Dragons star's transformation under Flanno; Turbo sums up woeful ...

Manly Sea Eagles produced a comically inept 80 minutes of rugby league in Wollongong on Saturday night, making 15 errors and completing 65 per cent of sets in an eight-point loss to St George Illawarra Dragons.

Curiously it was the Sea Eagles star players, Tom Trbojevic and Daly Cherry-Evans, who were the major culprits, making six errors between them.

MATCH CENTRE: Dragons vs Sea Eagles score, updates, stats

Ironically, the Dragons also made 15 errors.

Yet a much-improved defensive effort by the home team saw them run out deserved victors in front of 16,215 fans at Wollongong on Saturday night.

“We weren’t that great, especially in the second half, our completion rate was awful,” Dragons coach Shane Flanagan said post-match.

“And we showed some real resilience defensively and kept turning them away.

“To keep the talent in that football side (Manly) to six points, basically for most of the game was a really good job.”

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Manly was far from their best on Saturday. Photo by Mark Metcalfe/Getty ImagesSource: Getty Images

‘BETTER AND TOUGHER’: DRAGONS YOUNG GUN’S DOUBLE

Shane Flanagan vowed to toughen up Tyrell Sloan in the off-season and the Dragons fullback has returned in 2024 a different player.

Sloan’s shoulders have filled out and he’s using them more in defence with the young gun now regularly putting his body on the line in defence, while his attack remains as scintillating as ever.

The 21-year-old scored a double against the Sea Eagles, taking his season tally to six tries in four games, and he’s now crossed in five straight games at WIN Stadium.

“He’s much better and tougher (this year), there’s no doubt he’s more physical,” Greg Alexander said on Fox League.

“Last year I couldn’t argue with them not playing him because he just didn’t look right. I remember the night they played the Sharks in the wet and he got rag-dolled and thrown around like a seven-year-old boy. But you just can’t do that to him now.

“I think Shane Flanagan has mentally got him right, bodywise he looks better, and he looks more confident.”

Andrew Voss added: “It will be exciting if they do get it right with him. I still go back to Anzac Day last year, he turned the game in a 20-minute period, it was all Tyrell Sloan.”

Tyrell Sloan of the Dragons. Photo by Bradley Kanaris/Getty ImagesSource: Getty Images

WOEFUL MANLY PLAGUED BY SLOPPY ERRORS

The Sea Eagles had their moments in the first half, many of them poor.

Trbojevic saved a try with a tackle on rampaging Dragons winger Mikaele Ravalawa. Yet three knock-ons and a pass so forward an NFL quarterback would’ve been proud were blights on his copybook.

Cherry-Evans, in game 309 which equalled club legend Cliff Lyons’ record, made two errors including passing the ball into touch.

In the first half the Sea Eagles made eight errors – including a Tommy Talau drop that led to Jack Bird’s try – missed 21 tackles and completed only 10 of 17 sets. They were lucky to go to the break down only 14-6.

“They hustled and bustled us and forced quite a few errors,” Sea Eagles coach Anthony Seibold told reporters in the post-match press conference.

“They were deserved winners and we were second by a fair distance, to be fair.

“We had a really good preparation leading into the game but unfortunately, fundamentals … we let ourselves down. Tough comp, right? You don’t turn up; you get what you deserve.”

Trbojevic was particularly sloppy during the first half, dropping the ball on three occasions and passing the ball miles forward in uncharacteristic fashion.

“I reckon Tom’s confidence is down,” Fox League commentator Andrew Voss said.

“I’ve never seen Tom rattled, but he’s dropped out of this game.

“Is this Tom Trbojevic, or is this a double? Cut price Tom Trbojevic, the Aldi version.

“What’s happened?”

Not to be shown up, Zac Lomax’s conversion attempt of Tyrell Sloan’s first half try was shanked so badly it almost went over the eastern touchline.

DRAGON IN HOT WATER OVER HAIR PULL

Meanwhile, Blake Lawrie was penalised and put on report for a hair pull after vigorously grappling with Josh Aloiai’s man-bun.

Mal Meninga said in terms of the history of judiciary outcomes for hair pulling, some players have been suspended and some have been fined.

“I would think that’s a fine, though those sort of things we don’t want to see in our game,” Meninga said.

In round seven of 2023 Newcastle Knights backrower Tyson Frizell was penalised for a tackle that tugged on Panthers No. 6 Jarome Luai’s long locks. The NRL match review committee did not charge Frizell.

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