MANLY SEA EAGLES 44 ST GEORGE ILLAWARRA DRAGONS 10
STEPHEN IBBETSON, 4 Pines Park, Friday

ST GEORGE ILLAWARRA confirmed the wooden spoon in appropriate fashion – a mauling at the hands of Manly.

Two recent wins had doubled the Dragons’ tally for the season but they conceded 44 points for the second week running to end any mathematical hopes of avoiding that most unwanted prize.

Manly, who clung to a slim chance of making the top eight, were devastating, none more so than forward Haumole Olakau’atu.

They led 26-0 after less than half an hour, with Lehi Hopoate’s opener followed by two tries from Jason Saab, both off Jamal Fogarty kicks, the first of them high and the next low.

Saab then turned provider for Reuben Garrick, and Tom Trbojevic’s try made it game over well before half-time.

Josh Feledy was gifted the first four points of the second half, and was followed in by Clayton Faulalo – breaking from his own half – and Olakau’atu with a fearsome charge.

Late Tyrell Sloan and Moses Suli tries were of no consolation to the Dragons, who conceded once again to Hopoate in between.

Fogarty only converted four of the Sea Eagles’ tries but was otherwise exceptional with three try-assists, the same number as Faulalo.

SEA EAGLES: 1 Tom Trbojevic, 2 Jason Saab, 3 Josh Feledy, 4 Reuben Garrick, 5 Lehi Hopoate, 6 Clayton Faulalo, 7 Jamal Fogarty, 8 Simione Laifai, 9 Brandon Wakeham, 10 Nathan Brown, 11 Haumole Olakau’atu, 12 Ben Trbojevic, 13 Jake Trbojevic. Subs: 14 Jake Simpkin, 15 Nicholas Lenaz, 16 Corey Waddell (not used), 17 Caleb Navale, 18 Onitoni Large, 19 Fletcher Baker (not used)

Tries: Hopoate (8, 74), Saab (17, 21), Garrick (24), T Trbojevic (27), Feledy (50), Faulalo (56), Olakau’atu (61); Goals: Fogarty 4/8, Garrick 0/1

DRAGONS: 1 Daniel Atkinson, 2 Mat Feagai, 3 Moses Suli, 4 Valentine Holmes, 5 Tyrell Sloan, 6 Lyhkan King-Togia, 7 Kyle Flanagan, 8 Loko Jnr Pasifiki Tonga, 9 Damien Cook, 10 Toby Couchman, 11 Dylan Egan, 12 Hamish Stewart, 13 Ryan Couchman. Subs: 14 Connor Muhleisen, 15 Josh Kerr, 16 Jacob Halangahu (not used), 17 Jacob Webster, 18 Blake Lawrie, 19 Setu Tu (not used)

Tries: Sloan (69), Suli (77); Goals: Holmes 1/2

SCORING SEQUENCE: 4-0, 10-0, 16-0, 22-0, 26-0; 32-0, 36-0, 40-0, 40-6, 44-6, 44-10

Rugby Leaguer & League Express Men of the Match
Sea Eagles: Loko Jnr Pasifiki Tonga; Dragons: Haumole Olakau’atu

Penalty count: 4-1; Half-time: 26-0; Referee: Nick Pelgrave; Attendance: 13,597