Dragons Lose Close Game to Manly Sea Eagles 22-18 in Wollongong

The Manly Sea Eagles narrowly beat the St. George Illawarra Dragons 22-18. This is a close score, showing a tough game.
By Newsroom | Sports, Rugby League |

LATE THRUST SEES MANLY EDGE AHEAD

Manly Sea Eagles currently lead the St. George Illawarra Dragons 22-18 with just 24 minutes remaining in their clash at WIN Stadium, Wollongong. The Sea Eagles established a significant early advantage, capitalizing on Dragons' repeated infringements. Four set restarts conceded by the Dragons after halftime appeared to take a toll on their defense, eventually breaking for Manly prop Kobe Hetherington to score.

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Earlier, the Dragons staged a notable fightback after appearing out of the contest. They were down 16-0 at one point but managed to claw their way back into contention. Despite a crucial dropped ball over the try line by the Dragons in the 40th minute, which prevented them from reducing the deficit further before halftime, their resilience has kept the match intensely close.

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Several players are showing consistent form, potentially influencing the game's trajectory:

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  • Jacob Liddle (Dragons Hooker) has a strong scoring record against Manly, finding the try line in his last three encounters with the Sea Eagles.

  • Tom Trbojevic (Sea Eagles Fullback) has been a potent attacking threat, scoring five tries in his past four games.

  • Tolutau Koula (Sea Eagles Centre) boasts an impressive try-scoring rate, with 11 tries in his last 13 NRL matches.

Historically, the Dragons have a commanding record at WIN Stadium against the Sea Eagles, having won nine of their last 10 home matches against them.

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Team Lineups and Personnel Changes

The starting lineups for the match feature several key players:

St. George Illawarra Dragons:

  • Fullback: Tyrell Sloan

  • Winger: Christian Tuipulotu, Setu Tu

  • Centre: Moses Suli, Valentine Holmes

  • Five-Eighth: Daniel Atkinson

  • Halfback: Kyle Flanagan

  • Prop: Emre Guler, Taniela Paseka

  • Hooker: Damien Cook

  • Second Row: Luciano Leilua, Jaydn Su'A

  • Lock: Hamish Stewart

  • Interchange: Jacob Liddle, Blake Lawrie, Hame Sele, Mathew Feagai

Manly Warringah Sea Eagles:

  • Fullback: Tom Trbojevic

  • Winger: Jason Saab, Lehi Hopoate

  • Centre: Tolutau Koula, Reuben Garrick

  • Five-Eighth: Luke Brooks

  • Halfback: Jamal Fogarty

  • Prop: Taniela Paseka

  • Hooker: Brandon Wakeham

  • Second Row: Haumole Olakau'atu, Ben Trbojevic

  • Lock: Jake Trbojevic

  • Interchange: Jake Simpkin, Corey Waddell, Ethan Bullemor, Simione Laiafi

Notable team news includes Tyrell Sloan taking up the fullback position for the Dragons due to Clint Gutherson nursing a hamstring injury, and Setu Tu returning on the wing in place of David Fale, who is suspended. Jason Saab is also suspended for this round.

Previous Encounters and Recent Form

The Sea Eagles have recently faced challenges, including a 33-16 loss to the Sydney Roosters, where Daly Cherry-Evans was part of the victorious side. Prior to this match, there was a period where the Sea Eagles were seeking to end a streak of three consecutive defeats. The Dragons, conversely, have shown mixed recent results, including a past victory against the Melbourne Storm, with Valentine Holmes scoring in that fixture.

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The match is being officiated by Referee Adam Gee, with Touch Judge Phil Henderson and Senior Review Official Grant Atkins.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What was the final score between the Dragons and Manly Sea Eagles in Wollongong?
The Manly Sea Eagles won against the St. George Illawarra Dragons with a final score of 22-18. The Sea Eagles took the lead and held on for the win in the last 24 minutes.
Q: How did the Dragons fight back in the game?
The Dragons were losing 16-0 at one point but managed to come back and make the score 22-18. They showed good effort to get back into the game.
Q: Who scored for Manly to take the lead?
Manly prop Kobe Hetherington scored the try that gave the Sea Eagles the lead. This happened after the Dragons gave away four set restarts in the second half.
Q: Were there any key players mentioned for their performance?
Yes, Jacob Liddle for the Dragons has a good scoring record against Manly. Tom Trbojevic for Manly has scored many tries recently, and Tolutau Koula also has a strong scoring rate.
Q: What is the historical record at WIN Stadium for the Dragons against Manly?
The Dragons have a strong record at WIN Stadium against the Sea Eagles, winning nine out of their last 10 home games against them.