MORE HEARTBREAK FOR MANLY AS KNIGHTS SNATCH WIN
WITH Manly’s finals hopes hanging by a thread, Des Hasler delivered more pain on Sunday night when declaring superstar fullback Tom Trbojevic won’t be rushed back for Saturday’s must-win clash against South Sydney.
And in the wake of another heartbreaking 26-24 loss to Newcastle – that leaves the injury-ravaged Sea Eagles four competition points outside the top eight – Hasler also delivered a notso-subtle jab at referee Ashley Klein. Walking a fine line, Hasler claimed the 11-4 penalty count “kind of kept them in the game”.
He later said he was being “facetious”.
Whatever the case, a team that started the season with such high hopes now look down for the count in 2020 with six rounds remaining.
After racing to a 12-0 lead inside the opening 10 minutes, Manly slipped behind 16-12 at halftime, before clawing back to lead 24-20 heading into the final 10 minutes.
Ultimately it was weight of possession and yet another touch of class from the magical Kalyn Ponga that sealed a vital win for the Knights who move to sixth on the ladder, just a point off fourth-placed Roosters and Canberra.
Going into the game without bookend props Marty Taupau and Addin FonuaBlake as well as Dylan Walker, a “rested” Jorge Taufua, and of course the flying fullback, most judges expected the Knights to put a score of the Sea Eagles. But from the opening minutes Manly aimed up.
It kicked off with an amazing piece of eyes-up play from young five-eighth Cade Cust that was one of the season’s standout solo moments.
Cust swooped on a bouncing Daly Cherry-Evans kick before somehow staying just inside the touchline and putting his own kick through two defenders.
He then won the chase for the ball to open the scoring through sheer desperation and skill.
That followed when Cherry-Evans backed up to score minutes later and at that point an upset was on the cards.
But after losing Adam Elliot to what looks a season ending ACL knee injury, the Sea Eagles had nothing go their way.
What’s worse, Hasler said Trbojevic still has at least two weeks before he’s back. He hasn’t played since suffering the injury back in Round 6 in a win over Canberra.
From that point Manly has only managed two wins in eight games, their last win against North Queensland in Round 11.