Daly Cherry-Evans leads Sea Eagles to thrilling 22-21 win over Warriors

DALY Cherry-Evans said instinct took over as he landed a left-footed field goal in the fifth minute of golden point to keep Manly’s finals hopes alive.

Daly Cherry-Evans celebrates his matchwinning field goal for the Sea Eagles.

DALY Cherry-Evans said instinct took over as he landed a left-footed field goal in the fifth minute of golden point to keep Manly’s finals hopes alive.

The Sea Eagles pulled off a dramatic 22-21 victory, coming from seven points behind with seven minutes of normal time to go.

The result takes Manly to 30 competition points and keeps their finals destiny in their own hands.

The Sea Eagles occupy the last playoff spot and face sixth-placed Penrith, who are also on 30 points, on Sunday at Lottoland knowing victory will secure finals football.

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Daly Cherry-Evans celebrates his matchwinning field goal for the Sea Eagles.

But they had to fight a gale-force wind in the second half to secure the win after Warriors halfback Shaun Johnson gave the home side a 21-14 lead with a field goal of his own.

Manly fullback Tom Trbojevic produced an amazing chip-and-chase try from nothing and Matt Wright kicked the conversion to make it a one-point game.

The Warriors kicked the ensuing restart out on the full, giving the Sea Eagles field position in the horrendous wind that allowed Cherry-Evans to land the field goal to take the game into extra-time.

In golden point, Cherry-Evans had the Warriors’ ­defence closing in on an attempted field goal, which forced him on to his left foot for the unlikely matchwinner.

“Instinct takes over,” ­Cherry-Evans said.

Daly Cherry-Evans celebrates his matchwinning field goal for the Sea Eagles.

“That’s just my job. I’ve got to try and finish those games off in those situations.

“The conditions were ­pretty tough, so I wasn’t too confident

“If you look at where we had our set starts, there were moments where I didn’t think we were ever going to get into range considering the wind we were running into.

“Our side really rolled our sleeves up today and rolled us down the field and gave me an opportunity to get a kick away.

“I’m very appreciative of how hard we ran the ball.”

Manly coach Trent Barrett praised his side for the win, which ended the Canberra Raiders’ faint finals hopes.

“It was an awesome result for us,” Barrett said.

“It was always going to be a tough game, particularly in those conditions.

“The character the team showed, in the circumstances we were in, I would much rather win like that than them play poorly and us jag it. It was a massive win.

“It was a gutsy performance in that wind.”

Dylan Walker dives over to score a try for the Sea Eagles.

The result halted a Manly slump and maintained their playoff hopes.

But for the Warriors, who were already out of finals reckoning, it was an eighth loss in a row.

Manly dominated the early stages in front of 9167 fans and were aided by a ­couple of superb 40-20s from five-eighth Blake Green.

The second found touch just outside the corner flag and led to lock Jake Trbojevic opening the scoring in the 13 minute.

MANLY 22 (T Trbojevic J Trbojevic D Walker tries M Wright 4 goals D Cherry- Evans 2 field goals) bt NZ WARRIORS 21 (D Fusitua 2 B Ayshford K Maumalo tries S Johnson I Luke goals S Johnson field goal) in extra time at Mt Smart Stadium. Referee: Gavin Badger, Chris Sutton. Crowd: 9,167

Originally published as Daly Cherry-Evans leads Sea Eagles to thrilling 22-21 win over Warriors