Match Report: NRL Round 12 vs Titans

The hard-fought victory at a wet 4 Pines Park is the team’s third straight win and third in a row at their Brookvale fortress. 

With Origin stars Haumole Olakau'atu and Tolu Koula supporting from the dugout, and the ‘Godfather of Manly’ Ken Arthurson watching on from the Bob Fulton Stand, the Sea Eagles grafted for a gritty win in difficult conditions.

The two-point triumph was the team’s seventh win in eight games under interim coach Kieran Foran who, just 260 days ago, was playing for the Titans in his final NRL game. 

In an end-to-end and low scoring first half Manly were the only team to put points on the board, leading 4-0 at the break.

The Titans looked to have scored off a mishandled bomb in the seventh minute but the play was called back for a knock-on after a long inspection by the bunker officials.

A few minutes later Jackson Shereb went close to scoring at the other end of the ground only for the ball to be dislodged just metres out from the Titans line.

A Captain’s Challenge saw Manly awarded a penalty for a strip on Josh Feledy in the twelfth minute which put the Sea Eagles on the attack in the Titans’ end.

That passage of play ended when Jason Saab was unable to grasp a Jamal Fogarty cross-field kick and shortly later the visitors were on the march. 

Once at the southern end, the Titans threw plenty at Manly whose goal-line and scramble defence held firm.

Manly were handed more good field position in the 18th minute when the Titans sent a kick out on the full, and the first points of the match soon followed.

Clayton Faulalo, much like he did last week in Brisbane, threw another magic pass that resulted in a try, this time it was on the chest of Blake Wilson who crossed for his first try for his new club.

Inside Wilson on the left edge was another player making his run-on debut in Josh Feledy. The local junior was strong all night with and without the ball.

The other player who was in the starting side for the first time, filling in for Olakau'atu, was Jackson Shereb, who finished the match at the top of the chart with 48 tackles.

Although only up 4-0 as half time approached, Manly’s speed off the line in defence in the 39th minute had the same energy as it did in the first.

After setting up Manly’s first try, Faulalo, who notched up 241 run metres, scored his team’s second try, seven minutes into the second half.

Manly earned a repeat set off the boot of Luke Brooks, and in the next set the Titans were made to pay.

A shift to the left involving Brooks ended in Faulalo storming on to an inside pass from Ben Trbojevic to bag what would be Manly’s second and final try of the night. Garrick added the extras to put Manly in front 10-0.

A few minutes later the Titans tried the same trick at the opposite end only to spill the ball early in the tackle count.

The home side went 12-0 up on the hour mark when awarded a penalty for a hip drop on Faulalo. Garrick took the two pints on offer to put his team ahead by two converted tries.

Ben Trbojevic was given a round of applause for his efforts when forced off the field for a HIA after a nasty head clash with about 19 minutes remaining.

Manly turned defence on their own line into attack when Jason Saab collected a short drop-out but it wasn’t long before the Titans were again on the attack.

Jayden Campbell threw a lofted pass to winger Phil Sami who scored the Titans first try in the 67th minute to get them back in the contest at 12-4 down.

The Titans scored and converted with one minute remaining to set up a nervous finish for Manly.

A grubber in goal from Jayden Campbell was grounded by AJ Brimson to keep the visitors’ slim hopes alive, but it was only a matter of time before Manly fans were doing the ''eagle rock'.

Manly’s win, while perhaps not as pretty as some others this season, was worth a precious two premiership points, keeping the Sea Eagles in fourth place on the ladder.

Next up is a trip to Cronulla to face the Sharks on Friday 29th May.