Sea Eagles ambush Sharks in Shire with 24-14 upset win
There was the kid on debut, Cade Cust. Then there’s Brendan Elliot at fullback, centre Brad Parker and halfback Kane Elgey. Manly’s misfits continue to stun the NRL with an upset win over the Sharks.
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They are the Manly misfits, a motley collection of unwanted players just wanting a chance – and some lovin’.
There was the kid on debut, Cade Cust. Then there’s Brendan Elliot, Tom Trbojevic’s fill-in at fullback, centre Brad Parker, winger Reuben Garrick and halfback Kane Elgey.
One player manager reckons their total salary cap worth would be around $650,000 – a pittance compared to the glamorous Sydney Roosters and South Sydney backlines.
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And you can throw in bench players Jack Gosiewski, Corey Waddell and Morgan Boyle. They aren’t well known but, boy, are they having a go.
Coach Des Hasler’s side continued to shock rugby league with a 24-14 win over Cronulla at Pointsbet Stadium on Sunday.
Victory gave the Sea Eagles a sixth win and further entrenched them in the NRL top eight. They are scrapping, working together and playing for each other.
After shooting out to a 24-4 lead after 45 minutes, the Sea Eagles knuckled down for a fight.
They conceded 10 successive second-half penalties – and still won. Cronulla had 12 more sets than Manly during the second 40 minutes.
The Sharks got within 10 points with 10 minutes to go but the Sea Eagles kept them at bay.
It continues Manly’s incredible hold over Cronulla. The Sharks have won just 24 from 90 games against the Sea Eagles, dating back to 1967.
“I was impressed with the way we kept turning them away,” Hasler said. “There were some real good signs there, particularly on our tryline.”
Manly prop Addin Fonu-Blake was super, running for 169 metres while completing six tackle busts, two linebreaks, a linebreak assist, a try assist and a try.
Aka the Mad Scientist, Hasler is weaving another spell over there at Brookvale. Hasler is that relaxed these days he jokingly asked police to escort The Daily Telegraph’s reporter from the ground at halftime.
A police officer approached and said: “The coach has asked we take you from the ground.”
The reason? Hasler claimed our journo had shoes that resembled slippers.
COOL CUST-OMER
Hasler pulled a pre-game swifty by elevating young half Cust into his starting side for the injured Lachlan Croker.
Cust, a former Shark and member of Manly’s 2017 under-20s premiership-winning side, was cheeky and effective on debut. When coming through the grades at Brookvale, Cust, from Scone, stayed with Matty Johns on Sydney’s northern beaches.
This is Cust’s first season on a full-time contract. Hasler kept Cust’s elevation secret until an hour before kick-off.
Cust had a brief flare up with Sharks giant Andrew Fifita – a sign the kid isn’t afraid to confront the big guys.
“It was great to see a young kid like Cade step up,” Hasler said. “He’s really confident in what he does.”
THE 200 CLUB
The milestone club has a new member – Fifita. The hulking Shark played his 200th NRL game on Sunday – a wonderful achievement for a man who plays tough each week in the middle.
He overcame a hamstring injury to play, desperate to play the big game at Shark Park. Fifita entered the field with his children and through a massive banner celebrating the special moment.
It was his 161st match for Cronulla, the other 39 being played with Wests Tigers.
HECKLED DYLAN
Manly star Dylan Walker wasn’t made to feel welcome on his return to rugby league.
Each time Walker, acquitted last week of domestic violence charges, touched the ball, the Sharks faithful loudly booed and jeered him.
The crowd actually cheered when Walker stayed down injured in the 17th minute. It was Walker who laughed last though, scoring a try in the 45th minute to extend Manly’s surprising lead.
“He got really involved, early touches and scored a try,” Hasler said. “He was very good for his first game back. Everything he did today he got a result from it.”
Hasler meanwhile, when asked whether injured Daly Cherry-Evans would return next week, said: “I don’t think so.”
SLUGGISH SHARKS
They were off the pace from minute one to 80.
“Pretty deflating actually,” coach John Morris said. “We just couldn’t get our game going. It was a pretty ordinary performance, overall.
“We were beaten to the punch on a lot of things today, the way we competed, we can be better in the effort areas. We were passive in everything we did.”
Injured Matt Moylan could be back next week.
SHARKIE SCOMO
Re-elected Prime Minister Scott Morrison celebrated a LNP election victory by attending Sunday’s big match.
Wearing a Cronulla cap and holding a beer, Scomo was introduced to the crowd to strong applause. Sitting on the eastern side of Pointsbet Stadium, Morrison, when introduced, stood, waved, gave a thumbs-up and waved a Sharks scarf above his head.
MANLY 24 (K Elgey B Elliot A Fonua-Blake D Walker tries R Garrick 4 goals) bt CRONULLA 14 (S Feki B Hamlin-Uele B Xerri tries K Flanagan goal) at PointsBet Stadium. Referee: Matt Cecchin, Ashley Klein. Crowd: 13,360
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