick was fumbled by Manly’s towering left winger, Navren Willett, presenting a gift four points to right centre Ali Leiataua.

The Sea Eagles hit back five minutes later when Paul Bryan crashed over for his first try in Manly colours.  The 23-year-old combined well with fellow prop Simi Laiafi who ran the block play, with his converted try putting Manly ahead 6-4.

The home side went close to scoring in the 20th minute only for scrambling Manly defence preventing halfback Tanah Boyd from finding the line.

Manly forced another Warriors’ error when Onitoni Large pressured centre Leka Halasima into making a mistake, with Manly also unable to complete their next set after a fumble by Willett at the play-the-ball.

Manly’s young forward pack continued to match their opponents though the middle with Laiafi, Bryan, and co-captain Corey Waddell eating up the metres.

Hugo Hart, who was elevated to the starting side following a serious knee injury to Caleb Navale earlier in the week, scored Manly’s second try nine minutes out from half time.

The 19-year-old from Nudgee College was there to collect after a well-weighted cross-field kick from Joey Walsh which was tapped back by Willett, putting Manly ahead 12-4.

The Sea Eagles went back-to-back scoring a very clever try in the 35th minute which put them ahead 16-4.

After a strong carry by centre Josh Feledy, dynamic halves Walsh and Large combined down the right edge with Wilson shooting the ball back inside for centre Clayton Faulalo to score.

The Warriors scored their second try on the stroke of half time which was a cut and paste of their first try. Cross field kick. Willett unable to handle. Leiataua in for his second, leaving Manly ahead 16-10 at the break.

The ‘next gen’ Sea Eagles forged ahead further in the second half stretching their lead to 26-14 with eight minutes to play.

Hart bagged his second try of the match just minutes into the second half after  collecting a short dribble by Walsh close to the line.

The Sea Eagles extended their lead midway through the second half when Wilson scooped up a dropped ball on the halfway line and raced away to score. 

Brandon Wakeham’s conversion put Manly ahead 26-10 with 20 minutes remaining.

Wilson, who joined the club from the Bulldogs in the off-season, showed plenty of class in his first outing in maroon and white, almost scoring again but unable to ground the ball cleanly.

The Warriors crossed for their third try with about eight minutes remaining, stripping Manly for numbers down the left before a lofted cutout ball gave winger Harry Tauafiafi-Iutoi a four-pointer in the corner. 

The Warriors, with a 30-man-squad against 20, crossed again with five minutes to play as Manly dipped into their reserves of fuel. 

Replacement hooker Makaia Tafua took advantage of tired defenders stepping and darting his way to the line from 30 metres out to potentially set up a grandstand finish.

The conversion attempt, however, bounced off the upright leaving the Warriors down by eight points with four minutes to play.

Manly’s own replacement hooker, Zaidas Muagututia was next to get his name on the scoresheet, darting over from dummy half with a minute or two to play.

Up 32-18 as the full-time siren sounded it was Walsh who had the final say, slotting a casual drop goal from in front to put a full stop on a terrific team performance.

Away from home, with a team comprising mostly teenagers and pathways players, a 33-18 victory sure to put smile on the face of all Manly fans as the season proper approaches.

Next up is a trip to Mudgee next weekend to face South Sydney Rabbitohs.