Manly Sea Eagles v Brisbane Broncos scores, results, time, program, entertainment, tips, odds, weather, how to watch
Manly veteran Siua Taukeiaho faces a struggle to continue his NRL career after the two-time premiership winner was hospitalized with a suspected lower leg fracture.
On a night when young halfback Joey Walsh showed once again why he is a star of the future, the Sea Eagles’ oldest player suffered a devastating blow while scoring in a 32-4 win over Brisbane.
At the end of the half, Taukeiaho’s leg was bent under two Broncos defenders as he charged the ball close to the line and tried to take the ball down.
While the 34-year-old player, whose contract had expired, lay injured on the ground, he was blown with a green whistle to relieve his pain before being taken off the field with a medical vehicle.
Taukeiaho’s injury spoiled a superb Saturday night at Brookvale Oval for Manly, who have won five of six games since Kieran Foran took over as manager.
Manly’s defense had real strength and physicality against a depleted Broncos who wasted most of their attacking opportunities.
Haumole Olakau’atu attacked the visiting players throughout the 80 minutes and at one stage demolished Reece Walsh in a moment that summed up the second half.
Manly’s defense has improved so much that they conceded 82 points in the six games under Foran, compared to scoring 98 points in the first three games before the sacking of Anthony Seibiold.
Attackingly the Sea Eagles are in action and now sit in the NRL’s top eight.
Joey Walsh, starting for the second time in the NRL, scored Manly’s first try by running wide from close range.
He also played in a massive first-half lead of 40-20 and helped the Sea Eagles regain possession with an excellent short lay-off at a crucial point in the first half.
Tolu Koula poses a threat after moving back to left centre, while five-eighth Luke Brooks is playing as well as ever since joining Manly in 2024.
Brooks assisted a try when he ran in the final try and went short side before the much-improved Brandon Wakeham sent Hopoate through.
And Koula finished the night with a try; Wakeham put substitute full-back Clayton Faualalo in front and found Koula inside to score.
By comparison, Brisbane was ordinary.
Despite more than 10 players being out due to injury, there was little excuse for their offensive mishandling.
The defensive frontmen squandered almost every good opportunity early in the match, with winger Antonio Verhoeven’s only point coming from a pass from Walsh.
However, they completed the error-filled second half with only 47 percent shooting and were left with only two interceptions within Manly’s 20 meter area.
AAP
