Sea Eagles v Sharks player ratings: ‘One of his most dominant big-match games’
Manly have pulled off one of the club’s great backs-to-the-wall wins to stay alive in the NRL finals — check out who starred and who struggled in their clash with Cronulla.
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Check out the player ratings from the Manly Sea Eagles-Cronulla Sharks NRL finals clash at Lottoland.
MANLY SEA EAGLES
1) Brendan Elliot: 7
Solid at the back and competently returned the ball.
2) Jorge Taufua: 7.5
Another trademark hit — this time on Josh Morris — and scored a try to give Manly a shock 18-0 lead.
3) Brad Parker: 7
Put in another tradesman-like performance and also scored a first half try. He also contained Cronulla’s right edge.
4) Moses Suli: 7.5
Combined with Cherry-Evans to terrorise Xerri and Townsend. Scored Manly’s second try and always looked a threat.
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5) Reuben Garrick: 6.5
Exposed when he came infield to contribute to Cronulla’s first try. Strong otherwise.
6) Dylan Walker: 8
Was not as dominant as Cherry-Evans but was a running threat on the right edge.
7) Daly Cherry-Evans: 9
Near-perfect first half. Laid on two tries with a sublime short-passing game. One of his most dominant big-match games.
8) Addin Fonua-Blake: 9
Set the platform for Manly’s stunning start. He was the best forward on the park for the opening 20 and continued by scoring a solo try in his second stint.
9) Api Koroisau: 8
Always dangerous and opened the scoring when he took advantage of a quick play-the-ball from Fonua-Blake.
10) Sean Keppie: 7
Began with a big hit on Gallen and charged hard. Didn’t look out of place playing a final in just his second NRL game.
11) Corey Waddell: 6.5
A couple of strong runs on the edge of plenty of hard work in defence.
12) Jack Gosiewski: 7
Another that put in a tradesman-like performance.
13) Jake Trbojevic: 7
Not the five-star performance from the NSW star that we are used to.
14) Manase Fainu: 7
Always a threat. Troubled the Sharks with his speed and skill.
15) Haumole Aumole Olakau’Atu: 5
Little game time for the bench forward. Would have scored a try with his first touch if not for an obstruction.
16) Lloyd Perrett: 6
Had a couple of big runs but not a huge work rate.
17) Toafofoa Sipley: 6
Did what he was asked
CRONULLA SHARKS
1) Josh Dugan: 6
Did nothing wrong at the back but couldn’t spark the Sharks.
2) Sosaia Feki: 5
A couple of strong charges from his own end but also made a costly error.
3) Bronson Xerri: 5
Made a couple of costly defensive errors but combined with Graham to score the Sharks’ first try.
4) Josh Morris: 6.5
Always tried hard and was a rock for the Sharks in defence.
5) Aaron Gray: 5
The former Rabbitoh scored as the Sharks mounted a comeback.
6) Shaun Johnson: 3.5
Shocking first half from the big-money recruit. Kicked the ball dead twice, dropped a ball and missed a tackle. Laid on a try for Gray in the second half as he looked for redemption.
7) Chad Townsend: 6
Kicked well and tried to control a team that was going nowhere. He was targeted by Manly in defence.
8) Aaron Woods: 6.5
Was one of the Sharks leading lights in the first half. Made the metres that Fifita failed to find and created opportunities with his offloads.
9) Jayden Brailey: 5
Did his job. Busy in defence.
10) Matt Prior: 5
Failed to hold off the Manly onslaught in the middle as the Sharks stumbled in the first half.
11) Briton Nikora: 4.5
Not his usual threatening self.
12) Wade Graham: 5
Didn’t touch the ball until the 25th minute — but laid on a try for Xerri with his first play.
13) Paul Gallen: 6
Worked hard in both attack and defence.
14) Kurt Capewell: 5.5
Pushed hard on the edge and went looking for work.
15) Jack Williams: 5
Tried hard but failed to stop Fonua-Blake from scoring in a one-on-one fail.
16) Andrew Fifita: 4
Terrible opening to the match after being promoted to the starting side. Back-to-back errors led to Manly’s first try.
17) Braden Hamlin-Uele: 4.5
Not his usual impact. Also made a costly mistake on a drop-kick return.
Originally published as Sea Eagles v Sharks player ratings: ‘One of his most dominant big-match games’
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