NRL: Manly move top with win

Brenton Lawrence of the Sea Eagles looks to offload in the tackle during the round 23 NRL match between the Gold Coast Titans and the Manly Sea Eagles. Photo / Getty Images.

Manly are back on top of the NRL after a gritty 15-12 win over Gold Coast today.

The Sea Eagles, thanks to tries from Kieran Foran and Brett Stewart, claimed their 15th win of the season and rebounded from last week's loss to South Sydney.

Playing under caretaker coach Neil Henry for the first time, the Titans were brave but have now slipped to four straight losses and eight consecutive defeats at home.

Mercurial youngster James Roberts and winger Kalifa Faifai Loa scored for the Titans, although Faifai Loa bombed another opportunity with the line beckoning, had he of scored the result may have been different.

After being put under pressure by the home team in the first half, it was the Sea Eagles who opened the scoring after 32 minutes against the run of play.

Despite appearing offside, Foran was awarded a try when he ran onto a clever inside kick from Daly Cherry-Evans after the Manly halfback had broken clear 30 metres out.

Roberts ensured scores would be level at the break when he surged through the Sea Eagles' defensive line in the final minute of the term before exploding through a gap to score for the Titans.

The Sea Eagles regained their lead through Stewart's 56th minute try. The fullback taking advantage of a Foran line-break at the halfway line before Cherry-Evans' slotted a crucial late field goal.

Faifai Loa's try immediately after the one-pointer ensured a grandstand finish. Gold Coast weren't able to overcome the odds though, Manly icing the game with a penalty after the siren.

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-AAP