Match Report: NRL Round 17 vs Storm

The Sea Eagles led 24-0 after a dominant first half, with both teams scoring just the one try each after the break.

The victory though has come at a cost for Manly with Luke Brooks suffering a suspected ACL injury late in the first half.

The five-tries-to-one victory keeps the Sea Eagles in touching distance of the top four with nine games remaining.

Despite the slippery conditions both teams completed their sets early on before Manly were given first chance to strike.

A disruptor penalty allowed Manly to kick themselves downfield before Jamal Fogarty forced a repeat set.

Jake Simpkin showed his skills, delivering a short ball to Haumole Olakau’atu who crashed through the line for the Sea Eagles first points in the fifth minute. Fogarty added the extras to put Manly ahead 6-0.

A push and shove ensued on the Western sideline in the 10th minute, a little reminiscent of earlier battles between these two clubs, but it soon subsided.

Manly then marched their way downfield before Simpkin once again linked up with Olakau’atu to put him over for Manly’s second try.

Olakau’atu continued to terrorise the Storm defence running off the Bob Fulton Stand back fence which resulted in a head injury to Melbourne winger Moses Leo.

Manly continued to control the middle and their third try came off the back of a surging run by Ethan Bullemor.

An inch-perfect cross field kick by Fogarty allowed Jason Saab to outleap his opposite number to put Manly further ahead in the 29th minute.

With 10 minutes to go in the first half, Manly continued to dominate, completing their sets and kicking well.

Manly’s fourth try came just after the half hour mark and followed a towering bomb from Fogarty which found the grass and went out for a 40/20.

The left edge continued to play with confidence with Tola Koula gliding over out wide for Manly’s fourth try of the night.

Unlike last weekend, Fogarty was perfect off the boot, kicking four from four and giving Manly a comfortable 24-0 lead at half time.

Brooks was unable to return to the field in the second half after suffering what is believed to be a ruptured ACL.  He is expected to have scans on Sunday.

The Storm looked much improved after the break and their first points came in the 50th minute.

Gifted good field position after a Manly error, they shifted the ball left to right, with replacement half Trent Toelau throwing a speculator over the top to Will Warbrick, who finished with an acrobatic effort in the corner.

Having already lost Brooks to injury, Manly were then forced to play without his replacement, Joey Walsh for 10 minutes after he was sent to the sin bin for what the match officials deemed was a dangerous tackle.

Manly’s defence held firm while down a man and a Tom Trbojevic tackle on Storm captain Harry Grant which dislodged the ball helped relieve the pressure.

The momentum then shifted in Manly’s favour following a repeat set at Melbourne’s end of the field. Melbourne failed to get the drop out away in time and conceded a shot-clock penalty in front, gifting Manly another two points.

Manly’s fifth and final try of the night came when Ben Trbojevic barged his way over from dummy half, carrying a few Melbourne players with him.

Fogarty was unable to add the extras with Manly ahead 30-4 with just over 10 minutes remaining.

The Storm were forced to finish the match with 12 men when Toelau was put in the bin for a second effort in the ruck.

A dominant performance by Manly, completing at 95% in slippery conditions, saw the team rewarded with a 26-point win.

Next up is a clash against the Parramatta Eels at CommBank Stadium on Sunday 5th July.