Match Report: NRL Round 26 vs Dragons

Manly’s 500th win at 4 Pines Park arrived six days after the club’s 1000th win, achieved in Newcastle last weekend.

It was also a perfect send-off for departing players Reuben Garrick and Nathan Brown, who will both be moving on after this season.

Garrick scored one of five first half tries while Brown, playing his 200th game in his third and final season at Manly, as always was full of energy. 

Bouncing around like a pinball, it was a burst from Brown which put Jake Trbojevic in the clear in the lead up to the first of Saab’s two first half tries.

Manly scored the opening try of the match in the 7th minute when five-eighth Clayton Faulalo floated a long ball onto the chest of an unmarked Lehi Hopoate in the northwestern corner.

Saab then went back-to-back, scoring two tries in four minutes, both coming off short cross-field kicks from Jamal Fogarty.

Manly found themselves up 16-0 after 20 minutes and the points continued to flow, with Saab again in the thick of the action. 

This time he turned provider after being put away by Tom Trbojevic down the eastern touchline. Saab found Garrick on his inside who crossed for his 98th career try.

Up 22-0, Turbo was next across for Manly as Faulalo continued to look right at home in the No.6 jersey. Shaping inside, he gave to Turbo on the outside, who split defenders to score in the northwestern corner.

With Fogarty unable to convert, Manly led 26-0 at the break, and looked well on track for back-to-back wins, and a second win over the Dragons this season.

It took about 10 minutes into the second half for Manly to score again, extending their lead to 32-0.  Faulalo was again involved, cashing in on a Dragons’ mistake to send Josh Feledy in for a try from close range.

After scoring a 16-minute hat-trick in Newcastle last week, this was his first try at 4 Pines Park.

After a few try assists Faulalo bagged one for himself a few minutes later before being forced from the field for a HIA. 

He showed a clean set of heels to race 70 metres after swooping on yet another Dragons’ error. 

Many were up 36-0 with a little over 20 minutes remaining when Faulalo copped a heavy knock while defending.  He passed the inspection but remained off the field.

His exit saw the long-awaited introduction to the NRL for Onitoni Large.  The 19-year-old five-eighth entered the game with a high-five from Tom Trbojevic, and a big cheer from the grandstands, becoming Sea Eagle #676.

Large had barely touched a ball before Manly were in for try number eight.  A trademark Haumole Olakau’atu try from about 25 metres out sent Manly ahead 40-0 on the hour mark.

The final stretch was a mere formality with the Dragons adding a couple of consolation tries, either side of Hopoate’s second for the match.

With just under six minutes until full time, Hopoate collected a neat ball on the short side from Feledy to score his team’s ninth and final try of the evening.

It was night to savour for the Sea Eagles, past and present. 

With the 1996 Premiership-winning team watching on, there to celebrate their Grand Final victory over the Dragons 30 years ago, it was pleasing way to keep this year’s finals hopes alive.