NRL: Slick Manly find form

Glenn Stewart, left, scored the first of Manly's seven tries last night. Photo / Getty Images

NRL
Roosters 12
Sea Eagles 44

Manly got their finals aspirations back on track with the sort of clinical display they became synonymous with on their way to the premiership last season.

The Sea Eagles seemed to be cruising into the top eight on the back of eight wins in 10 games but losses to the Wests Tigers and Rabbitohs, teams they would expect to beat, had many wondering whether they were going to finish the regular season the same way they started it.

But this Manly side know how to win. They are one of the most ruthless sides in the NRL and were simply too good for a Roosters outfit which had showed signs of a resurgence in recent times.

Brad Fittler's side might still be in pole position for the wooden spoon - they trail the Sharks on points differential - but they beat the Knights in Newcastle a fortnight ago and were narrow losers to a Wests Tigers side on a fabulous winning streak.

But they handed the Sea Eagles far too much possession, completing barely 60 per cent of their sets, and Manly hardly needed a second invitation.

They cruised out to a 20-6 halftime lead and added another five tries in the second stanza as they extinguished any hopes of a Roosters comeback.

The defending champions played clinical football throughout - they completed their first 13 sets and 80 per cent in total - as well as enjoying 60 per cent of possession.

Few teams can handle a Manly side with that much possession and the Roosters aren't one of them.

Glenn Stewart opened the scoring as early as the sixth minute when he muscled over far too easily from close range and David Williams touched down twice in the opening 40 minutes.

His first came courtesy of a 70m kick and chase while his second was a contentious one, with the video referee giving him plenty of benefit of the doubt about whether he had grounded the ball or not.

The Roosters kept pecking away but rarely threatened. Their one bright spot was a spectacular 55m try to Shaun Kenny-Dowall, who slipped past four Sea Eagles defenders.

The second stanza had a pedestrian feel about it and fullback Michael Robertson scored a brace in his 100th consecutive match.

The Roosters just didn't seem capable of mounting a comeback and Manly weren't prepared to give them a sniff of a chance.

Des Hasler's side showed in the past fortnight they still aren't quite the relentless force they were in 2008 but few would choose to tango with them when the Big Dance starts next month.

Roosters 12 (S. Kenny-Dowall, I. Hauraki tries, C. Fitzgibbon 2 gls) Sea Eagles 44 (D. Williams 2, M. Robertson 2, G. Stewart, M. Orford, J. King tries, Orford 6 gls, J. Lyon 2 gls). HT: 6-20.