Defending premiers St George Illawarra proved they were the team to beat again this season by defeating Manly 24-6 at WIN Stadium tonight.
Most observers believed competition favouritism would lie with the winner of the second-versus-third clash and the Pink V (in honour of the NRL’s Women in League Round) didn’t disappoint, turning in a massive defensive effort in the first half before running away in the second stanza.
The victory, in front of 18,000 fans, ended a winless month for the Dragons – who moved to second behind Melbourne - and snapped the Sea Eagles’ six-game win streak.
Jamie Soward and Kyle Stanley touched down in thr second half after the Dragons went to the sheds with an 12-0 halftime lead through Stanley and Mitch Rein.
However, the story was the Dragons monumental defensive effort late in the first period when they held out the visitors for 36 consecutive tackles.
Again and again the Sea Eagles earned another set through a line drop-out or a penalty, but the champions held firm.
By half-time, St George Illawarra had made more than 70 more tackles than Manly, surrendered a 59-41% disadvantage in possession and 62-38% in territory.
Manly had been tackled 33 times in the opposition red zone, but came up scoreless until Brett Stewart scored two minutes after halftime for 12-6.
The victory wasn’t without incident, as Jamie Soward injured his hamstring scoring an intercept try late in the match, casting grave fears about his chances of playing in next Wednesday’s Origin decider.
Old enemies Mark Gasnier and Steve Matai almost came to blows twice within minutes after Matai was placed on report for a swinging arm on Dragons winger Jason Nightingale in the first half.
Earlier Dragons stand-in captain Nathan Fien was also placed on report for a high shot that left manly fullback Brett Stewart dazed.
The match was the first played in Wollongong for 400 days and was St George Illawarra coach Wayne Bennett’s 400th win in the NRL.
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