Match Report: Jersey Flegg Cup Round 23 vs Storm

After conceding first points, the Sea Eagles responded well establishing a 12-point lead early in the second half before the Storm five tries in the final fifteen minutes.

The Storm opened the scoring in the 12th minute through winger Victory Isaako, before Manly responded with tries to second rower Simon Green and interchange forward Christian Tuala to take a 10-4 lead.

Melbourne fullback Waka Hammond reduced the deficit to two points following a well-worked scrum play, before Manly hit back.

The Sea Eagles took a 16-8 lead into halftime advantage after Ezekiel Paulo pounced a grubber kick from hooker Zaidas Muagututia.

Isaako crossed for his second try shortly after the break, but Manly responded with back-to-back tries.

The first was from five-eighth Charlie Boyle, who scored following a strong Tuala offload and then winger Nathaniel Robinson leapt above his opposing winger to score from a kick.

The missed conversions left Manly ahead by two converted tries.

Melbourne’s comeback began with hooker Keaton Stutt’s 65th-minute try, which Isaako then converted.

Muagututia was then denied a try after being ruled to have lost the ball over the line, before Storm forward Jett Ryan beat several defenders to level the scores just moments later.

Errors, fatigue, and frustration began to affect Manly as Melbourne took full control, scoring three tries in the final stages of the match.

Hammond’s second try gave the Storm the lead in the 72nd minute, before utility Burnham Salesa crossed in the 75th and Isaako in the 78th, completing his hattrick.

The late surge secured Melbourne a 40-24 victory, after scoring 28 unanswered points after the hour mark.

Next up for the Sea Eagles is a clash with the New Zealand Warriors at 4 Pines Park, next Saturday, the 15th of August at 1pm.