SG Ball Cup round 1 replay: Canberra Raiders v Manly Sea Eagles (NSWRL Junior Reps )

The defending SG Ball premiers Canberra Raiders have suffered a shock loss to a talented Manly Sea Eagles outfit, with a late try proving to be the difference. WATCH THE REPLAY

Star siblings Latu and Samuela Fainu have combined to help Manly to a thrilling 20-18 upset of defending premiers Canberra in their SG Ball season-opener on Saturday.

WATCH THE REPLAY IN THE PLAYER ABOVE

Latu made headlines late last year when he signed a record-breaking four-year deal with the Sea Eagles that could potentially earn him more than $1 million in that time.

Latu, 16, was dangerous with each touch of the ball in the halves, while Samuela scored and set up the matchwinner in a closely fought contest.

Manly were trailing by two late in the match before Samuela found winger Luke Tucker to upset a Raiders outfit and get their campaign off to a winning start.

WATCH REPLAY: TARSHA GALE CUP RD 1 - RAIDERS v STEELERS

WATCH REPLAY: HAROLD MATS RD 1 - RAIDERS v SEA EAGLES

Josh Feledy was in good form for Manly. Picture: Julian Andrews

After competitive opening exchanges, the defending premiers broke the deadlock with the opening try, after hooker Stan Iongi took advantage of a quick play-the-ball to bounce across the tryline and plant down the ball.

The Sea Eagles bounced back almost immediately with a classy grubber from halfback Tylor Bunting leading to edge forward Samuela Fainu to ground the ball to equalise the match.

Just minutes before halftime the Raiders returned to the lead with front row forward Taulauniuotagaloa Mariota crashing onto a short ball close to the line and was rewarded with a four-pointer.

Sea Eagles left centre Josh Feledy, who had been threatening in attack all match with his combination with five-eighth Latu Fainu, took advantage of some quick ball movement to score in the 41st minute and make it a two-point ball game.

Latu Fainu and Josh Feledy combined beautifully for the Sea Eagles. Picture: Richard Dobson

Five-eighth Calab Edwards extended the lead for the Raiders with a four-pointer before Feledy backed up fullback Charlie Thompson to score his second, returning the margin to two points with less than 20 minutes on the clock.

In the final minutes, a desperate Manly shifted the ball to the right side with Samuela Fainu getting the ball to winger Luke Tucker for the match winning try.

Raiders duo Sam Chapman and Noah Martin, who scored two tries, enjoyed strong performances in a losing effort.

Illawarra, Canterbury, Penrith and Newcastle were also first-round winners.

MATCH PREVIEW

MULHOLLAND’S MEMORY POWERING THE GREEN MACHINE

A new-look Canberra Raiders SG Ball Cup team is preparing a premiership defence, taking on the highly-fancied Manly Sea Eagles at Belconnen Oval, Canberra tomorrow.

The opening round match – which will be livestreamed exclusively on The Daily Telegraph at 2pm – will only feature a handful of returning players but they know they will have a target on their back from the opening whistle.

“The playing group has come in and they know other teams will be coming after them,” head coach Ash Barnes said.

“They have prepared really well and worked hard across the pre-season.”

The Canberra Raiders SG Ball Cup team celebrate the 2021 premiership. Picture: Bryden Sharp

Barnes said the absence of Peter Mulholland, the club’s former recruitment and high performance director who died of cancer in December, was being felt across the entire pathways program.

“In the number of years Pete was at the club, he did a fantastic job and left a real legacy of bringing in really good players and good people,” Barnes said.

Peter Mulholland with Michael Oldfield, Sia Soliola and Dunamis Lui.

“I can’t thank him enough for what he has done for the club and I know a lot of the boys feel responsible – they were some of the last ones he brought in.

WATCH REPLAY: TARSHA GALE CUP RD 1 - RAIDERS v STEELERS

WATCH REPLAY: HAROLD MATS RD 1 - RAIDERS v SEA EAGLES

“Any young player in a junior rep program is always highly motivated as they are chasing their dream to become an NRL player. Everyone is aware of what Pete did and what he meant to the club and we will definitely remember him every time we go out onto the field, especially young players he had a lot to do with bringing to the club.”

The Canberra Raiders SG Ball Cup team celebrate the 2021 premiership. Picture: Bryden Sharp

Barnes said returning fullback Jack Sandford, who was recruited in 2020 from New Zealand, will be one to watch after spending time training with the club’s NRL squad.

The clash with the Sea Eagles will be the first SG Ball match of the season to be livestreamed on The Daily Telegraph, with Barnes joking about how there had been a sharp rise in barber visits in recent days.

“It’s fantastic to have The Daily Telegraph come on and livestream games. It gives great exposure to these young players and for their friends and family. It is only going to help with the growth of rugby league for both males and females.