The try right on the siren.
The Manly fans are ecstatic.
The Seagulls leading Cronulla by 16 points to nil.
From Brookvale Oval, the home of the Manly Seagulls,
you're watching round 10 of this year's Winfield Cup live around Australia on ABC Sport.
Today, a warm welcome to all our viewers in Western Queensland,
in particular, the mining town of Mount Isa,
where round two of their local rugby league competition will be played tomorrow.
And the main game tomorrow, Black Stars versus Warriors.
Warriors are last year's premieres and they're the current equal leaders with Wanderers.
Hello also to everyone in Klongkuri where I spent a little bit of time some years back.
Well, it may seem a little extreme, but Manly have called in the army to help them sort out their problems.
The Seagulls often use the facilities at North Head,
but I'm sure they didn't realise what Graham Lowe had in store for them on a recent rainy afternoon.
Steve Rebilliard went along to find out all about army training.
You know, if we can keep it enjoyable for the players as well as,
you know, help develop the skills and maintain the fitness,
if we can do it in an enjoyable way,
it just keeps the boredom out of it.
Ready,
set,
accept in the spirit again.
Obviously I'm a professional coach so it is my job.
But if I wasn't a professional coach I'd still like doing it.
I'm a rugby league fan but as far as the satisfaction of the coaching goes,
I like seeing the players working on something and then seeing that come into effect throughout the game at some stage
or see some player development, just watching the player slowly rise up the achievement ladder.
One of the big differences between the likes of Canberra and Manly,
Canberra are a professional side, they have become a professional side, we're trying to become a professional side.
I'm not belittling my players but we make some very unprofessional mistakes at the moment
and we've got to eradicate that from our game. When we do that we'll be a professional side.
I think that they've probably utilised a very good development programme over the last couple of years.
The players are obviously well versed in the skills, they know one another's play
and coupled with all that they've got some great match winners.
It's difficult to do it without the match winners, they have got the match winners
but they've got themselves prepared extremely well.
And Brisbane, they were happy memories?
I really enjoyed it up there, I had four really good years, it was a young side to start off with
and it was a side that developed, won a premiership and one of the memories that really sticks in my mind
most of all is seeing Greg Kinescu and Mark Murray wear the green and gold jerseys.
I can remember in 1983 coaching the Kiwis, or it might have been in 84,
and seeing both Greg and Mark Murray running out for Australia.
I felt so proud of myself being the Kiwi coach, but then seeing those two guys in the green and gold
made it extra special.
Do you allow yourself to think about maybe playing for Australia?
I try not to think about those things too much, it's in the back of my mind
but if you try and build yourself up to those things you can only get disappointed.
I'll just see how we go with Manly, the better Manly go the more chance I've got
and the other players in the team have got, so I'll just do my best to get Manly to get up.
The stress is something that is very demanding, but believe it or not I enjoy it.
I'd hate to wake up, look out the window and think well Jesus it's just going to be a normal old day.
I like plenty of things happening around the place.
What is it they say about Manly? Seven miles from Sydney and a thousand miles from Care.
Well they've got a few problems at the moment, not least of all the rain and a bit of a losing streak,
but I can tell you after having spent an afternoon with them Warren they're at least putting the work in.
Thanks Steve for a billiard, certainly did look like hard work down there in the...
Cronulla 7-6 no tight heads, the penalties to Manly 5-3, the errors starting to build against Cronulla,
too many missed tackles and handling errors and the overall tackle count Cronulla have had to do a heap of defense.
Meters gained in that first 40 minutes, Manly 1,104, 537 for Cronulla, twice as many to the Seagulls,
time in possession, 27 minutes for Manly, 13 for Cronulla, how can you win a game with those sort of statistics?
Arthur? Well he'd be very disappointed with their ball security, Cronulla,
what happens especially with Eddie Ward, he has 10 meters and it becomes multiplied if you've got to do that sort of defense,
at the end of the game you're just going to be out of gas, that simple as that,
so they've just got to get their ball security in order.
The second half gets underway, the shadows creeping right across the field,
now can Cronulla start to turn this match around?
They're down by 16 points, they're repeating the sort of effort they put in against Brisbane,
though Brisbane did play quite well that day,
Miller will be one of the keys if he can get this team to start to go forward,
I wonder what the coaches did have to say down there in the dressing rooms,
here's Jonathan docking, break, break, straight up the middle, comes to the fullback,
and Rich has made the tackle, the first time his defense has been tested, fullback on fullback,
Miller keeps coming, looking wide but he can't get out there to link up with Wilson,
Wilson has probably moved into the forwards with Dan Staines off the field,
there's Alan Wilson putting the bomb high,
Rich comes through to it, Ettinghausen is there, didn't really put the pressure on him and takes it well.
Well Johnny Pidd, what did Alan Fitzgibbon have to say do you know?
Well first off he made a change, Chris Quinn's on for Mark McGaw,
but he's very disappointed in the effort but could relate to it because they've had no possession whatsoever,
he's challenged his players for a big effort this half, he wants them to turn those statistics around,
that's a hard task, Graham Lowe in the other end, he's very very keen and intent on his team taking,
continuing on where they've left off, he wants them to control the ball,
not to go for scoring positions until they're down the right end of the field.
So Manley looking for the kick, back it goes to Ridge, it's under pressure there from Wilson,
and the kick goes out on the floor, good work from Alan Wilson, Wilson suddenly has moved into the forwards with Corcoray on the wing.
If you have a look here it's the first time they've put pressure on Ridge's kicking game,
but they've got the advantage of the breeze though man in the second half and it was a poor kick by Ridge.
It was a hand over being the last tackle as that one went out on the floor,
so Granola now on the attack, just inside the Manley quarter.
Hatch goes for dummy half, Manley up inside the five, no in fact it's the markers,
markers didn't get back and stand directly behind each other and in front of the man playing the ball.
And you can see there's no doubt about that penalty.
Penalties 5-4 and news from the test match being played in Papua New Guinea.
Remember that New Guinea got over the top of Great Britain in the first test,
while Great Britain are making amends they're leading 20 points to nil.
At this moment that's around half time in that match, Great Britain leading Papua New Guinea 20-0.
Malcolm really will be a very relieved man, it's World Cup points at stake also.
Matthew Corcoray will take over the goal kicking.
Granola looking for their first points of the match.
Ken Corcoray puts the ball between the posts, the flags are up and so Manley still hold a very healthy lead,
16 points to two, Granola have struck, first blow of the second half.
I was wondering John would you have taken the kick at goal there?
No I think I would have tried to keep pressure on Manley Arthur, I would have taken the tap there,
I think it's essential that they score early.
I agree with you John, two points is not going to do much for them at this stage.
No well Manley can get themselves together again now, they've got territory on their side.
Manley's coach restarts the play down to docking, he takes it on his foot and gives it to Diamond.
Once upon a time it was all backs standing back towards the goal line there,
but nowadays the coaches like to have second rowers and mobile forwards back there,
where the ball is usually going to end up.
They penalised Ian Roberts there for hooking the leg of Chris Quinn's.
Chris Quinn gets up to play the ball forward, something that Roberts is well known for.
Corkery off the tap.
Top defensive player is a Criminallic David Hatch, which he does best,
19 tackles and for Manley John Jones.
Johnny Pid, was there any word on whether Dan Staines had just run out of gas or whether he was injured?
Didn't get much word on Danny Staines, but McGaw had the possible fractured hand, that's why he's off the field.
You'll find Danny's just worn out.
Could well be.
Luke Massey.
He did have that virus last week, he was in bed for three days up in Queensland.
Leachley lifts it high, Chasers coming through on Ridge, they fly for it, the ball's gone over the touch line.
Now who did it come off?
Both teams trying to argue for the feet of this run, trying to influence the referee.
Well his rule has come off the Crinola play, he's given a hand over it.
It's a hand over, yes.
Pretty courageous attempt by Matthew Ridge, he looks like it could be good value.
One feature of Andrew Ettinghausen's play for New South Wales is fullback, but I've noticed he doesn't jump for the bombs.
He's always in position and has played quite well, but doesn't jump for bombs and there's been plenty of pressure on him about those kicks.
Here's a great run from Martin Beller, except that he's gone into touch.
He got himself into trouble eventually.
Good tackle by Matthew Corkery here, of course he looked over the sideline.
Going sideline breaks the tackle of Wilson, Matthew Corkery does well.
Martin Beller's something in the vicinity of 18 and a half stone.
Crinola may have got a surprise that he went so far and then suddenly found himself heading towards that touch line, tried to throw the ball back in field.
Now Diamond has it.
Crinola have a long way to go, but they're far from out of this match, particularly if they can score an early try here.
The pass appeared to go forward, out it goes to Quinn from Miller.
Great hit by Ian Roberts there, he read the play on Miller well.
Wilson from dummy half, only a couple of meters out.
Heading house in a dummy half.
Spins around, looking for Massey.
Good tackle there from Jones.
It's the fifth tackle, still just a couple out.
Miller, long ball out for Speechley.
Back it goes to Hatch, out and out of Corkery, one on one with Iro.
But there's, what is the penalty?
Deliberate forward pass.
Corkery in an offside position.
If you have a look here, the white ball comes from Miller.
Out to Speechley.
Speechley offloads to Hatch on the run around, but the line ball, it was in front.
In fact Matthew Corkery appeared to have overrun it.
He was virtually standing offside as Hatch threw the ball.
Hosking now, trying to drive it up the middle.
The Manly forwards have done their job today.
There's a lost ball by Jones.
The pass from Spina must have been nearly forward to Speechley.
Quinn, Davidson.
So Manly back towards their own 22 again.
They haven't started this second half well.
Hatch couldn't find a runner, had to go himself.
Spina goes in there, has a dash from dummy half, Laurie Spina.
Roberts just manages to get hold of him.
Lee, Miller.
Looking to work his magic out.
It goes to Diamond, good tackle, Cliff Lyons.
Still only 10 metres out.
Eddinghausen.
Miller works it again.
Pops it up for Danny Lee.
Can't pull out of a tackle from Cunningham.
It's the last tackle.
They're only a metre out.
Miller.
Stab kicks in.
Dived on by Dunford, who read it well.
Eddinghausen was the man chasing, but Dunford knocked it down and gathered.
Great tackle from Owen Cunningham, then.
That was a try-saver.
It's the first time Manly really had to sustain any pressure,
and they handled it pretty well.
Well, Manly haven't begun this half well,
but they need to quickly get back into gear.
When you look at the competition table,
they're equal tenth on the ladder, and it's nothing to be too proud of,
but they still appear to be a team that has improvement.
It's the last tackle.
The switch back to Ridge.
Wilson was coming through on Jones.
Ridge has kicked down, sing around for Corkery.
Referee sending them back outside the five metres.
Well, it was only just outside the five metres in the end.
Cliff Lyons tries to rake it back.
Six more tackles, says referee Eddie Ward.
You can hear the call there from the touch line.
There's Low sending messages down.
You can hear the message being passed on.
Lowey said, pick it up, pick it up.
He's worried that they're slipping into cruise control,
but actually Cronulla's putting Manly's game straight back on them this half.
They're getting more possession and looking more dangerous.
Corkery down just outside the quarter.
Miller.
Another strong tackle coming in.
This time from Roberts.
It's the fifth tackle to Speechley.
Up she goes.
All coming through.
Plenty of pressure this time.
The ball is loose.
Anyone's ball.
It's been knocked on by Manly.
Darrell Williams knocking it on.
And so this will be a scrum feed to Cronulla.
Certainly a lot of pressure here for Ridge.
He doesn't get held.
There's pressure from Darking and Quinn, Hatch and Quinn,
and Tony Iroh trying to pick the ball up fumbles.
Speechley, the dummy, back to Docking.
Five more tackles to come.
Cronulla just a couple of meters out.
Lee on the blind side.
The Manly defense holds.
Wilson goes himself, going low.
Did he get it down? Yes, it's a try.
Allen Wilson going himself from dummy half, diving in low.
If you're going to go from dummy half close to the line,
you've got to go almost.
But I'd give him the benefit of the doubt.
He always seemed to be moving forward.
Interesting to see a head on replay in normal motion.
Sometimes the slow motion replays.
I think he was pretty close to being tackled.
Well, that's true enough.
It was just what the doctor ordered for Cronulla.
So Manly gathered behind the goal line,
and I'm sure the message would be,
get back to the form of the first half, no relaxation.
That's all Cronulla need is a sniff,
and they've been given it.
It's 16 points to six.
Corkery to try and add two more for Cronulla.
He's taking the ball back 25 meters, 11 meters in from touch.
Taking plenty of time, Matthew Corkery.
One from one, in he comes.
He said, well, the flags are up.
So the gap closes.
Manly suddenly finds they have just an eight point lead,
and Cronulla are back in the hunt.
The crowd trying to get behind their team.
A spark Manly out of the lull that has taken place
in the first 12 minutes of the second half.
Williams doesn't tip all that deep as he goes to jockey.
And Diamond who has run every kickoff back towards the defense,
almost gets to the quarter.
Lee.
Lee has been much more heavily involved in this half.
He's been taking the ball up with some vigor.
Wilson.
I think John, you just said it all.
They've just switched roles.
The possession time back from the second half,
you'd find that it would be at least three to one at the moment.
Yeah, the testing time for Manly after.
They like to play with the ball,
but the real pressure is when you put that game on them.
And at the moment, they're looking like Cronulla.
But here's the charge down.
Charge down by 2.
The Eddie regathers the ball.
No knock on, says Eddie Ward.
But the penalty has gone against Wilson to compound the error.
The penalty right in front of the post.
And Manly obviously will take the kick.
Great charge down here by 2.
And he does well to regain his composure and dive in that loose ball.
And Wilson could have almost spent five minutes in the sin bin here for this
and allow him to play the ball because they're all coming forward.
Manly.
Maybe that's what Eddie Ward was warning Gavin Miller about.
Of course, Miller's not the captain.
Miller must have been involved in something else.
I tend to think Gavin Miller is the captain of Cronulla,
but David Hatch, of course, is the man with the C alongside his name.
So Ridge has this ball placed right on the quarter line.
Just a couple of meters to the left of the posts.
Making plenty of time.
In comes Matthew Ridge.
The number has been worth his weight in gold so far today.
Manly, 18 for another 8.
Chris White it is, number 23 warming up on the sideline.
Obviously he's coming on for someone, John.
Yes, looks like Jack Jones is coming on.
Might do a number when he gets on the sideline.
Jones leaves the field.
And John Jones has led the tackle count up to this point with 19.
Tackles for Manly.
Chris White on the field, former Brisbane player.
Ridge takes the tackle.
Bella.
So important is that the individual effort of Jeff Toovey there,
Cronulla has been starting to get on a roll,
single-handedly turned it around with that effort,
getting to the kicker and charging it down.
Lyons at dummy half, almost intercepted by Eddinghausen.
Sportley has the ball back.
No doubt the referee has heard there, it came with the Cronulla player.
The referee should have put a scrum down.
Miller.
Wilson swung over.
That's Hosking the tackler.
Danny Lee takes them on.
And almost driving through the tackle.
Hatch.
Spina.
Hatch again.
Inside the quarter now.
Lee.
Lee, good run from Danny Lee.
The defense isn't moving up on the blind side now.
It's the fifth tackle, 10 meters out.
Eddinghausen.
Kicks into the in-goal area, but Ridge, as cool as a cucumber,
arms wrapped around the ball.
Good chase there from Tony Oro.
If you had a look, he had Eddinghausen down.
I think he was going to put the bomb up against.
Pressure on Ridge.
A whopping 25 missed tackles to Cronulla.
The drop ball is eight apiece now.
Manly catching up in that department.
Lyons getting in a dummy half.
Out it goes to Roberts to Beller.
On they move it to Cunningham.
Good tackle from Spietsley.
Good defense from Cronulla now.
That's Chris White.
Can't get the pass away.
That was the last tackle.
Well, he's been a hurt in that tackle too.
Chris White, a courageous effort.
Poor work by White not to get the ball away in some shape or form
on the last tackle.
They would have wanted the kick.
Docking.
Docking bursting.
10 meters short.
Keeps the pressure here from the Sharks to Corkery.
Corkery threading his way through.
Just a few meters out.
Manly being stretched.
Miller gets the pass away to Massey.
Massey couldn't find a hole.
Davidson in there.
Goes himself Davidson trying to repeat Earl Wilson's effort.
It's the last tackle.
Massey a dummy half.
Miller.
Out it goes.
Long balls to Spina.
Tooby is there.
Out it goes now to Spichley.
Over the top to Corkery.
Corkery on the last.
Back it goes to Hatch.
Hatch loses the ball and it should be a manly possession.
Coming up with it.
Raid the fence there by Manly.
They ran the ball in the last tackle, but they were up for the task.
Manly's raid the fence.
Roberts.
Roberts has busted him again.
Good work.
On it goes to Dunford.
Crosses the halfway line.
Ian Roberts really is chopping up the defense.
Tooby.
Tooby is through.
Looking out wide and sees Martin Miller.
Miller swung to ground by Corkery.
Keeps on going.
Martin must be turning into Channel 2.
He's getting carried away by his speed.
The ball has been lost to end the roll.
In a dummy half there.
Tony Iroh made a mess of it.
Bella out on the wing.
Doesn't quite have the wing as Bill, does he?
No, you're not, do you?
It just doesn't look like a wing it is.
Stick to the front row, Marty.
Diamond.
Great work there from Tooby after the Ian Roberts break.
Lee.
Making a few meters, valuable meters.
Just turns the defense around.
Massey.
Granola have the backs well set.
Miller a couple wide of the ruck.
Spinner out to Miller now.
Across field he goes.
Back inside to Ettinghausen.
But Lions knew exactly where they were going.
And the fifth tackle is up.
There's the kick down field from Quinn.
Bouncing away from Ridge.
Quinn is giving good chase.
I don't know where the rest of the Granola players are.
Must be tiring a little.
Quinn makes the tackle with Davidson.
Quinn only coming on at half time.
A bit early to judge Matthew Ridge.
Arthur, what do you think?
They put him under a bit of pressure.
He's going to certainly receive plenty of pressure from here.
He coughed up a couple of bombs there.
He's certainly enthusiastic.
It's only his first game.
He can only get better.
I don't know if he can beat anyone head on.
I guess that will be determined in future games.
Darrell Williams with the boot down field.
Davidson going back with Docking.
It's a good looking kick.
Docking just gets to it in time.
Tackled by Lidia.
It's a good one.
Martin Beller has left the field.
A whole hearted 80 minutes on Wednesday.
And a good 60 here today.
And he is third highest tackler.
Jones is back on I would say.
He must have been only in the head bin.
Yeah, he was in the head bin, Artie.
Falkbury meets the Earthbury suddenly there.
Wilson.
White drives him back with Hosking.
Lee.
This has been a much better half of football from Danny Lee.
Maybe he was given the word at half time.
It's the fifth tackle.
A couple of manly players up inside the five.
Lyons trying to put the pressure on Spiegel.
And he did so.
He was out on the ball.
We have a look here.
Spiegel the kicker, main kicker.
Lyons going up trying to charge the kick down.
Just put him off him up.
Made him narrow down the margin for error.
Roberts.
Hatch around his ankles.
Roberts trying to fight to get the ball away.
Toovy.
Hosking.
Back to Toovy again.
Lyons.
Long ball out for Ridge.
Trimming in nicely.
Ettinghausen didn't let him go too far away.
And Wilson was there too.
30 meters out.
Lyons.
Jones.
Jones also fights, gets his arms free.
Dunford keeps it going.
Lyons, Dummies inside.
Almost a shepherd behind Toovy.
Ronson.
Toovy again.
Toovy is going to be dangerous in this last 20 as they get tired.
Hosking.
All 105 kilograms of him.
The last tackle.
Lyons.
Doesn't go all that far forward.
And out towards the touch line.
Lidiard has it.
It's the last tackle.
Lidiard has it inside to White.
Fumbling backwards.
Put it up, put it up says Cliff Lyons.
And Roberts does it.
It's gone out on the full.
I believe that Lidiard was all side in the first place.
So it should have been a penalty for Cronulla.
Cronulla wanting to get on with it.
The hand over.
It's the attacking side.
Makes an error like that.
Putting the ball out on the full.
On the last tackle.
It's immediately the opposition ball.
And Lidiard has it.
18 points to 8 in favor of Manley.
We've got 17 minutes to go.
Speechley.
Almost through.
What a great battle it's been between the 5 8s.
That was a good tackle from Dunford.
Miller.
Miller trying to hold the ball up for Diamond.
Gets it to Wilson.
Wilson can't get away.
Corkery hoping that he can get the pass back to him.
Good tackle there from Ronson and Iro.
Gets it to Gorkery.
Runs into Roberts and Ronson around his ankles.
On the halfway line.
The last tackle.
Spina pops it through.
Was knocked over.
The referee says it was okay to Ridge.
Spina had his legs chopped out from him.
Just as he got rid of that kick.
He didn't have much chance of regaining possession.
It was too far anyway.
So he wouldn't have regained possession.
Lions.
Back inside to Hosking.
Great ball back to Lions.
Almost as if they preplanned it.
Great work from Hosking.
He has been a workhorse today.
Toovey.
Good tackle there.
Quinn over the top.
Wilson around his ankles.
Dunford.
Dunford.
Just wrapped up.
Once more it's the last tackle.
What will Lions do?
He cross kicks here.
Iroh is coming through on Corkery.
Corkery takes it on the full.
So that will come back to the 22.
Good work from Corkery.
I almost thought Lions was going to chape for a field goal there.
They have a 10 point lead Manley.
So that's worth one converted try and one unconverted try.
Great take by Corkery.
22 tap.
Docking, twisting around in the tackles.
Forces the penalty from Roberts who didn't release it.
Roberts coming in over the top.
Knockin getting up to play the ball quick and Williams just not letting go.
Hooking him up once again.
Catch takes the tap.
Corkery comes off Miller.
Canola desperately need a try.
Massey.
Just 11 meters out.
Canola have been down there a few times without much result.
Spina.
Docking.
Docking driven backwards by White.
Diamond.
And a good strong ball and all tackle.
Wrapped the ball up at his hosting.
Wilston a dummy half Spina.
Miller.
Miller.
Inside is Quinn.
Miller standing too wide of the ruck most of the time today.
He's done a lot of work Roberts today.
Pass has gone forward though by the look of it.
Outstanding match.
That's what he's really drilled inside the passes forward.
Martin Bella is on the sidelines with Johnny Peers.
Yeah Martin you've certainly put out something this week.
How do you feel?
A little bit tired.
It's probably why they've pulled off.
I sort of wasn't getting involved as much as I should have.
It's better to put a fresh man on I suppose.
What are your impressions of this game today?
It's been quite a flowing sort of affair.
We've had a few problems keeping a roll on.
It's probably a game that if you did really get rolling you'd make a bit of a mess of them.
It seems it's just not got a lot of atmosphere for some reason.
What about your new boy Matthew Ridge?
What are your impressions of him?
I think he's gone exceptionally well.
When you consider this his first game of the league it's certainly a big ask of him.
He's performed very well.
Thanks Martin.
Thank you.
Great effort from Martin Bella.
Lyons kicking from dummy half and picks up 25 metres the easy way.
I think Ian Roberts would have to be thinking about being replaced.
So Graham Loward, although he's playing such a great game, he might be a bit reluctant to replace him.
His defence has been outstanding.
He's made 23 tackles.
He's leading the way for Manly.
That's a superhuman effort to back up just three days later.
He's an outstanding athlete, Roberts.
He's got a lot of endurance on his side.
He's such a great athlete they reckon he can play tennis with himself.
There's a great tackle there from David Ronson too sweeping up on the Cronulla backs.
Corkery.
Manly are unrelenting.
They just keep moving up making it very hard for Cronulla.
Cronulla are trying to fight their way back into this match but Manly just aren't giving them anything.
8,100 fans here at Brookvale.
Much more good defence this time from Iroh.
The ball comes out to Corkery.
Cronulla that time trying to go wide to get around them.
Speechly with the boot.
Cronulla are praying for a mistake from Manly.
There isn't any from Liddiard.
He stops it with his boot.
Had plenty of time.
Good tackle from Quinn and Davidson.
Now Ridge has a run.
Taken again by Davidson.
Midway between the quarter and half way.
Toovey, Lyons.
Williams goes without it.
And speechly, no he can't regather.
Knock on both ways but Cronulla will have the feed.
Manly have a player warming up.
Great handcock.
14.
Laurie Spina has it.
John, Marty said there wasn't much atmosphere.
It is a bit flat.
Manly had all the play in the first half.
Cronulla trying to get back into the game.
I think the result is already there.
Unless Cronulla can hit back immediately.
Diamond.
You think both teams have plenty to play for.
Manly certainly need to win.
Cronulla will find themselves in something like equal fifth place.
Or maybe just outside the five if they lose it.
Miller.
It's the fifth tackle.
Gets it to Ettinghausen.
This is a good looking bomb from Ettinghausen.
Putting plenty of pressure on Ridge.
The two of them fly for it.
And two of them take it.
Williams and Ridge wrapped in each other's arms.
Great protection from Cliff Lyons.
They're getting protection.
It's Williams going up.
Williams and Ridge.
Great take.
Sometimes when no one calls and two players go for it,
it can lead to disaster.
At that time they managed to get the ball squeezed right in between the two of them
and go for plenty of protection.
Lyons.
Lyons really is the puppeteer out there.
Manly in no hurry really to get on with this game.
I feel they've got it in their keep.
A kick downfield from Williams.
Hawkery.
Did he knock it on?
Almost.
Juggled it anyway.
The crowd roared.
Miller has some room to move this time.
Manly didn't move up.
Miller went to the line, couldn't crack it.
White in there with Lyons to make the tackle.
Docking.
Docking realizes that it's no good standing back behind the line.
He's getting involved in everything now.
Spina.
Spina has the pace to make a break.
They need any house to get involved.
They also need Gavin Miller probably in every play I believe
for them to get back into this game.
Wilson puts it over the top.
Hawkery is flying through.
It bounces away from Ridge but he covers it well.
Good play though from Cronullet to apply the pressure and keep it on.
They've defended well, John Manly.
They seem to have all the answers.
Yeah, they were in front earlier.
Here's Wilson kicking over the top.
He was probably not obstructed.
You can't disappear.
But Graham Low would probably be quite impressed with the defense
in the second half because they did enough in attack to wrap the game up
in the first half and he's relying on the defense in the second half.
They've done very well.
Meters gained.
Totally in favor of Manly.
Running at a ratio of 3 to 2.
Miller.
18 points to wait in favor of Manly.
Nine minutes remaining.
Docking.
The pattern seems to have gone out of Cronullet's work.
They rely so heavily on Miller but of course Miller needs the forwards
to just break him up a little for him, to give him something to aim at.
It's just not there for them.
This Manly defense is too good.
Miller slips it to Massey.
White makes the tackle.
Cronulla a bunch.
There's no one spread wide at all.
Docking.
Hands it on to Quinn.
He loses it and Roberts dives on the ball to clean up.
18 points to wait in favor of the Sea Eagles.
This is just what Ramelow would be wishing for.
He wanted a victory and it's been a great start to the league by Matthew Ridge also.
Some of the players here have been outstanding.
It's been Ian Roberts.
He's had a sensational match and also Lyons has played very well I believe and Toovey.
Diro has had a much happier match than he had against Canberra.
Well it probably is a drop in class.
Here's another break by Manly.
Good work by Lidiard coming from nowhere.
He came through the center.
He wasn't out on the wing.
Lyons.
Lyons has kicked us out on the ball.
We've seen a few kicks.
Not finding the mark today from Lyons and Speechley.
Quickly, Cronulla with the handover.
Go on with it.
Out it comes to Wilson.
Wilson dummying, wrapped up by Toovey.
Gets it back to Docking.
Docking is trying very, very hard for the Sharks.
Trying to turn this game around.
Lee.
Lee held by Cunningham.
And Hosking.
Referees allows it to play on.
They released him thinking that it had been called held.
Or thinking the tackle had been affected.
Miller slips it to Massey.
It looked as if it was forward.
There's been a few that have slipped by in this second half.
Few forward passes.
Spina.
Speechley.
Out it comes Corkery.
Tries to step inside Toovey's tackle.
Davidson.
Toovey's getting through plenty of defense for Manly.
It's the last tackle.
On the blind side, Corkery.
Corkery flicks it over the top.
Can't Hatch make it to the line?
No, they quickly wrap him up.
It's the last tackle.
Hatch drops it out the back.
Ettinghausen over the top.
Straight into the arms of Liddyard.
And that's been the story of the day.
Back inside is Corky Lyons.
Lyons has no one in front of him.
Quinn is coming from the far side.
So is Docking.
Lyons is trapped.
Can't get the ball out the back.
In the end Lyons went around in circles.
Lost track of where he was going.
Good work though from the defense coming from the far side.
And Docking.
But the pressure is off.
Granola were attacking.
They got trapped on the last one.
Threw the ball wildly.
And away went Manly.
And Manly now in a chance.
A definite opportunity here to add another try.
Because Granola is scattered.
Hosking should let the ball come out.
He doesn't.
Plenty of runners out wide.
Ridge and Williams are standing right on the touch line.
Lyons knows it.
He comes across.
Williams and wide.
Out goes to Iroh.
Williams arrives too late.
Now Tooby scores.
Tooby has scored.
It was always on.
Granola didn't have the numbers.
They had to spread.
Manly knew all about it.
And they moved the ball wide in the end.
Cliffy Lyons knew where the hole was.
He got it out to Iroh.
Iroh looked for support.
It wasn't there when he needed it initially.
But then Tooby came.
The other backs were back a little too deep initially for Iroh.
We have a look here.
Cliff Lyons gets the ball.
About two rucks too late.
But they still scored the try.
Ettinghouser goes into Iroh.
There's been a thorn in the side of Granola all evening.
Great offload to Tooby.
Here it is.
Cliffy Lyons going across the face of the rucks.
Tony Iroh.
Stands up.
In the tackle of Ettinghouser.
Can't take him ball at all.
Offload's a great ball to Tooby.
Jeff Tooby, 20 years of age, was the Manly Rookie of the Year two seasons back.
Of course, was a reserve for the New South Wales State of Origin side.
First time around this season.
Ridge.
Can put a little more salt in the wound.
Out wide.
Ridge has kicked magnificently today.
New Zealand may have lost a good player.
But Manly have kicked one up.
24 to 8.
Manly lead.
Ian Roberts has left the field.
And Craig Hancock, 14, is the replacement.
Ian Roberts, second-round tackler, 24 in all.
Must have been the line.
A great all-round game from the second round.
Canola are playing for pride now.
We're inside the last five minutes.
Jones has worked hard all day long.
Lions.
Slows it up and then goes.
A change of pace.
Often to save the defense.
Hosking leaves it behind.
Did it go back? No, the referee says it's not gone.
I know that.
It's a good ball.
It's a good ball.
It's a good ball.
Did it go back? No, the referee says it's not gone.
Yesterday, last night,
Falmain defeated Canterbury 24 points to 4.
We'll have highlights of that match in sports news after this game.
And the replay of this match at 9 a.m. tomorrow.
Not 8 a.m., 9 a.m. tomorrow, the replay on ABC television.
The replay on ABC television.
Heddinghausen.
Trying to find a hole.
Heddinghausen has made a habit of scoring tries late in the game.
Recently against teams.
Danny Lee.
The manly defense stops him.
Spina.
Miller.
Corkery.
Can't get away from Lions. All white.
Alan Fitzgibbon's got problems, Arthur.
You'll be disappointed with the performance today.
Against Stillawarra, they were very flat, but they came back.
They had a win over...
...Tuvius Stoll on the ball.
But they've had a couple, as you said, this is their second loss on the trot.
So he certainly has his problems.
There seemed to be a lack of enthusiasm out there today.
I was very disappointed in Cronullis forwards,
who have been the mainstay of their team this year.
They're going to have to pick their act up there forwards.
I was a bit disappointed in Gavin Miller today.
Two games in a row that he's been nullified.
What about this fellow Hoskie?
He's had a great front rowers game.
Burleigh customer keeps on going.
Well, actually he's done well.
He could have been playing in the Metropolitan competition.
So, you know, at the beginning of the season, he was playing with,
I believe, Canterbury Bankstown, or someone in the Metropolitan competition.
Yeah, Bankstown Greyhounds.
He had a contract with Bankstown Greyhounds.
And Graham Lowe considered he was a bit light on front rowers.
So he asked Hoskie to trial.
Former South Sydney player.
Where he mainly played reserve.
Well, he also plays... He was a Manly junior.
He also played his first football with Manly.
So I think his nickname is the Sponge.
Apparently because of his drinking habits.
Likes to drink a lot of water, doesn't he?
Docking has the ball.
Cronulla have had a very, very good home record over the last few seasons.
But their away record is not so good.
And today, as we reinforce that, Manly Waringa, far too strong,
right throughout the game.
They really have played a good game of football today, Manly.
A much more convincing 80-minute performance from the Sea Eagles.
Manly have defeated Cronulla by 24 points to 8.
Yes, the two points go to the Manly Sea Eagles.
And what a valuable win.
It takes their premiership tally to 10 points.
And one step closer to challenging the leaders in this year's Winfield Cup.
24 points to 8.
3 tries to 1.
Tries to Cunningham, Bronson and Toovey.
Ridge kick.
6 from 7 in his first game of Rugby League.
Wilson scored a solitary tie, diving over from dummy half for Cronulla.
Wilson none from 1.
Corkery 2 from 2.
Good effort from Manly.
And the Manly players going over to the far side of the field to salute the crowd here.
It's been a feature of Manly's determination this side to, I guess, build a bit of club spirit,
which has sometimes been lacking.
Supporters must have been disappointed last season, but Manly climbing up the ladder this season
and doing a pretty good job.
Well, Johnny Peart has one of the better players on the field today, Matthew Ridge.
Well, Matthew, how did you find it out there?
Pretty hard, pretty tired.
It's good to get through it, though.
Been here for a couple of weeks now and getting a bit touchy about it all,
so it's good to get over and done with.
Yeah, I guess so.
Did you have any preconceived ideas of how hard it would be?
How did you find it, really, in that department?
Was it harder than test football?
I even played test football, so I couldn't tell you,
but it was very hard, very physical.
Happy to get through it.
Well, you've got a good start to the game.
You rattled up a few points in the first half.
The second half, I guess they had more possession.
That put a bit more pressure on your side.
Yeah, for sure.
But all credit's our side.
It's pretty hard stuff.
It's a change for me going in the change room sitting down for 10 minutes,
getting a bit sore, getting a bit stiff, not used to that,
but good to get through it.
What little bit about you, sir? What are you weighing?
82.
82?
Yeah.
Must have bricks in your pocket.
What about at home? Anyone to say hello to?
Just hello to the family, Mandy, Mum, Nan and Dad, that's all.
And Bill.
Thanks, Matthew.
Cheers.
82 kilograms certainly doesn't look like it,
but he played a great game.
In fact, we had New Zealand television stations here running a story about him today
because there's so much interest in the defection of an all-black,
and of course a few more have left during the past week.
Right, let's find out who was Beatson's best.
You're simply the best
Ian Roberts taking the honours today.
A great effort, maybe something like 24 tackles,
busted the line a number of times.
Arthur, he really did play a great game just three days after,
also putting in for 80 minutes.
Well, that's right, he played a great game for New South Wales on Wednesday night,
but to back up today and win man of the match as far as I was concerned,
there were some great efforts, but his defence was outstanding,
and in the first half he was responsible for a lot of the yardage gained by Manly.
It was really all over at half-time, Manly led 16 points to nil.
Well, that was it.
Cannella put in a very poor performance in the first half,
but the second half they picked up their game,
but towards the end guys like Iro, Tuvi and Lyons, they just played too well.
Right, Johnny Pids got another one of the Manly winners, Cliffy Lyons.
Well, Cliffy Lyons, the captain of the winning side,
that was a pretty good impressive performance, you needed it, but...
Yeah, well, we come out here determined to win,
and our first half of performance is what won us the game,
we held them 16-nil at half-time,
and we sort of knew we couldn't let up at half-time,
we just come out determined.
Had big games from Marty Bell and Ian Roberts backing up after Wednesday night,
and what can you say about Ian Roberts?
He's a fantastic guy.
He's a great athlete, isn't he?
And what about your fullback, can you comment on him?
Yeah, Matthew, he's played... he's confident in whatever he did today,
and his goal-kicking was about six out of seven,
just everything he did, he did with confidence.
Yeah, he'll be an asset in that department for sure.
Thanks very much, Cliffy.
Thanks, Johnny.
Good game from the Manly skipper.
I really think Graham Low would be heartened by that performance
because Manly showed a bit of consistency
and a very solid, steady game of football.
Well, he'd be really happy with that.
As I said, the forwards work really well,
and Cliff Lines ran back into a bit of form,
and also Tony Iro played well.
We know that Teevee's a very good player,
and I believe Bob Fulton was right when he said,
this kid's going to play for Australia.
And Des Hasler and Michael O'Connor still to come for Manly,
both out injured today.
Let's have a look at tomorrow's games,
because this is the completion of a split round 10.
Canberra take on Newcastle at Bruce Stadium,
Brisbane take on the Gold Coast,
the local derby at Lang Park,
and St George versus Parramatta back at Cogger Oval.
The new grandstander's ready to go,
and I'm sure the Dragons will be very happy to be back there.
And my tips? Well, Canberra taking on Newcastle.
Gary Coyne is out for Canberra.
Canberra have five players backing up from the state of origin match,
but it is at Bruce Stadium.
Newcastle have beaten St George and Illawarra lately,
but I think you'd have to go for Canberra, Arthur.
Well, I think Canberra would be too strong at home.
They're playing very well, as you said, Newcastle.
They have put together two great wins,
but Canberra would be too strong.
Brisbane take on the Gold Coast.
It was a very fiery clash last year.
Jim Cowell and Wally Lewis came to blows.
Backhoe and Lewis will probably be fresh reserves.
Shearer, in some doubt,
and for the Gold Coast, Englishman Gary Devortie playing his first game,
but Brisbane should win that, but it'll be a good clash.
It'll be a good clash.
As you said, Gold Coast had beaten them two out of three,
and I think Brisbane have seen them getting that act together,
and I think they'll be too good for Gold Coast.
You can hear some cheers in the background as Matthew Ridge leaves the field,
and the third game tomorrow should be a very tough one.
St George up against Parramatta.
Ricky Walford is out of the St George line-up.
Ron Williams in.
Scott Goulet playing his first game for St George as a starter in first grade.
Parramatta have Brett Kenney at 5'8", alongside Sterlo,
and the usual 5'8", Mark Barnes, is playing Hooker.
First game back at Cogra.
Very tough game, very important game,
but I think I'll stay with St George to beat Parramatta tomorrow.
So I hope you enjoyed today's game.
It was an entertaining clash.
We'll be back next week.