Round 14
Sea Eagles 16 d. Tigers 12

2006 NRL Telstra Premiership Index [Table] [Draw] [Player Stats] [Club Headlines]

Location: Aus_NZ > National > First Grade Competition: NRL Telstra Premiership

Stewart shines in dour struggle
Sat June 10, 2006
Manly fullback Brett Stewart enhanced his reputation as the next superstar fullback in the game as he single-handedly denied Wests Tigers victory as the Sea Eagles move into equal 3rd position with Newcastle and the Bulldogs.

It was another Friday night slog as much-needed rain set into Sydney throughout the week and it took Stewart who is destined to play for New South Wales and Australia in the coming years to provide the difference in a very tight battle.

Chris Hicks scored the opening try after 30 minutes following good inside work from Matt Orford and Stewart. Travis Burns converted for Manly to lead 6-0.

Wests Tigers struck back four minutes later when Anthony Laffranchi crashed over from close range and Benji Marshall adding goal kicking to his bow added the extras to level up the scores heading into halftime.

Michael Crockett gained Wests Tigers the lead six minutes into the second half when he and Dean Collis combined for a try that was so much like the 1st Hazem El Masri try last week where Sonny Bill Williams did a miracle flick pass and El Masri working with millimetres of space to the sideline scored in the corner. Collis did exactly like that and Crockett showed experience beyond his years when he held his line and stayed in the field of play. Marshall landed a great goal from the sideline for the visitors to lead 12-6.

Manly kept plugging their way back into the match and finally got their reward in the 70th minute when Ben Kennedy produced a great offload for Steve Matai to score outwide. Burns couldn't convert as Wests Tigers held a slender 12-10 lead.

Wests Tigers were set to grab the much needed Premiership points until the final two minutes when Orford launched a spiral bomb out of hope and Stewart plucked it from the grasps of Marshall to score the match-winner. It was Stewart's 24th try in 24 matches at Brookvale Oval.

The loss was crucial for the Wests Tigers as they'll remain two points behind 8th position and four points behind 7th position. The win consolidates Manly's position amongst the top six sides and if results go exactly their way with Cronulla defeating the Cowboys by six points or less and Canberra defeat the Bulldogs by at least 12 they'll be in 4th spot.

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