Match Preview: Jersey Flegg Round 5 vs Silktails

The Sea Eagles produced a very good first half performance before conceding 36 unanswered points in the second half in a 44-20 loss to the Sydney Roosters at Narrabeen.

“We had a good game plan that was executed well. We should have gone into half-time at 20-4,’’ said Manly Coach Chris Crotty.

“We took a gamble with a 40/20 kick that we didn’t need. It didn’t pay off. They scored a try and got some momentum.

“Apart from that, I couldn’t be happier with the first half.”

The Sea Eagles suffered a blow just before half-time with an in injury to impressive young full-back and goal-kicker William Herbert.

Crotty described the second half as a complete disappointment.

“I can’t sugar coat it. We had two players play out of position after losing Will. No excuses but it did hurt us’’ Crotty added.

“The Roosters had a lot of strike in their full-back, wingers and centres. We knew they were going to try and strip our edges.

“We had a game plan to do it defensively, but we just didn’t come up with it. It was a disappointing roll over.”

The Sea Eagles and the Silktails remain winless after four rounds, adding even more intrigue to their clash.

“The Silktails are a less structured side and that will suit us,’’ Crotty added.

“It will certainly be physical. We just need to get a win to change the momentum.

“We are trying to teach them that there are two halves of football, not just 40 minutes.

“The boys are learning the hard way. We just have got be smarter and better, ranging from the coaches and players. We’ve all had a good look at ourselves this week.”

The match kicks off on Saturday, April 4, at 1pm, at the Sydney Academy of Sport and Recreation, Narrabeen.