Match Report: Round 23 vs Storm

The Sea Eagles led 14-nil before the Storm piled on 42 unanswered points to equal Manly with nine wins for the season.

Manly’s hot start came off the back of some rampaging runs from left edge forward Haumole Olakau’atu, before a monstrous shift in momentum.

Manly’s first try came after just three minutes when Brandon Wakeham pounced on a loose ball to score, with Jamal Fogarty adding the extras.

Their next try came while the Storm were down a man after winger Siulagi Tuimalatu-Brown was sent to the sin bin for a high tackle on Blake Wilson. Wilson was also sent from the field to undergo a HIA, which he passed.

Tolu Koula crossed untouched in the 22nd minute after receiving a final pass from Lehi Hopoate. A second successful conversion from Fogarty had Manly ahead 12-nil.

The Sea Eagles were dealt a blow a few minutes later when Taniela Paseka was forced from the field after injuring his knee in an awkward tackle.

Manly made it 14-nil in the 26th minute after receiving a penalty for contact in the air on Hopoate. They would be the last points for Manly until the 78th minute.

Melbourne crossed for two tries in three minutes to put themselves right back in the contest.

Perth Bears-bound utility Tyran Wishart scored their first, finishing off a chip-and-chase from fullback Sua Fa’alogo.

Minutes later Storm halfback Hayden Watson slipped out of a Corey Waddell tackle to cross next to the posts for his first NRL try in his second appearance. Nick Meaney added a second conversion to have his team trailing 14-12 at half time.

Melbourne’s momentum continued into the second half as Manly drifted further and further behind.

The Storm levelled the score with a penalty goal five minutes into the second half after Waddell was placed on report for high contact on Melbourne interchange forward Angus Hinchey.

Reserve forward Fletcher Baker was called off the bench in the 47th minute for his first appearance in the top grade for Manly, becoming Sea Eagle #675.

The Storm went ahead for the first time after another penalty in the 53rd minute when Koula was pinged for offside, after Manly had conceded multiple set restarts.

The Storm crossed for the first of four second half tries approaching the hour mark when second row Oryn Keeley, who joined the Storm mid-season from the Dolphins, beat three Manly defenders from close range.

They were in again in their very next set, this time from long-range.  The play was started and finished by Fa’alogo who crossed for his sixteenth try of the season.  Meaney’s conversion from in front put Melbourne ahead 28-14 with 20 minutes to play.

When Olakau’atu was penalised for contact in the air on kicker Cameron Munster, it allowed Melbourne to add a third penalty goal, extending their lead to 30-14.

The scoreboard ticked over again in the 67th minute when Fa’alogo fooled a couple of Manly defenders before sending Leo in to score in the corner. 

Meaney’s conversion from the sideline, which bounced off the crossbar, was his eighth two-pointer for the match.

Five minutes later, on the other side of the field, Tuimalatu-Brown latched onto a cross-field kick from Watson to score Melbourne’s sixth and final try of the game.

Meaney’s conversion from the sideline, his ninth goal from as many attempts, put the Storm ahead 42-14.

Blake Wilson crossed for a consolation try in the final minutes to put a full stop on a disappointing performance from Manly, and a fifth straight loss.

Next up is a must-win match against the Dolphins on Friday 14th August at 4 Pines Park (6pm).