Match Report: NRL Round 2 vs Knights

A mistake from the kick-off from Manly saw the Knights open the scoring after just 90 seconds. It was one of those days.

The visitors added a further four first-half tries to establish a 20-point lead at half time, a winning margin they would retain when the final whistle was blown.

The Knights received a goal line dropout after Manly allowed the ball to bounce over the dead ball line from the kick off, and scored with their opening set.

It was a case of too many numbers on the left with winger Greg Marzhew crossing in the southeastern corner.

The Sea Eagles had a potential try disallowed a few minutes later when a bat back by Jason Saab was deemed to have travelled forward, denying Reuben Garrick a try.

Newcastle made the most of their next opportunity in the 12th minute when Dom Young crossed in the opposite corner.  It came after Kayln Ponga and Dylan Brown created problems for Manly’s defence, with Young finishing it off.

Down 12-nil after as many minutes it took a piece of Jamal Fogarty craft to bring the home crowd to its feet for the first time.

The team’s new No.7 threw a dummy and split the defence from about 25 out to score Manly’s first of the afternoon.

The home side scored their second try just minutes later when Tom Trbojoevic used sheer strength to find the line. The Manly skipper targeted Phoenix Crossland carrying the Knights No.9 with him from 10 metres out.

Then, after a great kick chase from Manly, the Knights scored a long-range try against the run of play to jump out to an 18-10 lead. 

Knights centre Bradman Best stormed into a gap from about 75 metres out from Manly’s line and found Ponga who raced away to score, twinging his hamstring in the process.

The Knights captain was forced from the field in the 28th minute with his team in front by eight points.

Former Knights player Paul Bryan made his Manly debut about 15 minutes out from the break, as did Brandon Wakeham, who came off the bench for the first time in his third season at the club.

The visitors went ahead 24-18 just a few minutes from half time when Dylan Brown stepped his way through Manly’s line before flicking a very clever pass to Fletcher Hunt who scored.

Just a minute before half time and Manly’s deficit became 20 points. 

A spilled bomb at the back by Tom Trbojevic allowed Knights forward Tyson Frizzell to pick up the ball and score a gift four-pointer. 

Sandon Smith, who took over the goal kicking duties after Ponga left the field, converted his team’s fifth try to have his team up 30-10 at the break.

Brown was also added to Newcastle’s injury list with a knee issue and failed to return in the second half.

The second half was just a couple of minutes old when Manly scored their next, much-needed try. 

It came after a break down the eastern sideline by Luke Brooks, who found Tolu Koula in support.  A quick shift to the right resulted in Haumole Olakau’atu barging and stepping his way to the line to bring the scoreline to 30-16.

In the blink of an eye though it was elation to deflation for Manly fans when Brooks failed to catch the kick restart.  From the very next set the Knights were in for their sixth try with Young bagging his double, this one in the northeastern corner.

Manly failed to maximise a couple of chances when in Newcastle’s end as the scoreboard pressure continued to increase, down by 18 points with 15 minutes to play.

Any hope of miracle comeback was all but dashed when the Knights kicked a penalty goal to restore a 20-point lead with 13 minutes to play.

When Kobe Hetherington was put in the bin with a few minutes remaining, it capped disappointing afternoon in front of a bumper crowd of 17,107.

The Knights’ 36-16 victory sees them retain the Malcolm Reilly Challenge Trophy after going 2-0 to start the season.

The Sea Eagles have the bye in Round 3 and eleven days to regroup ahead of a big home game against the Roosters in 11 days’ time.