Injuries sour Manly Sea Eagles' big round 24 win over Newcastle Knights

Video highlight: MANLY scored a huge win over the Knights, but now face the prospect of being without key players for the business end of the year.

MANLY played the final 36 minutes of yesterday's match against Newcastle without a single bench player - showing they have the mental and physical toughness to go back-to-back.

The Sea Eagles lost Matt Ballin (calf), Jason King (shoulder), Jamie Buhrer (concussion) and David Williams (leg) during yesterday's match, the sideline bench empty just four minutes into the second half.

Leg-weary and exhausted, Manly - with players out of position - fended off a spirited Knights comeback to secure a 42-20 win at Brookvale Oval.

It was the kind of courage that wins grand finals.

Match centre: Game details and stats, plus vote for man of the match

Defeat means Wayne Bennett has missed his first finals series in 21 years.

But it was Manly's second half guts - after leading 38-4 at half-time - which dominated post-match discussion yesterday.

Gallery: Best action snaps from the match

When the injuries arrived, the tries dried up. No-one though can doubt Manly's intense will to win.

"It was a like the old days - once you went off, you were off," Toovey said.

"I was very proud of the last 30 minutes when we had no reserves.

"We showed a lot of character and we got there."

Newcastle scored three tries in 12 minutes during the second half and an unlikely comeback loomed.

Manly though held firm and a final try right on fulltime capped a strong win which continues their push for a top four spot.

Asked did he fear a Knights comeback with all the injuries, Toovey said: "A little. But I was pleased with the way we hung in there.

"Our first half was excellent. It was really precise and professional.

"We lost both our dummy halves (Ballin and Buhrer) and had to reshuffle the whole side which was hard.

"We are more than a capable side. The players know that but we've got to get through the injuries."

Manly co-skipper Jamie Lyon - the NRL's form centre - was actually moved onto the wing to replace Williams.

"We showed a bit of guts," Lyon said. "It was tough and it was a hurdle.

"But it happens in rugby league and you just have to make do with what you have."

Manly's first half was magic yet clinical.

Tries flowed in the 3rd, 6th, 17th, 22nd, 27th, 32nd and 35th minutes.

Manly was given a deserved standing ovation as they left the field at halftime.

Fullback Brett Stewart grabbed a double, as did big Tony Williams.

Williams' performance was marred though when put on report in the second half for an alleged trip.

Newcastle halfback Tyrone Roberts kicked out of the full from the kick-off yesterday, setting the tone for a horror first half.

The Knights did not have the ball for the first nine minutes. When it did come, they were already 12-0 behind.

Newcastle grabbed some momentum through the second half and secured a repeat set with Manly looking shaky.

But Sea Eagles halfback Daly Cherry-Evans cheekily snuck in a short goal-in drop-out which was taken by team-mate Kieran Foran, who raced 50 metres before winning a penalty in the tackle.

It was a decisive moment and ended Newcastle's surge.

"I thought it was massive," Toovey said.

"It was a big play and a big decision to make."

Lyon added: "It showed a bit of guts."

Benett said the lack of possession early was only through his side's inempt performance.

"It was self inflicted," Bennett said.

"We kicked out on the full, gave away penalties, got caught in-goal and gave up tries."

Asked did his think his side could have come up with a miraculous comeback, Benentt said: "No."

Bennett said his side never talked up their semi-finals chances this season.

"But all is not lost," Bennett said. "There is a lot for us to take out of this season.

"We have some quality players to come back into the team."

Newcastle players Kade Snowden, Darius Boyd and Chris Houston were involved in a lifting tackle on Foran.

The NRL match review committee will today look at the incident before deciding whether to charge a Knights player.

MANLY 42 (B Stewart 2 T Williams 2 K Foran J Lyon G Stewart J Taufua tries J Lyon 5 goals) bt NEWCASTLE 20 (K Naiqama 2 J Mullen A Uate tries T Roberts 2 goals) at Brookvale Oval. Referee: Jason Robinson, Phil Haines. Crowd: 14,191.