Manly kick clear with gritty win over Warriors

The Sea Eagles have opened a four-point gap at the top of the NRL ladder after a stoic and defence-oriented 22-12 victory over the New Zealand Warriors today in front of 19,199 parochial fans in Auckland.

It was all the home side to start with, an Anthony Watmough error was immediately capitalised upon by Konrad Hurrell who dashed in down the right side, carrying several defenders across the line to open the scoring inside a minute. The momentum stayed with the Warriors through much of the first twenty minutes as they held on to a 6-0 lead but execution started letting them down, eventually conceding plenty of possession to the Sea Eagles.

Manly took advantage of the additional ball at the 19th minute with Cheyse Blair scoring a  try in the corner. Lyon wasn't able to convert though, meaning the hosts kept a two-point lead. The Warriors then looked to have hit back a few minutes later after a high kick was left to bounce near the touchline, being batted back by Vatuvei for Simon Mannering - but replays showed that sideline bounce had indeed touched chalk and the try was denied. The 30th minute bought along another try for Manly, this time through Peta Hiku - a super effort in the corner and this time it was all good from Lyon out wide. 10-6 would be the scoreline through to halftime in favour of the visiting side.

The Sea Eagles went into the second half and clung to their four-point lead, making simple errors but standing strong in defence to deny the Warriors countless times. The 47th minute saw Vatuvei cross to claim a try but he never grounded the ball and the video referee ruled he was held up. Manly continued strong in defence before finally turning the tide and it led to Peta Hiku claiming his second try with fifteen remaining. Cherry-Evans sealed the game with nine minutes left scoring under the posts, while the Warriors hit back in the 74th through captain Simon Mannering to give themselves a faint late hope. The final 22-12 scoreline means Manly jump four points clear of the Panthers and Bulldogs on the table, and leaves the Warriors teetering on the edge of the top eight as the race for spots tightens.

Next week Manly are looking at a short turnaround when they face Brisbane on Friday night at Brookie, while the Warriors are off to Canberra to face the lowly Raiders at GIO Stadium on Sunday.

NEW ZEALAND WARRIORS (12)
Tries: Konrad Hurrell, Simon Mannering
Conversions: Chad Townsend (2/2)

MANLY-WARRINGAH SEA EAGLES (22)
Tries: Cheyse Blair, Peta Hiku (2), Daly Cherry-Evans
Conversions: Jamie Lyon (3/4)

Manly can go four points clear at the top here with a victory over a Warriors team teetering on the edge of the top eight. TEAM NEWS sees the Warriors lose half Shaun Johnson and utility Feleti Mateo. Thomas Leuluai moves to half while Tuimoala Lolohea and Sam Rapira will fill the vacant bench spots. Manly lose Jorge Taufua off the wing, replaced by Cheyse Blair, while the bench sees Dunamis Lui drop out, replaced by Tyson Andrews.

1: Game on in Auckland - Manly have it first but have already spilled it in the opening set! Warriors ball!

1: TRY NEW ZEALAND WARRIORS
Scored by Konrad Hurrell. Kick to come.
Hurrell smashes down the right edge and carries defenders over the line. What a try!

2: SUCCESSFUL CONVERSION NEW ZEALAND WARRIORS
Conversion attempt by Chad Townsend successful.
Townsend nails the added extras from 5 in from touch.

6: Brett Stewart crunched in a tackle taking a short ball from Foran, and it looks like Hurrell's gathered it and run away, but it's a scrum, no advantage played. Warriors ball on halfway.

7: Another knock on called against Manly as they attempt to stop a Warriors attacking raid. Scrum 10m out now!

8: Horrid kick from Townsend on the last for NZ, grubber shoots straight over the dead ball line. Manly 20m restart.

11: Kieran Foran penalised for a shoulder charge on Konrad Hurrell... looked more like simultaneous contact by both but it's the Warriors' ball. Exciting footy so far! Warriors ball on their own 40m.

14: Another penalty to the Warriors! Home side getting all the running here at the moment... and then Ikahihifo spills it. Unlucky.

15: Manly finally getting some decent ball and for the first time they work into Warriors' territory. The last tackle kick is knocked forward by the visitors though so it's a 20m restart to the home team.

16: Manly with a penalty, ball is theirs starting on the Warriors 30m.

18: VIDEO REFEREE possible Manly try in the corner for Cheyse Blair - checking touchline.

19: TRY MANLY-WARRINGAH SEA EAGLES
Scored by Cheyse Blair. Kick to come.
It's no problem, Blair's feet remain in the air. Matai with great quick hands to put his winger over in the corner.

19: UNSUCCESSFUL CONVERSION MANLY-WARRINGAH SEA EAGLES
Conversion attempt by Jamie Lyon unsuccessful.
Lyon's sprayed this one wide. Warriors keep a two point lead.

22: VIDEO REFEREE - Mannering NO TRY, it's ruled to have bounced out before a miraculous tap-back. It's a 20m restart to Manly.

27: Great cover by the Warriors at the end of the set - Blair took an aerial contest but threw it over the head of Matai into touch and it's a handover for NZ.

29: Manly dominating possession and field position now - the Warriors give up a repeat set to them and now a penalty is blown. More pressure on the home side here...

30: VIDEO REFEREE checking on a possible TRY to Manly winger Peta Hiku in the corner.

30: TRY MANLY-WARRINGAH SEA EAGLES
Scored by Peta Hiku. Kick to come.
Hiku with some acrobatics to get it down whilst flying through the air!

31: SUCCESSFUL CONVERSION MANLY-WARRINGAH SEA EAGLES
Conversion attempt by Jamie Lyon successful.
From the other wing he has much more success... four the difference in favour of the visitors.

35: 40/20 MANLY-WARRINGAH SEA EAGLES
Daly Cherry-Evans kicks a 40/20.
DCE nails the long-ranger.... now Manly will threaten from 10m out!

36: UNFORCED ERROR MANLY-WARRINGAH SEA EAGLES
Daly Cherry-Evans makes an unforced error.
DCE undoes his good work with a poor lazy forward pass to Lyon on the right side.

37: Manly with more pressure on the line but DCE spills a pass backwards late in the set and the Warriors come away with it.

38: Penalty Warriors, Hurrell copping a bit of action from Brenton Lawrence. Sam Rapira gets a warning from the referee for escalating tensions as the players all come together.

39: Manly with a penalty with just 30 seconds to halftime. Set starts 40m from the Warriors line...

40: HALFTIME here after an exciting final play from the Warriors off an intercept fizzes out.

41: Game back on and a tricky catch for Lolohea to start from the kickoff but he does claim it.

43: UNFORCED ERROR MANLY-WARRINGAH SEA EAGLES
Anthony Watmough makes an unforced error.
Watmough loses the ball getting up to play it. He tries to claim interference but the referee has none of it and orders the scrum packed.

45: Warriors almost over but Matulino's offload called forward.

46: Warriors pick up a penalty after DCE raked it from Ben Matulino in a two man tackle.

47: VIDEO REF for a possible TRY to Manu Vatuvei in the corner. Checking grounding/held-up.

47: It's NO TRY. Vatuvei's sold the referee a dummy here, DCE's held him up! Back for a play the ball to Manly (handover).

51: UNFORCED ERROR MANLY-WARRINGAH SEA EAGLES
Peta Hiku makes an unforced error.
Hiku spills it inside his own 20m... more pressure on Manly here as the Warriors attack again.

51: Ugh, horrible last tackle option from Nathan Friend - he tries a dummy half scurry but he's tackled. Handover.

53: Warriors getting a couple of favourable calls in relation to ball security and now they're on the attack again here.

54: More pressure on Manly, Hiku forced to take it dead and it's a line dropout.

58: Manly withstand the onslaught and push the play back up the park, but the Warriors now come back. Townsend drills a long kick dead. Manly 20m restart.

61: Manly's defence absolute stoic. What a performance from the competition leaders - the home side throwing everything at them.

64: UNFORCED ERROR NEW ZEALAND WARRIORS
Manu Vatuvei makes an unforced error.
A drop ball from big Manu gives Manly an attacking chance with a scrum 35m out.

65: TRY MANLY-WARRINGAH SEA EAGLES
Scored by Peta Hiku. Kick to come.
Hiku bags a double in the corner! Is that the game for the table-topping Sea Eagles?

67: SUCCESSFUL CONVERSION MANLY-WARRINGAH SEA EAGLES
Conversion attempt by Jamie Lyon successful.
From the touchline... Lyon nails the extras! Ten the difference now.

71: TRY MANLY-WARRINGAH SEA EAGLES
Scored by Daly Cherry-Evans. Kick to come.
DCE goes over to seal the game for the visitors! Under the posts for good measure...

73: SUCCESSFUL CONVERSION MANLY-WARRINGAH SEA EAGLES
Conversion attempt by Jamie Lyon successful.
Easy two points for "Killer"

73: Warriors short kickoff pays dividends, they'll work it off their own line.

74: TRY NEW ZEALAND WARRIORS
Scored by Simon Mannering. Kick to come.
Mannering scores! Warriors desperate late fightback?

74: SUCCESSFUL CONVERSION NEW ZEALAND WARRIORS
Conversion attempt by Chad Townsend successful.
Townsend adds the extras after supplying the grubber for Mannering's try...

76: Warriors penalised after Matulino rakes it.

80: FULLTIME and Manly go four clear at the top of the table with a 22-12 win.