Lachlan Croker's epic 15-minute stint wasn't enough as Manly STILL can't beat a top-8 team; and the Cowboys are 'light years' away from last year's woes. 3 BIG HITS:
The Cowboys were rocked before the first whistle was blown when Queensland star Reuben Cotter limped off in the warm-up, suffering a hamstring injury that looks set to rule him out of Origin II.
The Cowboys scored first in the second half before Manly hit back quickly, as Sea Eagles No.9 Lachlan Croker took control in what appeared to be a game-breaking 15-minute period. They had a horrible first-half this time around against Manly, starting before the game when Reuben Cotter pulled up with an injury. Entering half-time down 10-6 and with Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow out with a failed HIA, the Cowboys were in all sorts.
Payten: “I enjoyed the last seven-eight minutes, absolutely! I thought we played some really good footy at different times throughout that game. Since Hasler returned to Brookvale in 2019, Manly had beaten the Cowboys in all four of their meetings. That run ended – and in very disappointing fashion.As far as individual performances go, Lachlan Croker’s 15-minute period between around the 45th and 70th minutes was as good as it gets.
We can think of a few teams that might be dreaming of Croker backflipping on his conversion from a half to a hooker. It was one example of the Sea Eagles repeatedly targeting fullback Scott Drinkwater with high bombs, hoping to exploit his size disadvantage.Manly had a second Christian Tuipulotu try ruled out due to Haumole Olakau’atu knocking the ball on in the in-goal area.Morgan Harper made a brilliant run from dummy half to fool Peter Hiku and burst through the defensive line.
Townsend told the referee: “I didn’t call for it, I’m telling you I’m the captain. I didn’t call it.”Soon after, Morgan Harper was lucky to avoid being placed on report or sent to the sin bin when Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow gathered a kick, only for the Manly player to slide in - and knee him in the head - while he was lying on the ground. Tabuai-Fidow would subsequently fail his HIA.Scott Drinkwater sent a kick towards the goalposts, and Jake Granville and Andrew Davey both jump up to contest it.
On the resulting set, Cherry-Evans scythed through the defence with a perfectly-weighted grubber kick under the posts, and Croker surged through a hesitating defence to score.Cronk replied: “When the game is on the line, normally it’s Foran or Cherry-Evans that stands up. Tonight it’s the number 9. He’s blown this game wide open in the last 10 minutes!”Then Croker remarkably scored again, kicking from the 20metre line.