Manly 27
Sydney Roosters 16
A depleted Manly side produced a performance full of character and commitment to edge out a listless Sydney Roosters 27-16 in Sunday's NRL clash at Sydney Football Stadium.
Des Hasler's team, who lost their opening match of the season against Melbourne, were without co-captains Jason King and Jamie Lyon, as well as Glenn Stewart and Steve Matai, but took inspiration from young five-eighth Kieran Foran.
The 20-year-old New Zealander and rookie halfback Daly Cherry-Evans, who kicked six goals, were outstanding, with Foran scoring a try, and producing one of the early hits of the season on the returning Todd Carney late in the second half.
Brian Smith's Roosters were made to pay for a number of handling errors, with Braith Anasta setting the trend in just the second minute with a knock-on that led to a Tony Williams try.
Cherry-Evans converted, then kicked an eighth-minute penalty to stun the home crowd.
The Roosters got back into the game in the 13th minute through a Mitch Aubusson try, and took the lead with an excellent four-pointer finished by Shaun Kenny-Dowall after brilliant cut-out pass from Mitchell Pearce.
The hosts continued to threaten, but were let down by handling errors, with Nate Myles enduring three teflon moments as he coughed up the ball.
Anthony Watmough restored the Sea Eagles' lead on the stroke of halftime, burrowing his way over the line from close range with Cherry-Evans adding the extras.
Carney, who enjoyed a relatively quiet return to action following groin surgery, darted over for a try immediately after the restart, after George Rose was penalised for impeding Jared Waerea-Hargreaves to give the Roosters a 16-14 advantage.
However, the setback only galvanised the visitors, with Foran becoming the focal point of their attacks and Watmough outstanding in defence.
The 20-year-old Kiwi danced his way over the line in the 50th minute following a great offload from Williams, and 14 minutes from the final siren, set up William Hopoate's first NRL try, with a booming kick, that saw the 19-year-old come down with the ball above a sea of Roosters players.
Cherry-Evans iced the result on the siren when he booted a field goal to add some gloss to a thoroughly deserved Manly win.
MANLY 27 (K Foran W Hopoate A Watmough T Williams tries D Cherry-Evans 5 goals D Cherry-Evans field goal) bt SYDNEY ROOSTERS 16 (M Aubusson T Carney S Kenny-Dowall tries B Anasta 2 goals) at Sydney Football Stadium. Referee: Ben Cummins, Tony De Las Heras. Crowd: 11,016.
- AAP
