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After keeping their season alive with a late charge to topple Canterbury in the elimination final, Manly are now two wins away from a first Grand Final appearance since 2013.
Trent Robinson’s Roosters and the Melbourne machine are the obstacles in the way but there are reasons for optimism as the Sea Eagles could be catching fire at just the right time of the season to make a genuine premiership tilt.
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The issue Anthony Sebiold’s side have faced all season is putting together a consistent run of form. The heavy defeat inflicted by Cronulla in the final round at Brookvale Oval when a home final was at stake was concerning, but Manly certainly responded against the Bulldogs with tries at key times in both halves.
Of course, that performance was also not without its blemishes as they only needed to stage a dramatic comeback because Canterbury were in control of large parts of the contest and should have sealed a date with the Roosters themselves.
But instead the Sea Eagles made the most of their opportunity with Tolu Koula providing the most exciting moment of finals week one, finishing off a dynamic team try to sink Cameron Ciraldo’s men.
Koula will be key to his team’s hopes against the Roosters with his direct opponent Joey Manu struggling for form but hoping to make a statement as his last game with his last game in the red, white and blue approaching quickly before he makes the move to Japanese rugby union.
At 35 years young, Daly Cherry-Evans is still the incumbent Maroons No.7 and is showing few signs of slowing down. Still, father time catches up to all and Cherry-Evans does not have many years up his sleeve to add another premiership to the 2011 triumph over the New Zealand Warriors.
He combined well with finals debutant Luke Brooks on Sunday, both halves assisting a try and the halfback also crossing the stripe from a training ground scrum move.
This is an area where the Silvertails have a distinct advantage with Luke Keary struggling for form and young half Sandon Smith probably still experiencing nightmares after being thrown to the wolves – or Panthers – last Friday night at the foot of the mountains.
Daly Cherry-Evans. (Photo by Cameron Spencer/Getty Images)
If the Manly pack can get their job done allowing Brooks and DCE time and space with the ball they should be able to punish an Easts side still reeling from another demoralising defeat to 2024’s top two sides, still bereft of Sam Walker and Brandon Smith though Victor Radley
Another name on the scoresheet was Ethan Bullemor. The ex-Broncos forward put in an impressive showing against Canterbury, making 21 of 22 tackles in defence to go along with six runs off the bench The 24-year-old will be primed to continue his good form in 2024 on Saturday when the challenge continues against the Bondi club’s pack.
Like all clubs injuries have affected them at different stages of the campaign but there will be no significant outs for Saturday evening’s battle of the bridge at Allianz Stadium apart from Jason Saab, with talisman fullback Tom Trbojevic named in the No.1 jersey.
There is no C next to Trbojevic’s name but he led by example on Sunday, pushing through the pain barrier and making a significant contribution to his side’s victory, despite clearly not being in his best shape. Do-or-die finals football can certainly expose any weaknesses in your line-up and the Chooks will need to do a better job nullifying Tom than they did on Nathan Cleary, but that’s easier said than done.
He is undoubtedly Manly’s best player and on his day, when not bothered by persistent soft tissue troubles, also one of the best in the NRL. The Sea Eagles are not a one-man band in the vein of Newcastle’s over-reliance on the excellent Kalyn Ponga
Manly will need their dynamic fullback to lead them again if they are to defeat the Roosters and earn the right to face Melbourne in the Grand Final qualifier.
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