NRL finals live updates: Manly Sea Eagles defeat Canterbury ...

The match winning moment for Manly

19 hours agoSun 15 Sep 2024 at 8:07am

Manly cannot believe they have won

19 hours agoSun 15 Sep 2024 at 8:02am

FULL-TIME: Manly Sea Eagles 24 def. Canterbury Bulldogs 22

19 hours agoSun 15 Sep 2024 at 7:54am

If week one is the appetiser — bring on the main courses!

A fabulous opening weekend to the NRL finals has come to an end

Melbourne and Penrith are still the benchmark in the competition and will host preliminary finals in two weekends time.

Sydney and Cronulla will like their wounds and bounce back as they host Manly and North Queensland in the semifinals next week.

Newcastle and Canterbury's season ends here. They were valiant but were pipped at the line in a pair of terrific elimination finals.

ABC Sport will be back next weekend to bring you live digital and audio coverage of the NRL semifinals.

We hope you join us then.

Goodnight.

Canterbury coach Cameron Ciraldo and captain Stephen Crichton are speaking to the media.

Both of them look in a state of shock.

Ciraldo said it was hard to know what to say in the sheds at full-time, after his side was beaten by Manly.

"We weren't good enough to get the win and we'll learn from that moving forward," he said.

G'day Thiru.

I certainly agree with your first point. Two of the best tries of the year to win an elimination final.

Cannot agree with your second point.

If Lehi Hopoate doesn't snatch the ball out of the air and pass to Bullemore to score that vital try in the 37th minute, does Manly win?

I'm not so sure. That try kept the Sea Eagles in the contest.

Thanks for joining the conversation with the ABC Sport team, I hope you enjoyed the blog.

Luke Brooks has joined ABC Sport after winning his maiden finals match.

"That was an unbelievable game, we knew they would come out like that, they were pretty much bashing us the whole time, I'm just happy to get the win."

Key Event

19h agoSun 15 Sep 2024 at 8:07am

Manly's players look in as much shock as their opponents after coming from behind to win the elimination final over the Bulldogs.

The Bulldogs were so dominant but were beaten by a courageous Manly side.

And it was this try which won it Manly — one of the great finals tries.

Canterbury fullback Connor Tracey has joined ABC Sport's John Gibbs after a heartbreaking loss.

"Yeah, it's pretty heartbreaking to be honest, I thought we had it … It's pretty tough to swallow at the moment," he says.

"We just sort of let it go at the end there."

Key Event

19h agoSun 15 Sep 2024 at 8:02am

Manly star and NSW captain Jake Trbojevic has joined ABC Sport's John Gibbs after a famous finals win.

"Oh, Gibbsy! That was a great Manly win mate, honestly," he says.

"They probably dominated field position, everything during the game … And we won, mate!

"At half time, 16-12, but we had nothin' mate … I'm lost for words Gibbsy."

Key Event

19h agoSun 15 Sep 2024 at 7:54am

The Canterbury Bulldogs have imploded and Manly advance to the semifinals.

The Sea Eagles were being dominated for much of that game, and were down 22-12 during the second half.

But silly penalties and a host of errors at the end of the game has gifted Manly a special win.

"They have absolutely shot themselves in the foot in the last 15 minutes." ABC Sport caller Andrew Moore.

"I think they're in a state of disbelief. They're doing some stupid things." ABC Sport sideline eye John Gibbs.

Key Event

19h agoSun 15 Sep 2024 at 7:44am

Manly have run the ball on last tackle — from their OWN 30-METRE LINE.

And they have scored. Daly Cherry Evans passes inside to Tom Trbojevic who makes a half-break.

Tommy Turbo offloads and the Sea Eagles send the footy to the left.

The ball is with Tolutau Koula who is in space, AND HE MAKES THREE DOGS MISS.

Manly scores, Reuben Garrick kicks the goal.

Manly leads 24-22.

This game is coming down to the wire at Stadium Australia.

The Bulldogs lead 22-18, but the ABC Sport commentary team cannot quite belive the game is in the balance.

"Canterbury might be self-destructing before our very eyes." — Andrew Moore

"The Bulldogs can't believe Manly are within four points. That's the amazing thing." — John Gibbs

"All Canterbury have to do is keep doing what they're doing." — Luke Lewis

The Bulldogs have looked in charge for most of this game.

They are physically more dominant and are pinning Manly in their own end.

But penalties are hurting them badly.

Back-to-back penalties led to Manly's first try.

A penalty against Reed Mahoney — the third he has given up today — gave Manly the field position which led to their most recent score.

Both times the Sea Eagles were struggling to make metres.

ABC Sport caller Luke Lewis has said the Bulldogs have been dominant but fears their ill-discipline could be fatal.

"Canterbury have been dominant … Manly haven't played well, and they've scored 18 points."

Oh, what a try from a 10-metre scrum.

The Bulldogs winger Jacob Kiraz dropped a high kick and gave Manly a big chance.

And Manly have scored from the scrum.

Daly Cherry-Evans passes to Luke Brooks, and Brooks gives it back to Cherry-Evans in an old-school around-the-back play.

Canterbury leads 22-18.

We have had a push and shove, and a wrestle on the ground.

Bulldog Reed Mahoney has hit Manly's Reuben Garrick high.

Garrick and Mahoney have words, and then Bulldogs Josh Curran pushes Garrick near the head.

Manly captain Daly Cherry Evans is not putting up with that and takes Curran down with a side headlock.

Looked like Bret Hart defending his wrestling heavyweight championship.

Can Manly lift?

Can the Bulldogs control their discipline?

Key Event

19h agoSun 15 Sep 2024 at 7:15am

Well done Canterbury.

They have started the second half brilliantly.

They have dominated territory in the opening seven minutes and converted that into points.

It looked like Canterbury was going over in the left corner, but Manly's cover defence just held on.

But a crossfield kick from halfback Toby Sexton was knocked backwards by Stephen Crichton, into the arms of winger Jeral Skelton who scored the try.

Canterbury lead 22-12.

Key Event

19h agoSun 15 Sep 2024 at 7:11am

Can the Bulldogs convert their physical dominance into a solid advantage on the scoreboard?

Or will Manly continue to chip away and make Canterbury pay for mistakes?

Let me know your thoughts in the comments section.

J, I get it.

I was there last year as a fan. But in all honesty, it was the best game of footy I have ever been to.

But if you are a fan of footy first, and a club second, I think you get more enjoyment out of sport.

Instead of thinking of those grand finals at trauma, try and see it from the view of a neutral. They are two of the best games ever played.

The Canterbury Bulldogs were all over Manly for most of that half.

But when Manly needed their best player to rise to the occasion, halfback Daly Cherry-Evans produced two big plays.

The kick which led to Manly's second try was pinpoint.

Two minutes earlier Cherry-Evans decided to kick a goal-line dropout long.

Canterbury was not expecting the long kick, which after letting it bounce went 80 metres and took away Canterbury's territory advantage.

Brilliant from the Manly captain.

Key Event

20h agoSun 15 Sep 2024 at 6:54am

Arguably the best half of the finals weekend has come to an end.

The Canterbury Bulldogs were outstanding in the opening 40 minutes, scoring three tries and winning the physical battle.

But Manly hung in there and scored two tries, including a vital try in the 37th minute.

Manly have had limited chances, and have made the most of them.

A massive second half is coming up.