NRL 2020: Wests Tigers beat Manly Sea Eagles 34-32 | Match Report
The Manly Sea Eagles have slumped to their sixth straight loss after surrendering a 14-point lead in the final 10 minutes, with Adam Doueihi scoring two tries to help the Tigers to one of the best comeback wins of the season.
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Much has been made of the Wests Tigers resolve in recent days. The side showed the fight and commitment which has been questioned by scoring three tries in the final eight minutes to stage a shock come from behind 34-32 win against the Sea Eagles.
The Tigers didn’t have the lead until the final two minutes after the match looked destined for a runaway Manly victory when they scored their sixth try in the 68th minute to lead by 14.
But two tries and the match winning conversion to Adam Doueihi – who finished with an 18 point haul - and another to David Nofoaluma gave the Tigers the most unlikeliest of wins.
Man of the moment Doueihi said the final try where he jumped for the ball off a Luke Brooks bomb was planned.
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Bulldogs 14 Titans 18: Full match report here
“I’m a taller person so being in the front line and me going to centre we were trying to use that play,” Doueihi said. “We tried to get it a few times in the first half but it just missed the mark. I’m just happy one landed.
“We were down on confidence off the back of a few losses. We are mathematically still a chance of playing finals).”
The Tigers are now four points behind eighth placed Cronulla with three games left.
Daly Cherry-Evans laid on four tries but it wasn’t enough to help the home side who raced to a 20-6 lead after 30 minutes.
Tigers coach Michael Maguire praised his team’s resolve.
“The possession right through the game, we were down to 35 per cent (it was like) tackling practice,” Maguire said. “The boys had that belief. I do see the resolve in the group. It’s about doing it for long periods.”
SOURED NIGHT
The Sea Eagles depleted stocks have taken another battering with Jorge Taufua (torn calf) and debutant Josh Schuster (cramp) unable to complete the match. The injuries could open the door for Ben Trbojevic to make his debut.
Manly coach Des Hasler said the performance “summed up” the Sea Eagles’ season after watching his side blow a 20-12 half-time lead.
“We had that game won 10 times over,” Hasler said. “We found 11 ways to lose it. It’s one we should’ve won. No matter how many excuses you’re going to make, you hang on. We just panicked. We didn’t need to panic. I don’t think we’ve got through the last six games without losing an outside back.”
Centre Morgan Harper made an immediate impact in his first game for the Sea Eagles crossing with his first touch after just four minutes. Harper would have scored a second try if it wasn’t for a last-ditch effort from Tigers prop Thomas Mikaele to hold him up five minutes later. Harper scored a second in the second half.
DARE TO DAVID
David Nofoaluma scored a treble tries to sit on top of the premiership try-scorers tally with a career high 17 – now three ahead of his nearest rivals. His first came from a Benji Marshall grubber while Joey Leilua laid on two of Nofoaluma’s tries. Maguire said Nofoaluma was destined for representative honours.
“He is great,” Maguire said. “His passion and pride in what he does. Everyone can see that in the way he plays. I’m looking forward to seeing what may happen at the end of the year for him. He can play at that (Origin) level.”
SEA EAGLES 32 (Tries: Harper 2, Taufua, Gosiewski, J Trbojevic & Goals: Cherry-Evans 4/6) TIGERS 34 (Tries: Nofoaluma 3, Mbye, Doueihi 2 & Goals: Doueihi 5/6) at Lottoland.
FORAN’S FUTURE IN JEOPARDY AS INJURY CURSE STRIKES AGAIN
—Michael Blok
Veteran five-eighth Kieran Foran’s NRL career is up in the air after he suffered a suspected torn pec in Canterbury’s 18-14 loss to the Gold Coast at ANZ Stadium.
With Foran off-contract and unwanted at the Bulldogs at season’s end, the veteran playmaker has played his last game at the club.
With a history of serious injuries, it’s another cruel blow to the 30-year-old, who has been in great form this season and looking for a new contract.
The former New Zealand international won’t be at Belmore in 2021 after the club chose to sign veteran playmaker Blake Green instead.
Foran has been Canterbury’s best player over the past month and was playing well against the Titans before succumbing to the pec injury with 20 minutes remaining.
He had just scored a slick induvial try to set up a grandstand finish before suffering the injury while attempting a tackle on Titans fullback AJ Brimson.
“He’s possibly torn his pec. He’ll get scans, but the boys are pretty shattered for him,” interim Bulldogs coach Steve Georgallis said.
“He’s been our form player for the last six weeks. Every week he gives us 100 percent .... We’re really disappointed.”
Although Foran’s time at the Bulldogs has come to an end, Georgallis backed his playmaker to return for another club in 2021.
“I had a few injuries towards the end of my career. You go through that and then you come back. Once you retire, that’s it. He’ll get over this – I’m pretty sure he’ll be back [next year at a different club],” he said.
The Bulldogs will also be without Dylan Napa for the remainder of the season after the prop copped two injuries in one tackle late in the game.
“He’s got a medial ligament tear to his knee and a shoulder injury as well – all in the one tackle – he’ll go for scans. It hasn’t been our day today,” Georgallis said.
ON THE BOTTOM
Time is running out for the Bulldogs to avoid the dreaded wooden spoon after they missed another opportunity to climb off the bottom of the ladder.
When Lachlan Lewis scored with eight minutes remaining, there was hope the Bulldogs could record their first win in six weeks, but the Titans held on to win.
The four-point victory was a great result for South-East Queensland. Not only was it the Titans third win in their past five games, it meant Brisbane remained off the bottom of the ladder.
With just three rounds remaining, the Broncos are one step closer to avoiding a historic first ever wooden spoon.
Next week may be the Bulldogs’ final chance to rise from last place as they face the struggling Sea Eagles, before tough games against Parramatta and Penrith.
The Titans are now safe from claiming the wooden spoon and will finish the season as the best-performing Queensland side.
“It was pretty stressful,” Titans coach Justin Holbrook said after the game.
“I don’t want to downplay how good a win it was. I’m really happy we won the game and that’s the main thing.
“I thought we played really good in the first half and then we were hanging on in the second half. That’s a good sign too – it showed the character of the boys.”
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TROOPS DOWN
Gold Coast centre Brian Kelly’s season could be over after he suffered a nasty ankle injury after just 10 minutes.
Kelly’s leg was twisted in an awkward tackle, forcing him straight to the field.
The young centre has been one of the best for the Titans this season as he’s averaged 135 metres a game and has provided plenty of spark in attack.
The visitors also had to overcome an early injury to prop Jaimin Jolliffe, who came from the field with a leg injury.
Back-rower Beau Fermor was shifted to centre and had a game to remember. The youngster scored a try and recorded 136 running metres.
SIXES AND SEVENS
Over the past couple of years, the Titans have had more halves combinations than John Farnham comebacks – although it looks like they’ve finally found a working combo.
Ash Taylor and Jamal Fogarty have been impressive over the past month and performed well on Saturday afternoon.
Fogarty scored a lovely individual try, while both playmakers had a hand in a number of tires.
“They’re working really well. It’s coming together nicely. We’re creating some good combinations there,” Holbrook said
With a number of key signings, including Origin forward David Fifita, Titans fans have plenty of reasons to be optimistic for 2021.
BULLDOGS 14 (Tries: Meaney, Foran, Lewis & Goals: Meaney 1/2, Averillo 0/1) TITANS 18 (Tries: Thompson, Fermor, Fogarty, Don & Goals: Taylor 1/4) at ANZ Stadium.