The Sea Eagles’ hopes for a top-four finish were dashed as they fell to an inspired Wests Tigers side, losing 34-26.
Manly initially surged to a 16-0 lead, but soon allowed the home team back into the contest.
The Wests Tigers responded with an impressive run of 30 unanswered points, overcoming a hat-trick from Tom Trbojevic as a series of sin bins proved costly for the Sea Eagles.
The match’s first scoring chance came from the Wests Tigers, with Galvin’s grubber kick striking the goalpost padding. Halfback Aidan Sezer grabbed the ball but was held up by Trbojevic’s try-saving tackle.
Manly quickly countered, moving the play downfield and striking on the right side. Reuben Garrick danced past Charlie Staines and set up Jason Saab in the corner for the opening try.
The Sea Eagles soon doubled their advantage, this time attacking down the left as the Wests Tigers’ defense retreated. Lehi Hopoate capitalized on a simple overlap to score on the wing.
Despite the Wests Tigers creating a few half-chances near Manly’s line, their efforts were stymied when Ethan Bullemor burst through the middle and passed to Trbojevic, who scored in support.
Hooker Api Koroisau responded for the Tigers in the 25th minute, evading several Manly defenders from dummy half to score.
Just four minutes later, Heath Mason crossed in the corner for his first NRL try, reigniting the Tigers’ hopes.
Adding to Manly’s woes, Bullemor was sent to the sin bin for repeated infringements after back-to-back penalties.
As the first half neared its end, the home crowd jeered as Manly held a slim 16-12 lead.
Upon Bullemor’s return, Haumole Olakau’atu was placed on report and sent to the sin bin for a high tackle on Mason.
With the Sea Eagles down to 12 men, a slick no-look pass from Latu Fainu sent Alex Seyfarth through a gap, with Koroisau’s conversion giving the Wests Tigers a narrow lead.
The Tigers quickly followed up with consecutive tries; Fainu scored after a loose ball near the tryline, and Solomona Faataape benefited from an unusual bounce.
Trbojevic secured his second try, but the Sea Eagles were again reduced to 12 men when Corey Waddell was sin-binned for a high shot.
Despite being a man down, Trbojevic completed his hat-trick in the 69th minute.
Manly squandered a golden opportunity to retake the lead when Jason Saab dropped a pass with nothing but open field ahead of him. The match was ultimately decided when Samuela Fainu scored the Tigers’ winning try.
“The atmosphere here was electric when they scored that try—I couldn’t even hear myself think. Well done to the Tigers,” commented Johnathan Thurston on Nine.
With this result, the Wests Tigers move closer to avoiding the wooden spoon, while the Sea Eagles miss the chance to secure a finals spot. The only downside for the Tigers was a shoulder injury to Sezer, which forced him out shortly after halftime.
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