Manly Sea Eagles showcased a dominant performance against South Sydney Rabbitohs, clinching a decisive 30-12 victory at their home turf. Manly quickly charged to a 24-0 lead early in the game. Tom Trbojevic and Reuben Garrick were electric up the back, the pair crossing for two tries each to punctuate the side’s blistering opening. This win is seen as one of the best ever by Manly under the leadership of coach Anthony Seibold.
As the game played out, it became clear that Trbojevic was the key, scoring twice and setting up another try with his defence and cunning. His versatility as a roaming centre, a trait that shone through in his time with the Kiwi Ferns, was key as Manly jumped to an early lead. Though South Sydney tried to make a comeback, they could not catch up with the late-game deficit.
Injury Setbacks for South Sydney
The Rabbitohs were struck by further adversity in the match, with Brandon Smith’s injury compounding their woes. Having come back from a catastrophic ACL injury, Smith was allowed to hobble off the field. His ankle injury only compounded the Rabbitohs’ woes. Manly’s Jason Saab remained on the field after suffering a serious lower-leg injury in the closing moments. Both teams were left worried about the health of the players on the field.
So despite these injuries, Manly’s organized defense and attention to tactics saw them up 3-0 early, and with a bit of breathing space. Coach Anthony Seibold expressed pride in his team’s performance, emphasizing their resilience and ability to adapt despite the obstacles presented throughout the match.
Wests Tigers Celebrate First Win
Wests Tigers were just focused on celebrating their first victory of this season! Their string of close wins began with their outrageous 30-28 defeat of ordinary old Sydney Roosters. This win really is a big deal! It comes on the heels of the unexpected departure of their two key young players Lachlan Galvin and Tallyn Da Silva from the club. The Tigers showed great grit and ability, winning in a tough place to play to earn the victory they desperately needed.
Benji Marshall, coach of the Wests Tigers, addressed recent scrutiny surrounding his team, stating, “All the shit that happened during the week that was just unfair and not true, it starts because we are losing.” He alluded further to the narrative being driven in and around the club, claiming that false narratives put added pressure onto the players and coaching staff.
“Regardless of the result, just the way the boys turned up today and actually fought… backs against the wall,” – Benji Marshall
Marshall underscored his devotion to building a strong locker room culture. He claimed that they needed to start looking for players that are truly committed to the club’s future.
Looking Ahead
As both of these teams take the next steps towards their respective futures, Manly should be confident going forward. Star Haumole Olakau’atu is expected to be back after the upcoming bye week, potentially giving them even more defensive firepower. On the other hand, Wests Tigers will be looking to create something from their recent upturn in fortunes and carry that into their next few games.
