The Manly Sea Eagles have given the surest indication yet they deserve to be NRL premiership favourites after scoring a commanding 32-10 victory over the Canterbury Bulldogs at Brookvale Oval on Friday night.
Played in greasy and boggy conditions, the game pitted two of the competition heavyweights against each other. It was the Sea Eagles who emerged with their reputation for toughness enhanced after overcoming a slow start to deny the ladder leaders.
The Bulldogs began well enough and took the lead in the 17th minute when quick hands allowed winger Mitch Brown to step his way over in the right corner. The Bulldogs were on top in the opening quarter, their big forwards winning the yardage battle in the middle as the home team struggled to get out of its half.
Enter Daly Cherry-Evans. The Sea Eagles No.7 was under an injury cloud heading into the match and didn’t appear at full fitness but managed to impose himself after half an hour. With the Bulldogs’ defence rushing him on the last tackle, Cherry-Evans dummied and grubbed for himself, kicking ahead a second time before regathering and sending teammate Steve Matai over out wide.
Two minutes later and the Sea Eagles were in again, forward Jesse Sene-Lefao keeping low and scoring next to the posts. Jamie Lyon converted for a 12-6 lead before a Cherry-Evans dummy and offload led to a Peta Hiku try just before halftime.
Up by 12 points at the break, the Sea Eagles put themselves beyond two converted tries with an early penalty goal when the game restarted.
A knee injury to Cherry-Evans, who was hurt in a tackle from Bulldogs prop Sam Kasiano, sent a scare through the Sea Eagles camp. The 25-year-old was able to leave the ground without assistance but took no further part in the match and is doubt for Queensland ahead of the second State of Origin on June 18.
The Sea Eagles, however, didn’t slacken off, a try to talismanic fullback Brett Stewart and subsequent conversion putting the home side 20 points up. It proved too much of a mountain for the Bulldogs to climb. A four-pointer to Chase Stanley was a late consolation before Manly finished off the game with a second try to Stewart.
