NRL 2021 finals LIVE updates Manly Sea Eagles v Sydney Roosters
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Well, that was a little too easy for Des Hasler’s liking.
Haumole Olakau’atu gives away a penalty for impeding Victor Radley in the defensive line as Tom Trbojevic threatened to break into open field, and Manly is made to pay with Matt Ikuvalu scoring the simplest try down the right side as James Tedesco ices the two-man overlap, albeit with a little juggle.
Surely the Roosters take heart from that. They’ve barely been down this end of the field, and when they do they score easily.
Adam Keighran’s conversion is wayward though, but it’s back to 18-4 after 27 minutes.
We’ve had another meeting of the great No.1s, James Tedesco making a break down the Roosters’ left edge, but he’s quickly herded back infield towards Tom Trbojevic, who launches into the tackle and the ball spills free. Manly players are running from everywhere to slap whatever back they can find.
I can only imagine Tedesco is going to take even more responsibility now, trying to haul this team on his back one more time.
And now there’s a bake from Tom for brother Jake, who can’t quite get back onside for the fullback to take a quick tap after catching Drew Hutchison’s kick in goal. Thankfully for the Roosters he didn’t, because Reuben Garrick was away from the fast 20-metre re-start. And Tom didn’t miss.
I think he’s already forgotten that magical pass which set up Kieran Foran’s earlier try.
The Sea Eagles skipper has now joined the party, and the Roosters’ brave season is unravelling at a rate of knots.
The halfback stands one off an attacking scrum, sees Sitili Tupouniua racing across to his right and Jared Waerea-Hargreaves struggling to cover from the scrum and the left foot step bamboozles them all. Brilliant.
Reuben Garrick has the simplest of his three conversions to date and it’s 18-0 with the Sea Eagles beating the clock. This is looking like it could get ugly.
How do you stop him? Maybe only Craig Bellamy knows.
Fun fact: Tom Trbojevic has still never won an NRL finals game.
Tom Trbojevic crashes over for the first try.Credit:Getty
I know it’s only early, but you can just sense this next 10 minutes is so crucial for the Roosters. They’re on the back foot in the territory battle, and Daniel Tupou has just fumbled a ball coming out of his own end. I think the one thing Trent Robinson would have stressed is to stay in the game early.
And he won’t be happy now, Tom Trbojevic bursting onto a sumptuous pass from brother Jake to then set up Kieran Foran with a simple draw and pass in front of James Tedesco. This is a red hot start by Manly. And how about that pass from Trbojevic senior to his younger brother? It was like they’d been playing together all their lives, which of course they have.
Reuben Garrick nails the conversion. Danger signs already for the Roosters with the Sea Eagles 12-0 up after just 13 minutes.
Manly have had much the better of the opening five minutes, and there’s a bit of controversy to start the game.
Roosters winger Matt Ikuvalu has been placed on report for a late tackle on Tom Trbojevic, who ushers Reuben Garrick back underneath him and he’s unaware as Ikuvalu comes from behind and crunches him in the kidneys after he’s passed the ball. The superstar is in a little bit of pain and the bunker are getting involved.
But would you believe it? He’s popped up on the next set on the other side of the field and just powers his way over the line, wrestling past a desperate James Tedesco, who did all he could to stop the Dally M favourite. This is going to be some sort of battle all night.
Garrick’s conversion is straight as an arrow. Manly lead 6-0 after just six minutes.
Daly Cherry-Evans gets us underway. Only 80 minutes until the season ends for one, while the other will book a date with South Sydney.
Strap in.
I know we’re about to start the first semi-final, but there’s some big breaking news out of the second semi-final on Saturday night. Penrith winger and metre eater Brian To’o has been ruled out with a minor ankle complaint. He will be replaced by Brent Naden.
Maybe that explains why Ivan Cleary was so terse earlier today in his press conference. You can read about it here.
OK, tips time with kick-off just minutes away.
I know the Roosters have been unbelievable to get to this point with the injuries they’ve had, but I think this is the night where the fuel tank might finally run out. And I’ve maintained all week I think the Sea Eagles will do this handsomely, despite being blown off the park by Melbourne last week. They haven’t left the Sunshine Coast, have had one extra day to recover while the Roosters went to Townsville and back.
I suppose that’s a long way of saying Manly to win by 16 with Brad Parker to grab a try.
Who are you tipping?
The fans are well and truly streaming into BB Print Stadium now in Mackay with a line around the corner.
There’s a surprising amount of fans here in club colours, but a majority of the crowd are in neutral gear. Sorry to those shivering away in Sydney, but it’s shorts and shirt weather up here with hardly a mask in sight.
The paddock is also a spectacular shade of green so huge shout out to the ground curators. The scene is officially set for a fabulous night of regional rugby league.
James Tedesco during the Roosters’ warm-up in Mackay.Credit:Getty
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