Loss leaves misfiring Manly ‘sitting there hoping’
Murray Wenzel |
Manly’s attack has misfired again in a fierce blow to their NRL finals hopes, while Wests Tigers kept theirs alive in a dominating 26-12 win.
Just 34 points in their past 368 minutes of football effectively ended the Sea Eagles’ season, after they had snuck home in a golden-point thriller against Melbourne a month ago to sit snugly inside the top eight.
Until Matt Lodge’s 79th-minute touchdown on Sunday at Allianz Stadium, it was the Sea Eagles’ lowest tally across four games since 1975.
A fourth straight defeat was a dagger blow to Manly’s finals hopes, the Sea Eagles needing a three-game unbeaten run home and relying on other results.
The Tigers’ season was officially over if they lost on Sunday.
But, improving to 9-12, they moved level on 24 points with Manly and must win through and hope the ninth-placed Sydney Roosters lose their remaining games.
“A massive step back,” Manly coach Anthony Seibold said.
“It’s going to be tough now, relying on other results, sitting there hoping – and hope’s not a great strategy.
“A pretty rough last month after a great win away, but that was our worst performance for a long time.”
Manly started well, Tolutau Koula brushing through some soft defence for a brilliant solo try that created one of Manly’s two line breaks for the contest.
That seemed to wake up the Tigers, although Manly missing 15 tackles in the first 12 minutes – and completing 28 of 42 sets – also helped.
First Adam Doueihi strolled over thanks to a neat tap-back from fullback Jahream Bula.
Then the halfback laid on a try for winger Jeral Skelton, who did well to plant the ball in the right corner and set up a 12-6 halftime lead.
Manly’s Tommy Talau blew what should have been a simple try to bring his men level, penalised for a double movement attempting to score at the scrum base with the Tigers’ line exposed.
Tigers winger Sunia Turuva had collided with Bula attempting to catch Daly Cherry-Evans’ spiralling bomb, handing possession back to the Sea Eagles.
Talau was made to rue the error moments later when Turuva busted through a series of half-hearted tackle attempts to put his side two tries clear.
Taylan May, put through a gap by an impressive Jarome Luai, then effectively iced the contest midway through the second half.
His scything try was confirmed despite Samuela Fainu running what appeared to be an obstruction as May approached Manly fullback Tom Trbojevic.
Compounding problems, Reuben Garrick will have scans on a shoulder injury that forced him out of the game in the first half.
Tigers centre Starford To’a (shoulder) also left the field with his left arm in a makeshift sling.
“We haven’t even talked about that; all that matters is that if we lose we’re done,” Tigers coach Benji Marshall said of their finals equation.
“As a coach, I’ve learnt the most in the last few weeks about our team.
“We’ve always had effort and competed. It’s about putting together the smarts of our footy, the weapons we have.”
AAP
