Manly coach Des Hasler declared his team had 'grabbed a slice of Manly club history' after eight players backed up for their second game in 24 hours to help the Sea Eagles to a gutsy 24-6 win over NRL favourites St George Illawarra at Brookvale Oval on Saturday night.
Test stars Jamie Lyon, Steve Matai, Kieran Foran, Josh Perry and Anthony Watmough – along with City half-back Trent Hodkinson and Country duo Michael Robertson and Glenn Stewart – fought off fatigue and soreness as Manly produced an outstanding team effort to quell the Dragons.
Hasler, who was critical of the NRL for staging his team's match a night after the rep season kicked-off, is not one for hyperbole but could not contain his pride.
"I've called it the most courageous win that I've seen from a Manly side, particularly (given) the circumstances and who they were playing and the character of the side they were playing," he said.
"They grabbed a slice of Manly club history tonight. (It's) something they should be very proud of."
"I thought the 17 out there in the maroon and white showed a lot of character to come away with a good win against a very, very good football team."
Co-captain Lyon was simply superb, while giant winger Ton Williams crossed for a hat-trick of tries.
Hodkinson also played a starring role, noticeably lifting after Foran was forced from the field with a hamstring injury at half-time.
Co-captain Jason King revealed the players who didn't take part in Friday night's rep games made a pact to inspire their weary team-mates.
"We spoke about that during the week," he said
"We knew the guys backing up had a very tough job so we knew we had to take it to the next level and try and lift then enthusiasm, lift their energy to come along with us."
"I thought we did that. For those guys to back up in 24 hours is an unbelievable effort."
"It's definitely up there (with the most courageous wins). It's the toughest team sport in the world and to have to play two games in two games is an unbelievable effort."
"For those boys to put in the effort that they did…very courageous, outstanding."
St George Illawarra lost Test pair Michael Weyman and Jason Nightingale and had three further players backing up from rep duty but never really looked in the game.
The Dragons only trailed 10-6 at the break but failed to get on the board in the second half as Manly shut them out of the contest.
"They had eight players backing up and we finished up with three so we can't use that as an excuse," coach Wayne Bennett said.
"They (Manly) put it all together tonight and it's probably credit to the Dragons blokes that they brought the best out in them."
Captain Ben Hornby added: "We were a little bit off the pace, it was a bit disappointing."