The Sea Eagles are through to the second week of finals after pulling off a gutsy 24-22 comeback victory over the Bulldogs on Sunday.
Manly No.6 Luke Brooks saw plenty of action in his first finals appearance, while Tom Trbojevic was clearly playing injured but did enough to help his side home.
Canterbury stars Stephen Crichton and Viliame Kikau were everywhere and Matt Burton fell agonisingly short with late two-point field goals not once but twice.
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Here are the player ratings for both teams in the elimination final between the Sea Eagles and the Bulldogs.
SEA EAGLES
1. Tom Trbojevic — 6.5
Dropped one early but then helped set up his side’s first try. A poor tackle attempt saw him fall off Viliame Kikau who then raced away to score in the first half. Looked like he was playing injured and required extra strapping at halftime. But also made the half break through the middle that led to the match-winning try.
2. Tommy Talau — 6.5
Scored his side’s opener and then laid out Connor Tracey in the first half with a great shot, but he got penalised for it. “I think it’s fair, it’s in the sternum,” Cooper Cronk said on Fox League. The Dogs scored off that penalty after Talau failed to win a footrace with Stephen Crichton who scored an incredible try. Other than scoring, struggled to leave his mark in attack with just 78 metres from 13 carries.
3. Tolu Koula — 8
Scored one of the great finals tries when he flew down the left wing then beat three defenders to cross for the match-winner in the 72nd minute. He also set up Tommy Talau for Manly’s opening try with a nice draw-and-pass.
4. Reuben Garrick — 7.5
Couldn’t stop Jacob Kiraz one-on-one from scoring the opening try. But he ran hard out of yardage and was perfect off the tee which included a clutch conversion in the 73rd minute that proved the difference.
5. Lehi Hopoate — 7
A little bit of everything from the young fella. Fell over while trying to stop Kikau in cover defence and it led to a try. But then outleapt Connor Tracey to haul in a bomb and put Ethan Bullemor over for the first half in what marked a crucial huge big-game play from the teenager. Got dragged back into his in-goal in the second half and also rushed a pass late that led to a knock on but will have learnt plenty from his first finals game.
6. Luke Brooks — 7
Pulled off a ripping set piece play to put his halves partner Daly Cherry-Evans over in the 63rd minute and make it 22-18. Threw a forward pass on halfway in the 67th minute but it didn’t lead to points. The 29-year-old is now undefeated in finals – 1/1 baby.
7. Daly Cherry-Evans — 7.5
Produced an 80-metre dropout in the first half and scored off a beautiful set play in the second half. Lost his cool in the second half in a rare moment that saw him wrestling on the ground with several Bulldogs players.
8. Taniela Paseka — 7
A solid shift from the big front-rower who made 21 tackles while missing just one and finished with 92 run metres from 11 carries.
9. Lachlan Croker — 7.5
A typically tireless performance from Manly’s workhorse. Comfortably topped his side’s tackle count with 46 and kept running throughout his 80 minutes.
10. Matthew Lodge — 7.5
Anthony Seibold loves this journeyman and Lodge repaid his coach’s faith with a big 41-minute shift. Ran for 122 metres from 17 carries that produced seven tackle busts. Made 18 tackles and missed just one.
11. Haumole Olakau’atu — 8
Came to play and ran for 130 metres from 11 carries that produced the same number of tackle busts. Also made a linebreak and completed 28 tackles while missing just two.
12. Karl Lawton — 7
A quiet night in attack but got through his work in defence and made 31 tackles while missing just one.
13. Jake Trbojevic — 6
Like his fullback brother, looked little underdone but still made 20 tackles without a miss.
BENCH
14. Ben Trbojevic — 6.5
Only played 17 minutes but did his job.
15. Josh Aloiai — 7
A 26-minute shift produced 45 metres from six carries and 16 tackles without missing one.
16. Ethan Bullemor — 6.5
Gave away a high shot penalty in the first half but responded well to score his side’s second try after backing up well through the middle.
17. Nathan Brown — 6
Never really got going and only ran for 55 metres but made 24 tackles.
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BULLDOGS
1. Connor Tracey — 6.5
Ran hard from the opening whistle but got out-leapt by Lehi Hopoate which allowed Manly to score their second try. Finished with 171 metres from 17 carries.
2. Jacob Kiraz — 6.5
Scored the opener after beating his man to cross in the corner but dropped a kick in the second half that allowed Manly to score and get back in the game. Finished with 145 metres from 19 caries.
3. Bronson Xerri — 5.5
Not his best game. Tried hard but just couldn’t inject himself like he has so often this season. Disappointing way to finish a stellar comeback year.
4. Stephen Crichton — 8.5
Did unbelievably well to score his side’s third try, chased down a kick and somehow got his hand to the ball first. Then got his side off to a huge start in the second half when he dragged Lehi Hopoate back into the in-goal to force a repeat set. Batted on a kick for Jeral Skelton to score in the Dogs’ fourth try. Couldn’t have done much more to try and win it for his side.
5. Jeral Skelton — 7
Didn’t trust his inside man which allowed Manly to score their first try but responded really well and scored the first try of the second half. Finished with 180 metres from 21 carries that produced five tackle busts.
6. Matt Burton — 7.5
Another big-name Bulldog who tried everything he could to get his side home, which included two try assists, but it wasn’t enough. Fell agonisingly short twice on two-point field goals that would have sent the game into golden point.
7. Toby Sexton — 5.5
A disappointing end to an otherwise strong campaign from the Bulldogs halfback. Set up a try but his side needed more from him when the game was on the line.
8. Max King — 7
Did his job. Made 32 tackles and missed just three while also making 79 metres from 10 carries which included a linebreak.
9. Reed Mahoney — 6
Conceded two penalties in the opening 15 minutes and the second led to Manly’s opening try. Gave away another penalty in the second half but made 55 tackles in a big shift in the middle.
10. Samuel Hughes — 6
Another Bulldogs player who has come into his own this season but couldn’t capture his best form in their biggest game of the year.
11. Viliame Kikau — 7.5
He produced a nice catch-and-pass to set up the opening and then scored his side’s second with a barnstorming run. Put on some big shits in defence but also missed eight tackles which was more a reflection of how hard he was working on both sides of the ball.
12. Jacob Preston — 8
Made 40 tackles without missing one and ran for 89 metres from 11 carries that produced three tackle busts. Very handy contribution.
13. Jaeman Salmon — 7
Did his job and made 28 tackles while running for 72 metres from nine carries.
BENCH
14. Bailey Hayward — 6
Made 18 tackles and missed just one, while making five runs for 46 metres.
15. Kurtis Morrin — 5
Only played seven minutes and missed two tackles.
16. Harry Hayes — 6.5
Ran for 58 metres from eight carries and made 14 tackles while missing just one.
17. Josh Curran — 6
Ran for 83 metres from 10 carries and made 17 tackles but missed four.
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