Manly Sea Eagles defeated the NZ Warriors 24-10 to claim the 2011 NRL Premiership. It was the club’s eighth title since entering the competition in 1947.
Manly’s approach was measured and methodical throughout. Better decisions, fewer errors and more desperation at key moments proved the difference on the night.
They played like a team making their third appearance on this stage in the last five years. The four tries to two margin was a fair reflection of the difference between the two teams.
In the early exchanges, the Warriors adopted the grinding style that had seen them overcome the Melbourne Storm a week earlier.
The game settled into an arm-wrestle as Manly matched the Warriors’ strong forward charges and stinging defence.
James Maloney, the Warriors Australian five-eighth, broke the deadlock with a penalty goal just short of the half hour mark. Manly’s bulging front-rower, George Rose, was placed on report for dropping an errant elbow on the Warriors rake, Aaron Heremaia.
Minutes later Manly were also awarded a penalty within kicking distance but opted instead to go for six points. Brett Stewart scored a try off a Daly Cherry-Evans inside pass from the ensuing set. Manly were on their game.
On the run of play, the Warriors would have been satisfied going to the rooms trailing 6-2. Few chances had been created, but they had maintained a level of control and were still very much in the game.
The half was petering out with Manly working the ball away from their line when Glenn Stewart struck. His crafty short grubber for his unmarked winger, Michael Robertson, was regathered and play advanced 70 metres.
After a quick play the ball, the ball came to Cherry-Evans who ran diagonally, dummied and went over beside the posts. Manly were up 12-2 at the break.
The arm-wrestle resumed in the second half. Manly had the best chance when a try to Kieran Foran was disallowed off a spilled kick. In what appeared to be a tight decision, the video referee adjudged Foran to have let go of the ball before grounding it.
Soon after, Will Hopoate pulled off a miraculous behind the back flick pass before heading over the sideline. Glenn Stewart’s soft hands accepted the pass from the 19-year old star and dived over. Jamie Lyon’s successful conversion made it 18-2.
The Warriors began to chase the game and reverted to their more adventurous style.
This was the best period in the game for the Warriors. Unsurprisingly, halfback Shaun Johnson was at the centre of everything. He threw the final pass for two tries in six minutes to Manu Vatuvei and Elijah Taylor.
Unfortunately for the Warriors, the margin was only cut to eight as Maloney missed both tough conversions. Still, the Warriors were back in the hunt and large sections of the 81,988 crowd had reason to hope.
Chasing the game is never easy however and turnovers are usually not far behind. Twice during key moments in the second half with the Sydney team under siege, their players dived on the loose ball. The title was heading to Manly.
Captain Lyon iced the game with a minute left on the clock, running a simple line off a neat Glenn Stewart pass. Stewart’s all round performance was inspirational on his return from suspension.
He had a hand in three of the Eagles’ four tries was duly awarded the Clive Churchill Medal.
Manly had survived what turned out to be more of a late push than a late surge from their worthy opponents. They were as professional as ever on the day and deserved to be crowned NRL Premiers for 2011.
Source:Code13
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