NRL: Warriors fall short against Sea Eagles

Simon Mannering of the Warriors celebrates after scoring a try. Photo / Getty Images

Tony "T-Rex" Williams enhanced Manly's NRL life expectancy with a two-try burst carrying the Sea Eagles to a tense 19-16 victory over the New Zealand Warriors tonight.

Williams' brace gave him a points decision over an indifferent Manu "The Beast" Vatuvei as the Warriors squandered an opportunity to confirm their berth in the post-season at Brookvale Oval.

They remain in contention in sixth place provisionally but were overhauled by Manly, who notched a win for just the second time in seven attempts after backing up from a Monday night match.

While Williams was the tryscoring hero, Bulldogs-bound halfback Trent Hodkinson sealed a dramatic win in the 76th minute when he slotted a deadlock-breaking field goal via a desperate deflection from Warriors prop Sam Rapira.

Hodkinson nailed his second field goal attempt from a handy position after Jacob Lillyman turned over possession when knocking on.

Jamie Lyon then expertly wound down the clock with a penalty on the hooter.

The Warriors, on 28 points, face an anxious finish to the regular season with matches at home to Brisbane and away to Parramatta to follow.

And in a potentially serious blow to their title aspirations, tackling machine Micheal Luck was stretchered off with an ugly leg injury with 12 minutes remaining.

The inspirational lock gashed his kneecap on a stray boot before collapsing in the in-goal area. He suffered a laceration and was taken to hospital to assess the damage.

Luck's demise came amid a frantic final quarter that saw Ben Matulino denied a try when he lost control off the ball over the line and Manly's other wing, two-game rookie Michael Oldfield, being stopped centimetres short.

James Maloney also had a crack at breaking the stalemate with a harmless long range attempt eight minutes from time.

Granted top billing before the round 24 clash, ``T-Rex'' versus ``The Beast'' never eventuated until the 29th minute when the bullocking Manly wing touched down in his marker's corner after good lead-up work from Glenn Stewart and Lyon.

Vatuvei's night had started ominously when he knocked on the first Brett Seymour cross kick headed his way.

He was also guilty of dropping the ball on one of his trademark bursts early in the tackle count though Manly could not take advantage on prime field possession and coughed the ball up three plays later.

Williams scored his second try in the 48th minute slicing through Vatuvei and Joel Moon the set after Brent Tate was penalised for an incorrect play-the-ball.

Williams' defensive work was also to the fore in the second spell - three times he defused cross kicks aimed for Vatuvei's corner.

Maloney had opened the scoring with a 10th minute penalty before Manly co-captain Lyon instigated the game's first try with a surge down the right flank.

The Warriors scrambled but as play spread left Kiwis centre Steve Matai was unstoppable after taking an inside ball from Oldfield.

Maloney put the Warriors back in front in the 23rd minute when his mistimed bomb - a skewed effort that drew an audible obscenity once it left his boot - somehow sat up for Bill Tupou.

The wing inpassed to Mannering who enabled the supporting Maloney to round behind the posts.

The Warriors ended the first spell on a roll when Mannering ploughed through two defenders to give Maloney a gift two points and the visitors a 14-10 halftime lead.

The Warriors next host the Broncos, mauled 44-18 by Newcastle last night, on Friday night at Mt Smart Stadium.

They beat Brisbane 48-16 in round three. Crucially, legendary Broncos captain Darren Lockyer may not be fit for the return match.

MANLY 19 (T Williams 2 S Matai tries J Lyon 2 S Matai goals T Hodkinson field goal) bt NZ WARRIORS 16 (J Maloney S Mannering tries J Maloney 4 goals) at Brookvale Oval. Referee: Steve Lyons, Jared Maxwell. Crowd: 13,095.

- NZPA