Sea Eagles 36 Knights 12
Last week, Manly coach Des Hasler had a door off the hinges in a bit of a rage. This week, the good folk at Bluetongue Stadium were able to stand the carpenters down.
The Sea Eagles, the Warriors' competition this weekend, had a horror start to their NRL season and
the Knights, supposedly in disarray with all the drugs allegations, had done rather well.
When things start going wrong, they often continue to do so - as when Manly held what looked like a Country Women's Institute meeting as the Knights tapped off and former Warrior Evarn Tuimavave scored the easiest try he will ever score, crunching through a sleepy Manly defence.
Maybe it was the thought of a dressing room where Hasler had made even more extensive renovations - perhaps involving four walls, a roof and a team list - that stirred the Sea Eagles into action.
Stung, they put together tries to fullback Ben Farrar (after good work by powerful wing Tony Williams), to second rower Shane Rodney and then to centre Steve Matai.
And if Rodney's try seemed to come after five-eighth Kieran Foran fumbled the ball in a tackle, it was maybe the gods of fair play adjusting matters after Manly's unhappy start to the season.
Knights winger Akila Uate also found the ball bouncing when he wanted it to be still after a Scott Dureau grubber and Manly's luck held.
Williams broke on the outside after a sweeping movement and then used an old-fashioned centre kick for Matai to gather and score his second. At 24-6, surely Manly weren't going to squander this lead.
It's not known if Des The Doorman offered to feed this week's door - and some of his players - into a woodchipper if they did relinquish the lead but, whatever he said, it worked.
One minute into the new half, Matai intercepted and hooker Matt Ballin scored an even softer try than Tuimavave's from dummy half.
The Knights pressed; Manly contained them and then produced a solid try to Jason King before the Knights got a consolation through Keith Lulia.
So Manly finally held a lead - and laid to rest Des The Door Destroyer.
Manly 36 (B. Farrar, S. Rodney, S. Matai 2, M. Ballin, J. King tries; J. Lyon 6 goals), Newcastle 12 (E. Tuimavave, K. Lulia tries, W. Naiqama 2 goals). Halftime: 24-6.