Eagles fly in Mudgee, Titans with work to do
The Manly Sea Eagles have proved too strong in slippery conditions in Mudgee, running out 36 points to 0 winners in the round six clash.
Errors cruelled the Titans chances, with dropped ball hampering the Titans attacking chances.
Corey Thompson put in yet another strong performance, with the winger running for 172 metres, while David Fifita also had good moments in the match.
Manly flew out of the blocks with Brad Parker scoring in the ninth minute.
Returning from injury, Tom Trbojevic had a big first 40, with his first highlight being the short pass to send Parker over.
After a grind through the first few minutes of the game, the Sea Eagles took control and held the ascendency through the first half.
Reuben Garrick crossed in the 17th minute and then it was Trbojevic who crossed six minutes later to stretch the lead to 20-0 after 22 minutes.
After the try, Manly went the length of the field from the kick-off. Jake Trbojevic finding his brother who escaped the clutches of Ash Taylor to sprint down the right flank before finding Jason Saab to score.
The Titans lifted in the back end of the half, with Jaimin Jolliffe and Sam Lisone adding some strong go forward after being injected off the bench.
Gold Coast’s showed what the team is capable of with a shift from the in-goal, with Ash Taylor firing a cutout ball off his own tryline to put Corey Thompson into space with the winger running 70 metres to put his side into attack. Despite threatening the Manly line, it was the Sea Eagles who held firm to take a 26-nil lead into the halftime break.
Straight after halftime, David Fifita found space with the second rower galloping down field. The Titans had repeat sets at the Manly line but couldn’t find points.
Brian Kelly attempted to roll a ball into the in-goal, but the ball bounced of the feet of a Manly player and Morgan Harper was able to pick it up and run away.
Harper found Saab with the winger crossing for for a double - the Eagles stretching their lead to 30.
AJ Brimson showed energy and effort despite the score line, with a try saver holding up Garrick over the line.
The Titans couldn’t hold out the Manly winger a second time, with Garrick crossing from a Kieran Foran cutout ball close to the line.
The Titans will have to re-group quickly, with a blockbuster match against the South Sydney Rabbitohs back at home (Cbus Super Stadium) next Friday as part of the NRL’s Anzac Round.
