NRL: Manly too good for Cowboys

Brett Stewart of the Sea Eagles is congratulated by team mates after scoring a try. Photo / Getty Images

Sea Eagles 24
Cowboys 4

Manly enhanced their credentials as genuine NRL premiership contenders, easing past North Queensland 24-4 in tonight's NRL clash.

The victory moved Des Hasler's side into second spot on the ladder as they chalked up a fifth successive victory at a sodden Brookvale Oval.

Two tries from Brett Stewart maintained his brilliant record on home soil, taking his tally to a remarkable 57 in 58 games with George Rose and Steve Matai also going over for the hosts.

The Cowboys, who started the game in fourth spot, again struggled in attack without co-captains Johnathan Thurston and Matt Scott, who were absent due to Queensland State of Origin commitments.

Their record without Thurston makes sorry reading, with just seven wins from the 26 games the Test halfback has not been involved in since 2005.

Manly, who were without NSW stars Anthony Watmough and Will Hopoate, came racing out of the blocks, with Matai almost scoring from the opening set after a sweeping move.

Stewart broke the deadlock in the third minute, latching onto a deliciously-weighted kick from Daly Cherry-Evans and big George Rose then bulldozed his way over for his second four-pointer in as many games.

The Cowboys failed to make inroads in attack in the opening quarter-of-an-hour as they battled to hold off a marauding home side.

In addition to looking sharp in attack, Manly showed great resilience in defence as the visitors pressed for the line in the latter stages of the opening period with Dallas Johnson, Glenn Hall and Kalifa Faifai Loa all being denied.

The second stanza followed a similar pattern to the first with the Sea Eagles going over less than two minutes after the restart through Matai following Ashley Graham's fumble on the second tackle deep inside his own half.

In addition to conceding the try, the Cowboys also lost Antonio Winterstein who became the latest victim of a torn pectoral muscle as he tried to thwart the big Kiwi centre.

Graham atoned for his earlier error in the 59th minute, brushing past a poor tackle from Michael Oldfield to score the visitors' first points of the game.

However, Manly responded well soon after when Stewart added his second of the night, following a smart chip-kick by Kieran Foran with Jamie Lyon adding the extras with his fourth successful kick of the game.

Former Sea Eagle Glenn Hall's return to Brookvale saw him placed on report in the second half for a swinging arm across the face of Glenn Stewart.

MANLY 24 (B Stewart 2 S Matai G Rose tries J Lyon 4 goals) bt NORTH QUEENSLAND 4 (A Graham try) at Brookvale Oval. Referee: Gerard Sutton, Jared Maxwell. Crowd: 8,452.

- AAP