MANLY SEA EAGLES 28 SOUTH SYDNEY RABBITOHS 14
STEPHEN IBBETSON, 4 Pines Park, Thursday

THE NRL’s newest full-time coach got the better of its oldest as Kieran Foran’s Manly defeated Wayne Bennett-coached South Sydney.

Foran retired at the end of last season as a Sea Eagles great over two spells as a player.

He returned as an assistant coach but stepped straight up to the top job in late March when Anthony Seibold left the club after losing the opening three games of the year.

A remarkable run of seven wins in nine saw Foran given the head coach role permanently on a three-year contract on Tuesday.

And he celebrated by making that eight wins in ten, and four out of four at what was christened ‘Foz Pines Park’ for this game in his honour, against a wasteful Rabbitohs side who suffered a third straight defeat.

Recovering an early deficit, Jason Saab’s double bookended a five-try victory that strengthens their case for a top-four finish which appeared so unlikely when Foran first took the helm.

Settled Manly had Tolutau Koula back at centre following the head knock which saw Kalyn Ponga sent off for a high tackle in the State of Origin opener.

South Sydney, meanwhile, welcomed back big-name forwards Brandon Smith (calf) and David Fifita (hamstring) as well as centre Campbell Graham (calf) following a bye round.

And the refresh looked to be doing them good when they were 8-0 up after the opening quarter.

After repelling some early pressure, Cody Walker’s 40/20 kick put Souths on the front foot and Keaon Koloamatangi crashed through a gap for the opening try.

Latrell Siegwalt added the conversion and then a further two points when Ashton Ward was held down too long by Clayton Faulalo following a Jye Gray break – an indiscretion which also earned the Manly fullback ten minutes in the sin bin.

However, it was during that period a man light that the Sea Eagles’ comeback began, a fast move playing Saab into the corner and Reuben Garrick kicking the first of his four goals.

Garrick was prevented from scoring a try of his own by excellent defence in the same right corner by Rabbitohs winger Alex Johnston.

But seconds later Graham lost the ball in the tackle and Luke Brooks fed Lehi Hopoate down the left for a 10-8 Manly lead at half-time.

A key moment came eight minutes into the second half when South Sydney’s right winger Edward Kosi thought he had touched down with a spectacular dive, only for replays to show he had done so on the dead-ball line.

Two minutes afterwards, Faulalo sliced through at the other end – albeit at the cost of a hamstring injury – and Garrick’s conversion made it 16-8 to the hosts.

And when Ben Trbojevic charged through for 22-8 in the 56th minute, Manly’s position was commanding.

South Sydney responded on the hour through Fifita, again from attacking position earned by a 40/20, this time from Ward, and Siegwalt kicked the extras.

But Manly repelled the remaining threat and some dazzling footwork from Saab, off an equally skilful tip-on by Koula, made sure of the spoils eight minutes from time.

GAMESTAR: Haumole Olakau’atu was devastating in the Manly back row.

GAMEBREAKER: The big momentum swing when Clayton Faulalo scored moments after a South Sydney try was chalked off.

MATCHFACTS

SEA EAGLES
1 Clayton Faulalo
2 Jason Saab
3 Tolutau Koula
4 Reuben Garrick
5 Lehi Hopoate
6 Luke Brooks
7 Jamal Fogarty
8 Taniela Paseka
9 Jake Simpkin
10 Kobe Hetherington
11 Haumole Olakau’atu
12 Ben Trbojevic
13 Jake Trbojevic
Subs
14 Brandon Wakeham
15 Nathan Brown
16 Jackson Shereb (not used)
17 Simione Laifai
18 Josh Feledy
19 Joey Walsh (not used)

Tries: Saab (23, 73), Hopoate (29), Faulalo (50), B Trbojevic (56)
Goals: Garrick 4/5
Sin bin: Faulalo (16) – professional foul

RABBITOHS
1 Jay Gray
2 Alex Johnston
3 Latrell Siegwalt
4 Campbell Graham
5 Edward Kosi
6 Cody Walker
7 Ashton Ward
8 Tevita Tatola
9 Brandon Smith
10 Keaon Koloamatangi
11 David Fifita
12 Tallis Duncan
13 Cameron Murray
Subs
14 Lachlan Hubner
15 Jamie Humphreys (not used)
16 Euan Aitken
17 Sean Keppie
18 Matt Dufty (not used)
21 Bronson Garlick

Tries: Koloamatangi (12), Fifita (60)
Goals: Siegwalt 3/3

SCORING SEQUENCE: 0-6, 0-8, 6-8, 10-8; 16-8, 22-8, 22-14, 28-14

Rugby Leaguer & League Express Men of the Match
Sea Eagles: Haumole Olakau’atu; Rabbitohs: Cameron Murray

Penalty count: 10-5
Half-time: 10-8
Referee: Adam Gee
Attendance: 15,451