Match Report: NRL Round 10 vs Broncos

Yet another full house at 4 Pines Park was treated to a fine Manly performance  which saw local legend Jake Trbojevic become just the seventh player in 80 years to play 250 first grade games for the Club.

Trbojevic led the team out to a blaze of glory with fireworks shooting from the Bob Fulton Stand roof as family and friends formed a guard of honour.

The match was only three minutes old when the Sea Eagles breached Brisbane’s line to score the first try.

Playing his first game at Brookvale as Manly’s starting halfback, local junior Joey Walsh put the foot down from close range to score next to the posts.

The 19-year-old’s first try in his 3-game NRL career came after the Broncos conceded several set-restarts, gifting the Sea Eagles a passage to their opponent’s end.

The Broncos hit straight back with their first visit into Manly’s end when Reece Walsh threw a long cutout pass to winger Antonio Verhoeven who scored in the scoreboard corner.

Soon later the ‘Joey’ chant erupted when Manly’s own Walsh booted a beautiful 40-20 to put his team on the attack.

In the next set the Broncos found themselves down to 12 men when winger Josiah Karapani was put in the sin bin for a professional foul.

Luke Brooks engineered Manly’s second try with a clever play down the short side which was finished off by Lehi Hopoate.

Feigning to go open Brooks directed play back down the blind, with hooker Brandon Wakeham sending Hopoate in for his eighth try of the season.

He was almost in again one minute later, but it was called back for a forward pass.

Brandon Wakeham was sent to the sin bin in the 32nd minute for a high tackle, presenting Brisbane with a good attacking opportunity but Manly’s goal-line defence again held firm.

Manly were awarded a penalty from almost in front of the posts four minutes out from the break, when Haumole Olakau’atu was impeded without the ball. Garrick slotted the two-pointer to put his team ahead 14-4.

Manly were awarded another penalty in the final minute of the first half for a dangerous tackle which saw Garrick raise the flags once more, this time from 39 metres out to put his up 16-4 at half time.

The home side continued to look dangerous after the break and were rewarded with a try six minutes into the second half when Siua Taukeiaho charged his way over from close range.

In doing so the two-time premiership-winning prop suffered a fractured leg which brought the game to a halt for several minutes before he was taken to hospital by ambulance.

Up 22-4, Manly continued to play an expansive style in attack and looked both menacing and controlled in defence.

Manly’s fourth try on the hour mark had the fortress rocking, a long-range effort which started from a Brandon Wakeham chip and chase.

Clayton Faulalo, who had three on his back but played at the back, collected the kick and sent Tolu Koula on a race to the line.  Koula - the fastest player on the field - got there first, scoring his fourth try of the season to put Manly ahead 26-4.

Jackson Shereb entered the game off the bench in the 69th minute to make his long-awaited NRL debut. The 24-year-old old edge forward becoming Sea Eagle #671 and the first player to debut under coach Kieran Foran.

Garrick scored a try in the final minute darting over from dummy half and then converting from near the sideline to bag a 16-point personal haul. 

It was the final scoring play of the match which iced a dominant performance by the Sea Eagles which was built on brutal and committed defence.

The 28-point win evens the ledger of victories between these two clubs at 26 apiece since the Broncos entered the competition in 1988.

More importantly the team’s fifth win in six matches under coach Kieran Foran, lifts the Sea Eagles to fifth on the ladder through 10 rounds.