Match Report: Gotcha4Life Cup vs Roosters

Despite only a handful of play-the-balls in their opponents half for the first 40 minutes, Manly went to the break holding a10-8 lead. 

But while it was a vastly improved performance from the home side it was a three-try, five-minute blitz by the Roosters in the second half, that did the damage.

It was a lightening start to the match for Manly after a destructive thunderstorm had passed, scoring off just the second play of the game.

The ball went wide on tackle two with Reuben Garrick sending Jason Saab on a 60-metre run down the western touchline for Tom Trbojevic to score just 30 seconds into the contest.

A spilled ball by Luke Brooks handed the Roosters their first possession and it didn’t take too long for them to respond.

Daly Cherry-Evans and James Tedesco were involved in a clever short side play that resulted in a try in the corner to towering winger Mark Nawaqanitawase.  Unable to convert from the sideline, the home side were up 6-4.

After a heavy weight of possession and field position the Roosters crossed for their second try in the 17th minute when Nawaqanitawase finished off a sweeping play to the right, again involving Tedesco, and right centre Robert Toia.

It took 20 minutes and 20 seconds for Manly to have their first possession in the Roosters half and they went very close to scoring only for the bunker to deny a try to Brandon Wakeham due to a push in the back by Haumole Olakauátu.

The Sea Eagles continued to be starved of field position due to a near perfect Roosters completion rate and were tackled just three times in their opponents half in the first 28 minutes.

Manly’s second try was another long-range effort when Tolu Koula showed blistering speed to weave his way to the line from 70 metres out to put his team ahead 10-8 at half time.

The opening stages of the second half saw Turbo taking high ball after high ball at the back as well as grounding an in-goal kick in the nick of time to deny the Roosters a try.

The next passage of play was totally dominated by the Roosters who scored three tries in a five-minute flurry to take control of the contest.

A one-on-one strip on Corey Waddell handed the Roosters another set close to Manly's line and soon later Toia crossed for the Roosters first try of the second half to take a 14-10 lead.

The visitors were in again a couple of minutes later after a string of set restarts when Connor Watson grounded a neat grubber in goal from Reece Robson to put them further ahead 20-10.

An injury in the warm-up to Ethan Bullemor saw Simione Laiafi earn his NRL debut, becoming Sea Eagle #669 when he entered the field 16 minutes into the second half.

The 19-year-old prop brought a roar from the crowd with a rampaging kick return, but it was certainly a tough initiation to first grade as the Roosters continued their momentum.

The Roosters were awarded a penalty try in the 57th minute when Daniel Tupou was tackled without the ball by Reuben Garrick while in the process of scoring.

Sam Walker’s conversion from in front gave his team a 16-point buffer with about 22 minutes remaining.

Turbo crossed for his second try, converted by Jamal Fogerty, to have his team trailing by 10 points with 15 minutes left on the clock.

It was a short side play started by Brooks, with Trbojevic sending Koula down the western touchline, before collecting an inside pass for his double.

A potential comeback was made a whole lot harder for Manly when Jason Saab was sent to the sin bin for a high tackle with eight minutes remaining and his team trailing by 10 points.

With just a few minutes on the clock the Roosters put the result to bed when Toia collected a Cherry-Evans kick to the corner to claim his double.

Then with just 20 seconds left Sam Walker collected a goal line drop out and slotted a field goal to make 33-16 as the siren sounded.

The Sea Eagles will hit the road next week for their first away game of the season when they play the Dolphins in Redcliffe next Thursday.