NRL: Foran inspires Manly to victory

Kieran Foran of the Sea Eagles scores a try. Photo / Getty Images

Sea Eagles 36
Rabbitohs 22

Manly star Kieran Foran showed his class and tenacity to inspire the Sea Eagles to a 36-22 NRL victory over a willing South Sydney at Brookvale Oval.

The 20-year-old five-eighth delivered two solo tries to help the home side over the line, strengthening his chances of challenging injured North Queensland playmaker Johnathan Thurston for the Dally M medal.

Manly scored three tries in the opening half to take a 16-8 lead into the break, but weren't ruthless enough to put their opponents away in front of a bumper crowd of 19,856.

An individual try to Rabbitohs No.6 John Sutton and a Greg Inglis-inspired runaway touch-down to flyer Nathan Merritt gave Souths an unlikely 22-16 lead with half an hour left.

However, once they fell behind on the scoreboard, Foran ensured the Sea Eagles switched from cruise mode back into the kind of form that has them billed as premiership threats.

The Kiwi international barged over in the 59th minute and repeated the dose in almost identical style four minutes later to get Manly back in front.

Tries to Michael Robertson and David Williams and a Jamie Lyon penalty goal in the final 10 minutes sealed the result which keeps the Sea Eagles in second place on the ladder.

South Sydney would have been in trouble if it wasn't for a Merritt double and for the Indigenous All Star coming up with an incredible piece of play with four minutes left in the opening half, which was as miraculous as it was contentious.

The flyer, who had reverted to fullback after Rhys Wesser left the field earlier in the half, trailed through a John Sutton grubber that looked certain to go dead.

However Merritt, with his entire body outside the field of play, managed to rake the ball back into the in-goal area, for secondrower Nathan Clark to come through and ground the ball for his maiden NRL try.

Souths stars Sandow, Inglis and Sutton showed glimpses of brilliance, but the Rabbitohs defence looked all at sea against Manly's attack - especially on their right-hand edge.

The Rabbitohs missed a golden chance to move to within a win of the NRL top eight and secondrower Ben Lowe is on report for striking Brett Stewart.

MANLY 36 (K Foran 2 D Williams 2 M Oldfield M Robertson B Stewart tries J Lyon 4 goals) bt SOUTH SYDNEY 22 (N Merritt 2 J Clark J Sutton tries C Sandow 3 goals) at Brookvale Oval. Referee: Brett Suttor, Ashley Klein. Crowd: 19,856.

- AAP