Daly Cherry-Evans has once again proved his worth to the Manly Sea Eagles, slotting home a golden point field goal to defeat the Cowboys 21-20.
Between both sides, six field goal attempts were missed with Cherry-Evans one of those right before full time.
In golden point, Cowboys centre Val Holmes missed two attempts before the Manly captain kicked the winner and post-game admitted he needed to redeem himself for the earlier miss.
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“I had to make up for that absolute sitter I missed in front, I was pretty filthy on that, I’m glad we got another opportunity,” he told Fox League.
“The boys worked so hard. Jake’s knock down, there was so many things that went into before I could kick that goal. Just really grateful for the boys for digging deep there.”
Daly Cherry-Evans celebrates after his match-winning field goal. Getty
The Sea Eagles started the game strong with Jason Saab scoring in the second minute. Chad Townsend returned serve 10 minutes later to even it up.
Saab grabbed his second later in the half to give Manly a 12-6 lead at the break. It was a half of missed opportunities for the Cowboys though with Townsend dropping the ball over the line, Jordan McLean throwing a forward pass to Jeremiah Nanai and Reuben Garrick taking a diving intercept off a Scott Drinkwater pass.
“Simple skill and poor execution is killing Todd Payten and his team at the moment,” league great Cooper Cronk said at half time.
“He’s blowing up deluxe knowing that Drinkwater and a couple other guns are getting opportunities, getting to the back field, they’ve got a lot of attacking ball but just not coming up with the points they need in that first half … it just might come back to bite the Cowboys.”
The second half started with Manly pushing ahead as Saab grabbed a hat-trick.
North Queensland managed to make it 18-18 in the 54th minute though after tries to Reuben Cotter and Kyle Feldt.
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Manly then went ahead with six minutes to go after a penalty goal before Drinkwater hit a two-point field goal moments after.
The field goal attempts then continued with Cherry-Evans missing one and Townsend missing three before the full-time whistle.
In golden point, Holmes missed a long range effort and one from close range before Cherry-Evans got his side home.
“That was never missing … what a great clutch player he is,” Greg Alexander said on Fox League.
The field goal made it the seventh time Cherry-Evans has won it for Manly after regular time.