Dragons hold off Manly for gutsy victory

An early Damien Cook dart put the visitors on the front foot off the back of a quick tap with Valentine Holmes coming close to scoring off it only to be dragged down short of the chalk.

Jake Trbojevic left the field for a HIA less than 10 minutes into the contest which ruled him out for the remainder of the match.

The Dragons threatened on multiple occasions in the opening quarter of the clash with the pressure eventually proving too much for Manly to handle as Clint Gutherson threw a pinpoint chest pass the way of Tyrell Sloan after drawing the opposing winger in.

Sloan dove over for first points with Holmes nailing the conversion from the right touchline off it to make it 6-0.

The Dragons fired in a Captain’s Challenge shortly after in an attempt to overturn a knock-on call only for video officials to concur with the on-field ruling.

Jazz Tevaga left the field for a HIA just shy of the half-hour mark before Holmes sprinted into space the next set only for the final pass to batted down by a Manly defender.

The hosts lodged a successful Captain’s Challenge prior to half-time to retain possession in attacking ball.

Nathan Brown claimed a try off it but was ruled to have lost the football over the try-line with Hamish Stewart exiting the field in the aftermath of it for a match-ending HIA.

Holmes knocked over a penalty goal from a touch over 30 metres out on the stroke of half-time to extend the visitors’ lead heading into the break with Cook also taken for a HIA as the siren sounded – which he passed.

Manly fired in another successful Captain’s Challenge early in the second forty to win possession off a short Dragons drop-out.

A Ben Trbojevic drop however was scooped up by Sloan who pushed away from Luke Brooks and raced nearly the length of the field to snag his second four-pointer of the night.

Holmes’ conversion sailed over again from the right touchline to grow the lead out to 14-0.

Manly found a response just moments later however through Tolutau Koula who crossed off a Tommy Talau line break to cut the deficit back to 14-6.

Mathew Feagai was hit in dangerous fashion by Toafofoa Sipley whilst the carting the ball out of his own end which resulted in the former leaving the field and the latter being binned.

Manly were the next on the scoreboard however with Reuben Garrick kicking a penalty from a shade under 40 out to bring the hosts two points closer.

Despite being a man down, the Sea Eagles managed to tie it up their next set with Lehi Hopoate speeding into the backfield and handing it off to a supporting Ben Trbojevic.

Replacement player Sione Finau was thrust into the action to cover the loss of Feagai.

The Dragons managed a try before Manly’s 13th player returned however with halves partners Lachlan Ilias and Kyle Flanagan combining to send Liddle charging over to score on a fifth tackle short side raid.

Sloan found himself in space down the right flank again soon after and tried his hand at a chip-and-chase as he approached Hopoate only for Daly Cherry-Evans to shut it down for Manly.

The Sea Eagles hit back off it with Cherry-Evans laying it on a platter for Jason Saab who went aerial to nab possession and score.

Garrick’s conversion from inches inside the right touchline was waved away as the Red V maintained a two-point edge entering the home stretch.

Brooks looked to have put Manly ahead with nine minutes on the clock after regathering his own kick only for Sipley to have been ruled offside by video officials in the chase.

A Brooks knock-on – which Manly attempted overturn via a Captain’s Challenge – proved their final touch of the football.

Haumole Olakau’atu was placed on report in the final stages for a high tackle on Liddle as the Dragons held on for a gutsy win in enemy territory.