Manly's Brett Stewart makes a break during the match between the Manly Sea Eagles and the Sydney Roosters at Brookvale Oval in Sydney on Friday. Photo / Getty Images
Manly have moved to the outright lead at the top of the NRL ladder with a 24-16 win over Sydney Roosters at Brookvale Oval on Friday night.
In a gripping grand-final rematch, a Peta Hiku try in the 78th minute sealed the win for the home side, with Jamie Lyon's
conversion putting the Sea Eagles out to an unassailable eight-point lead.
After trailing 10-0 early, the Roosters fought their way back into the contest and should have tied the scores at 18-all in the 68th minute after a Mitchell Pearce try, but James Maloney pushed the very gettable conversion wide.
A desperate Roosters attempted a short drop-out minutes from time, which Manly gathered before Hiku crossed for his second of the night.
Brett Stewart was instrumental in the win, Manly's 10th of the season, before a crowd 17,155, which puts them two points clear of Penrith who travel to Auckland on Sunday to meet the Warriors.
