Manly has continued its return to premiership-winning form with an exciting 38-20 win over the Wests Tigers in front of a capacity crowd at Bluetongue Stadium at Gosford on Sunday.
A ground record-equalling crowd of 20,059 turned up to watch Manly take up where they left off in last week's thrashing of the Sharks to run in six-tries-to-four for a powerful win that sends an ominous message to the rest of the competition.
Manly overcame an early eight-point lead to go to the half-time break leading 24-12. The Tigers struck back early in the second half but the Sea Eagles ran in two more tries to continue their charge to the finals.
The loss leaves the Tigers in third spot on 26 points, while Manly move into fourth place on differential with 24 points with the Broncos/Roosters match still to be played.
The Tigers set the tone of the game from the first minute when Farrah made a great offload in the middle of the park to Marshall, who looped the ball wide to put Chris Lawrence into space.
He fired the ball out to Tuqiri, who bolted down the touchline before chipping a kick infield that just went dead in-goal before Lawrence could get to the ball.
The Tigers were the first to score in the 11th minute when Ben Marshall slotted a penalty goal from right in front after the Manly defence was pinged for being offside.
Wests went further in front in the 15th minute when lock Chris Heighington was about to snare a Farrah crossfield kick and touch down adjacent to the posts. Marshall added the extras to make it 8-0 to the visitors.
Manly hit back almost immediately after a Kieran Foran charge-down put his side on the attack. The Sea Eagles worked the play to the right side of the field where second-rower Shane Rodney ran a bullocking inside angle to plant the ball 15 metres to the right of the posts. Lyon slotted the conversion to make it 8-6 midway through the first half.
Manly hit the lead in the 24th minute when Steve Matai burst through the tackle of opposing centre Blake Ayshford and romped inside the Tigers 20 before turning the ball back infield for Foran to score under the posts. Lyon added the extras to make it 12-8.
The Sea Eagles extended their advantage 11 minutes before halftime when halfback Trent Hodkinson was able to pop an amazing pass despite the attention of two tacklers for Lyon to cross over out wide. Lyon converted his own try to make it 18-8.
Manly were dealt a blow five minutes before halftime when Matai, who had been in everything up until that point, was put on report for a late and shot on Farrah. When Matai wanted to go on with it and a scuffle broke out and referee Shayne Hayne gave Matai 10 minutes in the bin to cool off.
Just a minute later Tigers halfback Robert Lui juggled the ball before darting through a gap on Matai’s side of the field to dive over for a four-pointer. Marshall missed the conversion to leave Manly holding an 18-12 lead.
The Sea Eagles struck back right on the stroke of halftime on an amazing last play option.
Foran put a crossfield kick in for winger Michael Robertson, who marked the ball five out from the Tigers