It was a win that was needed for both sides. Manly to get back into the NRL’s top 4 and the Cowboys to get the ball rolling for a push to the finals.
It looked poised at one stage and anyone’s game, before a second-half blitz by the Sea Eagles saw their overpower the error-prone and erratic Cowboys side, eventually winning 34-14 at 1300 Smiles Stadium.
The return of Matt Bowen brought some confidence back into the Cowboys side, but even he could not change their fortunes in this game, as the trio of Steve Matai, Jorge Taufua and Brett Stewart wreaked havoc in the second half, setting up opportunities at will.
With the competition tough and close, Manly had not recorded back-to-back wins for 10 games – a stat that the Sea Eagles are now keen to rectify.
“We knew we had to get a couple of wins and we’ve struggled the previous few weeks so it was good to Cialis Online finally get two wins in a row and get a couple of points,” he said.
It was a completely different Cowboys side from the first half to the second half – perhaps a Jekyll and Hyde scenario describes it best.
The first half was evenly poised as the Cowboys minus star play-maker Johnathan Thurston pushed Manly to the edge, before failing to show intensity in the second and ultimately, being blown away.
What hurt his side most, according to Cowboys coach Neil Henry, was an inability to defend errors inside their own half.
“We were in the mix at half-time and the second they blew us away really,” Henry said.
“I don’t think they made an error, they were at one stage 17 of 17 (completed sets) and we made six errors in the second half.
“We needed to play some footy and unfortunately we didn’t and gave up some field position.”
3. Jorge Taufua
2. Brett Stewart
1. Justin Horo