Silver Tales: First Game vs Dolphins

This was a match which Turbo was in doubt for after suffering a head knock in Origin 1, 10 days prior. It soon became crystal clear that he was good to go.

His two tries, 235 running metres and four tackle breaks was the catalyst for a glorious Manly victory at 4 Pines Park. A night that saw the Sea Eagles cross for 10 dazzling tries and Reuben Garrick collect a 30-point haul for the second time in his career.

The Sea Eagles made a scorching start with Jason Saab crossing in the third minute after bullet-like passes from Cherry-Evans and Garrick.

Garrick, playing in in the centres, scored a try of his own four minutes later leaving his opposite number in his wake before converting to make it 10-0.

Turbo was next to score on the back of a Dolphins dropped ball, dashing 35 metres to the line before a converted try to Lachlan Croker made it 22-0 after 16 minutes.

The Dolphins momentarily halted Manly’s momentum in the 22nd minute when now Melbourne-bound winger Jamayne Isaako scored the Dolphins only try of the first half with his team trailing 22-6.

The scoreline blew out to 28-6 when Garrick crossed his second try, and Manly’s fifth of the first half, with the home side up by 22 points at the break.

The point-scoring procession continued for the Sea Eagles five minutes into the second half with a freakish four-pointer. It started with a cheeky chip over the top by DCE and ended with a try to Turbo, his second of the match.

Chip kicks were the order of the night with another coming in the 50th minute when Josh Schuster’s try-assist saw Tolu Koula add his name to the scoresheet.

The ‘Tongan rocket’ grabbed another try with just over 10 minutes remaining and his team up 46-12.

Saab became one of four Sea Eagles to notch doubles on the night when given a back-of-the-hand pass from Garrick, who converted with ease.

Garrick then crossed for his third try and slotted his ninth goal from 10 attempts to equal his own club record of 30 points in a match. It’s a record shared with Matthew Ridge (1996) and Ron Rowles (1954).