Adam Lucius at Brookvale Oval
Despite having eight players backing up from representative duty – on top of losing influential five-eighth Kieran Foran at half-time - a courageous Manly has beaten competition leaders St George Illawarra 24-6 at a packed Brookvale Oval.
The Sea Eagles' rep contingent was playing its second game in 24 hours but fought off fatigue to lead all the way against a Dragons outfit that looked out of sorts for much of the night.
The visitors were missing Test duo Jason Nightingale and Michael Weyman, leaving them with three players returning from rep duty, but appeared tired from the outset.
The Sea Eagles led 10-6 at the break and this time kept the foot down to ensure there would be no repeat of the second half collapses that have cost them three certain victories this season.
Winger Tony Williams, a much maligned figure at times, scored a hat-trick of tries in his best performance in Manly colours.
The home side dominated field position and possession early and came up with the first try on nine minutes.
Jamie Lyon feigned to take Trent Hodkinson's looping cut-out-pass, leaving Williams in space with less than 10m to travel.
The giant winger simply put his head down and barrelled over the top of the cover defence to plant the ball down for only his second try of the year.
Seven minutes later Williams had his double.
A lovely second man set play saw Ben Farrar flick a pass up to Lyon as he was falling, the centre then finding the unmarked Williams for a beautifully executed try.
Lyon was on target with the conversion from out wide to put Manly up 10-0.
The Dragons looked lethargic for the first 25 minutes but hung in there until the momentum shifted.
When they finally got to spend some time in the Manly quarter they cashed in, albeit in unusual circumstances.
Anthony Watmough knocked the ball out of Luke Priddis' hands from dummy half, the ball spilling loose for St George Illawarra forward Trent Merrin to pick up, pirouette and crash his way over beside the posts.
Jamie Soward landed the simple conversion and the Dragons trailed by four going into half-time.
The Sea Eagles took to the field in the second half without Foran, who succumbed to a hamstring strain, but were in after just seven minutes to re-establish their 10-point advantage.
Farrar avoided three defenders as he arrowed back towards the posts from wide out to score a try that the St George Illawarra defence could have shut down on several occasions.
Lyon added the extras and at 16-6 the Dragons' task looked even greater.
By the 55th minute the task became mission impossible after Williams clocked up his hat-trick following magnificent work from Lyon.
He dived full stretch to rake back a Hodkinson grubber centimetres from the deadball line, Williams on the spot to casually plant his hands on the ball.
Lyon landed the sideline conversion for a 22-6 lead, adding a late penalty before his team was given a deserved standing ovation from fans as they left the field.
Manly 24
Tries: Williams 3, Farrar
Goals: Lyon 4
St George Illawarra 6
Tries: Merrin
Goals: Soward
Crowd:16,745