The second-last-placed Dragons threatened a boilover after establishing a deserved lead through a sixth-minute try to prop Francis Molo, the conversion and a penalty goal to Zac Lomax. Manly finish the regular season against lowly Canterbury and Wests Tigers and probably need to fashion four wins to make the finals.ĭespite Saturday's celebrations, the Sea Eagles' win was anything but convincing. They play the Sydney Roosters next Thursday night in another must-win encounter at the Sydney Cricket Ground before taking on premiers Penrith and the Warriors in successive testers on the road. Now just one point out of the top eight, the Sea Eagles climbed above Parramatta into 10th spot on the ladder ahead of a crucial three-game stretch. Typically, the 34-year-old delivered a playmaking masterclass, having a hand in three of the Sea Eagles' four tries - including the first two to spark his side's comeback.Ĭherry-Evans also chimed in with a vital captain's challenge when Manly were under the pump early, down on the scoreboard and deep in defence trying to hold the Dragons out. Winger Sunia Turuva and newly re-signed back-rower Liam Martin further strengthened their advantage after the interval as Cronulla's heads began to drop.Ī month after guiding Queensland to back-to-back State of Origin series triumphs over NSW, the Manly and Maroons captain became the 49th player to join the 300-game club.īut the veteran half-back is the first to play all 300 in the same position. Their two opening tries came in similar fashion, with Kennedy and Nicho Hynes failing to field low kicks which Jarome Luai and Isaah Yeo scooped up to touch down.Ĭronulla, to their credit, defended a lot better than they had in recent weeks, but Penrith's dominance of possession - they had just 43 per cent across the 80 minutes - began to take its toll.ĭiminutive winger Brian To'o touched down in the corner on the half-hour mark to give the Panthers an 18-0 lead at the break. Ivan Cleary's men never truly put the foot down, but they boxed cleverly and took their chances when they arrived. Lock Cameron McInnes was heroic for the visitors in registering an NRL-record 84 tackles.īut it wasn't enough, as the Panthers continued their march towards another top-two finish in front of a home crowd of 20,694. The Sharks sit precariously in seventh spot after Saturday's defeat, ahead of an unenviable run home against South Sydney, Gold Coast, North Queensland, Newcastle and Canberra. Cronulla had Ronaldo Mulitalo withdraw due to a jaw injury in the build-up to kick-off and fellow winger Sione Katoa played on after dislocating a finger.
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