NRL
Rabbitohs8
Sea Eagles24
Manly are on the way back. With centre Jamie Lyons enjoying the fruits of Manly's superiority in the first half, the defending premiers looked more like their old, formidable selves.
In fact, if you're talking control, it was really exerted by Manly halfback Matt Orford, whose trademark
darts, probes and kicks always tested the Rabbitohs - and contrasted strongly with the rookie halves pairing of the Bunnies.
Manly's forwards, led by Anthony Watmough and Glenn Stewart, regularly made good yards and Manly's running from the dummy half area and around the ruck was superior.
Lyons had a battle on his hands with Souths centre Colin Best but Manly's superior combinations and organisation meant Lyons was twice put over the line in the first half for an early 12-0 lead.
The second try, in particular, exposed some distinctly average Souths defence and Manly had done their homework - probing Souths' left side consistently.
When Watmough burst through the midfield defence on halfway after 33 minutes, setting up livewire fullback Brett Stewart for a try under the bar, it looked like the Rabbitohs were buried in their burrow.
Souths were desperate to score before halftime but just couldn't - even getting centre Beau Champion over the line, only to have him held up in goal.
Souths started the second half much more positively but were without a spark until Craig Wing, playing off the bench, showed enormous strength to break four tackles to score.
It seemed just what they needed - but skipper Roy Asotasi made the error from the restart, the Sea Eagles clinically put Stewart over for his second try and that was the game. Nathan Merritt got a runaway try against the run of play but Manly finished the match knowing the long trek up the table had just got shorter.
Souths 8 (C. Wing, N. Merritt tries) Manly 24 (J. Lyons 2, B. Stewart 2 tries; Lyons 4 con). Halftime: 0-18.
