NRL 2020: Manly Sea Eagles beat Gold Coast Titans beat 36-0 | Match Report

After failing to win a game in the first month of the season, the Manly Sea Eagles have finally given their fans hope after a strong return from Tom Trbojevic.

MUDGEE, AUSTRALIA - APRIL 17: Jason Saab of the Sea Eagles celebrates scoring a try with teammates during the round six NRL match between the Manly Sea Eagles and the Gold Coast Titans at Glen Willow Sporting Complex, on April 17, 2021, in Mudgee, Australia. (Photo by Mark Metcalfe/Getty Images)

Life with Tom Trobjevic injury is starting to look mighty sweet for the Sea Eagles after Manly shocked the Titans 36-0.

Sprinting like he was competing in a late night race on the Manly Corso, the Manly superstar announced his season return with a bang – producing a sizzling opening 40 minutes. Trobjevic scored a try and laid on two others – having a hand in three of Manly’s four tries as the Sea Eagles raced to a 26-0 lead in as many minutes.

Trobjevic ran for a game high 202 metres with two line breaks, two try assists and nine tackle busts.

“I was excited but the nerves were there as well,” Trobjevic said. “I haven’t played much footy the past 12 months but I was keen to get out there.

“You never anticipate a game like that. You just want to go out and play your natural game. I know the hard work the past couple months I’ve put into (my body). There was no relief, it’s just good to get back out there.

“I’ll still get (questions about the hamstring). It’s part of the game.”

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Winless through the first month of the season, the Manly Sea Eagles now have back-to-back wins. Picture: Getty Images.

He threw the final pass for Manly’s first try to Brad Parker and put aside any doubt surrounding his troublesome hamstring by racing 40 metres to score in the 22nd minute.

In the next set the Sea Eagles completed an 80 metre movement thanks to a Trobjevic line-break with Jason Saab scoring the first of his two tries in front of 6380 people.

Opposite winger Reuben Garrick scored twice as part of his 20-point haul. Trobjevic was rewarded with an early rest with eight minutes to go.

Manly were winless heading into last round. But after limping to victory against the Warriors there is now hope for the Sea Eagles. They had scored just eight tries in the opening five rounds with 13 line-breaks. They finished the match with six tries and eight line-breaks.

Sea Eagles coach Des Hasler said “it was a start”.

“It was important coming here this afternoon and build on last weeks win,” Hasler said. “(To) get back to back wins and create a bit of momentum. It was good having someone of Tommy’s knowledge, read and presence helped. Our forwards created plenty of space and options.

“We have been able to play with a bit more consistency. At this stage it was important we came here to get back to back. We can build on that and continue that momentum.”

The Titans were a shadow of the team that last week pumped the Knights, failing to crack Manly’s defence. Picture: NRL Photos.

ALOIAI WORRIES

Manly prop Josh Aloiai is in doubt to play his former club the Wests Tigers next Sunday after being placed on report for a high tackle in the opening half. Aloiai was penalised for tackling Gold Coast fullback AJ Brimson.

SCHUSTER STARRING

He is the reluctant back-rower but Josh Schuster is making a fist of the no.12 jersey. Schuster wants to play in the halves but his performances in the forward pack in his rookie season could lead to him becoming a permanent fixture in the forward pack. He laid on two first half tries with his silky half-like touches but it is carries and his defensive commitment which shows how comfortable he is in his new position.

Hasler praised Schuster.

“He is playing really good footy,” Hasler said. “He can add some skill and options there. Back-rower’s are something we don’t have. It’s been good for his development. Naturally he is going to be a six. He is doing some good things on the fringe.”

Tom Trbojevic was unstoppable in his return game, not afraid to test out the hamstrings to score a try. Picture: Getty Images.

BAD OLD TITANS

That was as bad as it gets for the Titans. In fact it was a throwback to the dark old era of the Titans.

A kick-off out on the full and no points in the entire match. Getting tackled over the touchline with a first play. Play the ball errors. You name it and the Titans did it.

Titans coach Justin Holbrook said it had the stench of the Titans of old.

“It did actually unfortunately,” Holbrook said. “Blown off the park straight away for the full game. We have been playing OK for the five games this year. “(We are) a very young side, the minute you think you’re travelling alright something like that can happen.”

Gold Coast’s last tackle options were horrid but it was their lack of intent in defence which stung them early, looking a shadow of a side which thumped Newcastle 42-16 just a week ago.

Their only real chance of scoring came in the first half came when prop Jarrod Wallace dropped the ball just short of the try line.

Trailing 26-0 at half-time the Titans would have hoped to start the second half better than the first. Almost anything could have been better than what they produced in the opening exchanges. But the second 40 minutes wasn’t much better.

Holbrook said his team “got a real good rugby league lesson”.

“You have to accept it and learn from it,” Holbrook said. “We have to talk about it as a group and identify it. We have a young side – we’re not going to be at our best every week. That was disappointing. I’m not here to say anything different. I’m not blaming one or two players. All 17 didn’t turn up with a great attitude. Everyone tells you you’re going good, and you forget to play the next week.

“It’s easy at full-time we can say that now – I can say I can sense it, talking about a week in advance. “We have to be ready every week and we weren’t ready today.”

The Titans had possession for the first four minutes of the second half but the only result was a Jason Saab try. A Brian Kelly grubber was trapped by Morgan Harper who raced away before gifting Saab a clear path to the tryline.

They completed at just 68 per cent – making 17 handling errors. The Titans had won three of their past four games.