Match Report: NRL Round 1 vs Raiders

After the smoke from the fireworks had finally settled Manly’s season was under way, as was the rain which arrived just in time for kick-off.

Much of the build-up chat was about Jamal Fogarty stepping into the No.7 jersey, and playing his first game against the club where he had spent the previous four seasons.

He, and his replacement at Canberra Ethan Sanders, certainly featured heavily in the outcome.

The match was just a few minutes old when Manly opened the scoring through captain Tom Trbojevic.

It was a well-worked play on the open side that saw Turbo throw a dummy to left centre Tolu Koula, before accelerating through the hole to score himself.

Fogarty converted from about 15 metres in from touch to score his first points in maroon and white.

Possession continued to favour Manly in the opening exchanges thanks largely to several ruck infringements and set restarts.

In the eighth minute the game momentarily erupted when Turbo landed in a dangerous position from a Joe Tapine lifting tackle. 

Fogarty slotted a simple penalty goal from in front to put his team ahead 8-0.

Manly’s second try was high risk, but it worked, ending in a try to Haumole Olakau’atu.

After Koula and Lehi Hopoate found space down the left touchline, Manly saw they had numbers out on the far right. Fogarty delivered a well-weighted cross-field kick which was tapped down by Saab and picked up Olakau’atu.

Another goal to Fogarty stretched Manly’s lead to 14-0 after 18 minutes.

The Raiders though scored with their first set in Manly’s red zone, when rookie half Sanders sent second row Noah Martin through a jagged defensive line.  Conversion successful, Raiders down 14-6.

Turbo was denied his second try midway through the first half due to an obstruction but was looking safe and dangerous with the ball in hand.

The Raiders lost some of their heavy artillery on the half hour mark when Josh Papalii was ruled to have failed a HIA.

On the back of 61% possession in the first half the Sea Eagles went to the break up 14-6.

Canberra started much better in the second half, making inroads through the middle.

Martin crossed for his second try six minutes after the break, running good line and receiving a peach of a pass from Kaeo Weekes.

Last year's minor premiers crossed again a couple of minutes later to take the lead for the first time when a sweeping move to the right ended in a try in the northeastern corner for Xavier Savage. The sideline conversion had the visitors ahead 18-14 with half an hour to play.

Canberra made it three tries in the space of seven minutes when Savage crossed for his second. 

It came after another break through Manly’s middle, followed by a chip into the backfield by Hudson Young.

Up 22-14 the momentum was all with the Raiders as the Sea Eagles struggled to stem the flow of points. 

A minute later Savage almost scored a third, thankfully for Manly the ball was grounded in-touch in-goal. 

With thirteen minutes to play and holding an eight-point lead the Raiders continued to control the game, forcing a goal-line drop out from a well-weighted kick in goal.

The next set they were in again when Sanders split the defence from close range to put his team ahead 28-14 with a tick over 10 minutes to play.

Koula then crossed down the short side for his first try of the new season with about seven minutes to play which Fogarty converted from the sideline.

Down 28-20 with six minutes remaining, Manly needed to score twice in a very short space of time. It looked unlikely, but possible.

Step up Koula and Turbo. 

With five minutes remaining Koula made a break from the kick restart and found Turbo in support on his inside, who eventually sent Fogarty into score.

Now down 28-26 with 4 minutes 38 seconds on the clock.

With the scoreboard and clock against them, Manly were forced into playing more high risk footy, but when Koula spilled the ball coming out of trouble, it gave the Raiders priceless possession in the dying stages.

Another mistake by Manly made the miracle almost impossible. Almost.

A last throw of the dice saw Manly’s new No.7 attempt a two-point field goal to level the score.  It just missed but Manly were awarded a penalty from in front.

With no time left on the clock, Fogarty stepped up again. 

His new fans at 4 Pines Park took a deep breath as he calmly levelled the score at 28-28, forcing the game into golden point.

The Raiders had their first shot with their first set in extra time, and nailed it. 

The young fella that slotted the match-winning drop goal was Sanders, the man who has replaced Fogarty in the lime green No.7.

The Sea Eagles are back at 4 Pines Park in just over a week to meet the Newcastle Knights on Sunday 15th March.