Canteen Worker
First Grader
Saturday, July 8, 2006 - 7:30 PM
An explosive opening from Sydney Roosters enforcer Adrian Morley was not enough to inspire his side to an NRL victory, Manly winning 33-16 at Aussie Stadium.
Manly scored five tries to three in a match that opened with several fiery exchanges between the pumped-up sides, both desperate to end losing streaks.
Morley had looked determined to prove some recently earned reputations wrong and led the way for the Roosters, sparking an early brawl before pulling off two of the season's biggest hits in successive tackles.
Taking exception to a fourth minute Jason King tackle, Morley appeared to use a forearm on the tackler while on the ground, only for players to run in from all directions and the match looked like it would boil over.
But Morley responded in the sixth minute, first legally flattening King and then Manly centre Steve Matai, who lost the ball.
Ryan Cross and Steve Matai also stood toe-to-toe after an early tackle while Craig Wing took exception to being tackled over the sideline into a temporary hard plastic barrier erected during Aussie Stadium's current makeover.
It was Manly which was able to show the more attacking flair when the dust settled, two first converted half tries and a penalty goal sending it to the break with a 14-0 lead.
Any hope the Roosters had of clawing their way back into the match appeared to be snuffed out within six minutes of the second half when Manly halfback Matt Orford strolled through the middle of the ruck and then outsprinted Amos Roberts in a 60-metre run to the line.
The Roosters got back to 20-10 though, courtesy of a barge-over effort from interchange forward Mickey Paea and a cut-out ball from Brett Finch that sent Iosia Soliola over out wide.
But Manly fullback Brett Stewart got his 15th try in 14 matches this season in the 62nd minute, diving on a ball batted back from an Orford kick for Manly to go out to 26-10.
A field goal to Orford and a late converted try to interchange prop George Rose extended the margin, while Ashley Harrison scored in the last minute for the Roosters.
The Roosters' losing streak now stretches to six matches, while Manly snapped its own three-match run of outs.
The Roosters had muscled up in the first half but were also tackled into touch three times while struggling to penetrate the strong Manly defence.
After a 10th minute 30-metre barnstorming try from NSW State of Origin discard Brent Kite, the Sea Eagles turned on a scintillating 80-metre effort started and finished by centre Chris Hicks and including a Stewart flick pass as good as any by Benji Marshall or Billy Slater.
An explosive opening from Sydney Roosters enforcer Adrian Morley was not enough to inspire his side to an NRL victory, Manly winning 33-16 at Aussie Stadium.
Manly scored five tries to three in a match that opened with several fiery exchanges between the pumped-up sides, both desperate to end losing streaks.
Morley had looked determined to prove some recently earned reputations wrong and led the way for the Roosters, sparking an early brawl before pulling off two of the season's biggest hits in successive tackles.
Taking exception to a fourth minute Jason King tackle, Morley appeared to use a forearm on the tackler while on the ground, only for players to run in from all directions and the match looked like it would boil over.
But Morley responded in the sixth minute, first legally flattening King and then Manly centre Steve Matai, who lost the ball.
Ryan Cross and Steve Matai also stood toe-to-toe after an early tackle while Craig Wing took exception to being tackled over the sideline into a temporary hard plastic barrier erected during Aussie Stadium's current makeover.
It was Manly which was able to show the more attacking flair when the dust settled, two first converted half tries and a penalty goal sending it to the break with a 14-0 lead.
Any hope the Roosters had of clawing their way back into the match appeared to be snuffed out within six minutes of the second half when Manly halfback Matt Orford strolled through the middle of the ruck and then outsprinted Amos Roberts in a 60-metre run to the line.
The Roosters got back to 20-10 though, courtesy of a barge-over effort from interchange forward Mickey Paea and a cut-out ball from Brett Finch that sent Iosia Soliola over out wide.
But Manly fullback Brett Stewart got his 15th try in 14 matches this season in the 62nd minute, diving on a ball batted back from an Orford kick for Manly to go out to 26-10.
A field goal to Orford and a late converted try to interchange prop George Rose extended the margin, while Ashley Harrison scored in the last minute for the Roosters.
The Roosters' losing streak now stretches to six matches, while Manly snapped its own three-match run of outs.
The Roosters had muscled up in the first half but were also tackled into touch three times while struggling to penetrate the strong Manly defence.
After a 10th minute 30-metre barnstorming try from NSW State of Origin discard Brent Kite, the Sea Eagles turned on a scintillating 80-metre effort started and finished by centre Chris Hicks and including a Stewart flick pass as good as any by Benji Marshall or Billy Slater.
