Tom Trbojevic’s fullback return has helped keep Manly in the top eight, with the Sea Eagles captain spearheading his side to a 44-6 win over Newcastle.
In a brutally one-sided affair at Brookvale Oval, Trbojevic tormented Newcastle’s makeshift edges and tore apart the Knights’ defence.
With no Kalyn Ponga, Bradman Best or Dane Gagai, Newcastle struggled to threaten in attack and never appeared to be in the contest.
In defence, the makeshift centres of Dylan Lucas and Thomas Cant were sitting ducks for Trbojevic.
Playing out of position at centre himself a week ago as Manly eased him back from a hamstring injury, Trbojevic only moved back to fullback with Tolu Koula injured this week.
But on Sunday he put to bed any questions over his best position in this Sea Eagles side.
The 27-year-old’s speed and presence were issues for the Knights defenders all match, as he regularly created space out wide for his outside men.
Winger Lehi Hopoate benefited with a double, while fellow outside backs Jason Saab, Reuben Garrick and Tommy Talau all scored tries.
Of Manly’s eight tries, four came when Trbojevic swung across to an edge and chimed in before a winger or centre broke downfield.
He set up another when he scooped up a ball on the half-volley and found Haumole Olakau’atu unmarked, putting the second-rower over untouched.
The Manly fullback also scored one try himself, chasing down a Luke Brooks bomb and leaping over opposite number Fletcher Sharpe to catch the ball and score.
Still, the highlight of the day belonged to Hopoate, who set up a try by running onto a cross-field kick from Brooks, catching it and passing inside to Talau in one motion.
South Sydney-bound halfback Jamie Humphreys also impressed on debut, scoring Manly’s first and having some nice touches in their backline movements.
Manly had entered Sunday with the worst record of all teams in Origin-affected rounds since 2016, winning only one of nine.
But they emerged from it in seventh spot on the ladder, still only one point clear of ninth-placed St George Illawarra and three points off Cronulla in fourth.
Newcastle could have entered the top eight with victory on Sunday.
Instead, they remain in 10th and with a difficult fortnight ahead against Brisbane and Penrith.
Their only points came when Tyson Frizell crossed late, but by that stage they trailed 38-0.
Their afternoon was summed up by two penalties from kick-offs, while one of Manly’s tries came in the plays after Newcastle failed to get a man to dummy-half.
Look back on how all the action unfolded in our live blog.
Key events
That is all for the ABC Sport live blog
That brings an end to round 19 of the NRL.
It ended with a thumping win for the Manly Sea Eagles.
They were far too good for Newcastle today.
We will be back on Wednesday night for the State of Origin decider at Lang Park.
I hope you join us then.
Goodnight.
A debut to remember for Jamie Humphreys
‘The whole game was pretty poor’: Frizell says Newcastle must learn from loss
Newcastle captain Tyson Frizell says he was most disappointed with how his team lost.
He says they are usually “in the fight” in their defeats, but this afternoon they were dominated from the start.
“To be honest, the whole game was pretty poor.”
Newcastle coach describes loss as a ‘hard one to watch’
Adam O’Brien says he is disappointed with how his side played in their 44-6 defeat to Manly.
“It was a hard one to watch — hard one to be a part of,” O’Brien says.
“Manly played well. They exposed our inexperience on [the] edges.”
O’Brien said this afternoon’s performance was one which needed to be forgotten about in a hurry.
“We can’t let it define us. We’ve got to pick ourselves up and regroup.”
Newcaslte coach Adam O’Brien is speaking to media now
After watching his team get thrashed 44-6, Adam O’Brien is speaking to the media.
The NRL ladder after round 19
FULL-TIME: Manly Sea Eagles 44 def. Newcastle Knights 6
A great win for the Manly Sea Eagles who end round 19 in the top eight of the NRL.
TomTrbovejic was outstanding in his second match back from injury.
Young winger Lehi Hopoate was exceptional with two tries and a special pass to set up another.
Newcastle were awful this afternoon. They were never in the contest and were well beaten.
78′ TRY: Hopoate caps off a terrific day for Manly with another try
Manly are in for the eighth time, with Lehi Hopoate scoring his second of the afternoon.
It all came off a Newcastle drop-ball, which was picked up by Tom Trbovejic who made a half break and put the Sea Eagles on the front foot.
Manly worked their way further into Newcastle’s territory, before swinging the ball to the left wing and Hopoate scoring in the corner.
Trbovejic was instrumental in that move. In his second game back from injury, Tom is looking close to his best.
Not much to watch if you tipped wrong
Hello Mick, I missed the start and now it’s time to look away – I picked the Knights…
– Mike
Hey Mike.
At least you were able to join me on the ABC Sport live blog.
73′ TRY: Tyson Frizell scores for Newcastle
There is finally something to cheer about for Knights fans.
Tyson Frizell has crashed over for Newcastle’s first try.
The Knights had great field position after receiving a penalty for an escort, tapping the ball just 10 metres from their line.
Two six-again restarts allowed Newcastle to maintain pressure, until Frizell was finally about to burst through and score.
Garrick off and Caleb Navale makes his debut
Something I missed earlier, we have another debutant,
Caleb Navale has come onto the field for his first NRL match.
He replaces Reuben Garrick, who has been ill throughout the week according the ABC Sport sideline eye John Gibbs.
67′ TRY: Manly score again as Newcastle forget to have a dummy-half
On a day of awful moments for Newcastle, we now have the worst.
The Knights have a play the ball on the halfway — but no-one was at dummy-half to pick up the ball.
Manly’s Luke Brooks, from marker, picks up the ball and sprints downfield. Brooks is brought down a metre from the line.
Two plays later, Manly passes the ball out to the right and second-rower Haumole Olakau’atu strolls into the in-goal for the Sea Eagles’ seventh try.
Manly defending like it is a tied-game
Manly are fighting for every inch, despite the big 32-point lead.
Newcastle finally had a great chance to score, and really threatened
Several offloads had the Sea Eagles’ defence in trouble, but Newcastle could not cross the line.
There was always someone in maroon and white there to deny the Knights.
That might be what Manly coach Anthony Seibold will be most pleased with tonight.
59′ TRY: Lehi Hopoate scores for Manly as Newcastle are their own enemy
I said it in the last post, and I will say it again.
Spare a thought for Newcastle coach Adam O’Brien who has watched his side implode this afternoon.
The Knights drop a simple pass in their own half, and off the subsequent sent Manly score.
Hopoate did not have to do very much.
Manly shifted the ball to the left and they just went through the hands.
All Hopoate needed to do on the wing catch the ball, run 10 metres, and score.
Too easy for Manly.
Newcastle holding on but not landing any blows
Much like the first half, after being blown off the park early in the half the Knights have managed to stem the momentum.
Their last few sets have been promising, but they are still yet to truly threaten the Manly try line.
Spare a thought for coach Adam O’Brien who has just been shown looking very despondent by the television broadcast.
43′ TRY: Manly make the perfect start to the second half. Garrick scores
The right-edge attack from the Manly Sea Eagles are too good for Newcastle’s defence.
They swing the pass to the right and Reuben Garrick draws in the Newcastle winger and passes to Jason Saab.
Saab makes a run down the sideline and he just has the fullback to beat.
Saab does not do anything silly, he passes back inside to Garrick and Manly has their fifth try.
The second half begins at Brookvale Oval
Manly lead 20-0 and they were terrific in the first half.
It will need to be a significant turnaround if the Knights are to make this a contest.
More readers responding to Matt King’s claim Lang Park is the best ground for footy
I always enjoyed going to the old Parramatta Stadium before it was redone. So many great memories there.
– Stephen
HT: Manly Sea Eagles 20 leading Newcastle Knights 0
Manly have been brilliant in this first half.
They ran in four tries, with the last of them producing some of the best handling of the footy you will see this season from Lehi Hopoate.
Newcastle had one great chance at scoring when Adam Elliot crossed the line, but the pass to him was forward.
The only saving grace for Newcastle is Manly’s only loss at Brookvale Oval this year was to Canberra, after they lead 20-0.
36′ TRY: Manly score with a ‘party trick’
Lehi Hopoate has produced a special play to allow Tommy Talau to score Manly’s fourth try of the first half.
It’s fifth tackle and halfback Jamie Humphreys sees Newcastle’s defence is weak on the left wing.
He puts on the perfect kick to a running Hopoate, who catches and without looking passes inside to Talau who scores.
ABC Sport caller Andrew Moore put it perfectly:
“That’s not a try. That’s a stinking, dirty, rotten party trick.”
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