Sea Eagles beat Dragons to cap off big milestone week

Manly Warringah Sea Eagles capped off a big milestone week for proud clubmen Daly Cherry-Evans and Lachlan Croker with a tough 24-18 win over St George-Illawarra Dragons tonight.

The round 22 match marked the 300th NRL game for club captain and half-back Cherry-Evans and the 100th NRL game for respected hooker Croker.

Cherry-Evans became just the second person to reach 300 games as a Manly player behind the great Cliff Lyons (309) and also the first player to reach 300 games playing in the same position. He is the 49th player in the game's history to play 300 games.

Croker has had to overcome three knee reconstructions in six seasons at Manly, so his perseverance is a real testament to the much loved clubman.

Milestone men...Lachlan Croker and Daly Cherry-Evans ©NRL Photos

The match also ended a horror record for Manly in Wollongong, having not won at WIN Stadium since 2003 with the Sea Eagles having lost 10 of 11 matches against the Dragons at WIN Stadium prior to kick-off.

The Dragons had also won seven of their last 10 matches against the Sea Eagles.

St George-Illawarra took a 6-0 lead after seven minutes through a converted try next to the posts to prop Francis Molo.

Centre Zac Lomax converted a penalty goal for an 8-0 lead after 18 minutes with the Dragons enjoying a wealth of possession inside Manly’s half.

The Sea Eagles finally got the chance to attack a few minutes later and quickly capitalised through a try to centre Tolu Koula off a break down the right flank from winger Jason Saab after a Cherry-Evans pass started the movement. Reuben Garrick converted from the sideline for an 8-6 scoreline after 22 minutes.

An incorrect play the ball from Dragons hooker Jacob Liddle after a strong hit from

big second-rower Haumole Olakau’atu led to a Manly penalty. From the following set, an inside pass from five-eighth Josh Schuster sent Olakau’atu over. Garrick converted from next to the posts for a 12-8 lead after 31 minutes.

Prepare for landing...Haumole Olakau'atu dives over for his try. ©NRL Photos

It was a solid comeback from the Sea Eagles with the half-time stats showing the Dragons had 61 per of the possession and an 82 per cent completion rate for the first half.

The Sea Eagles got off to a flying start to the second half when Garrick finished off a nice play from Schuster, Christian Tuipulotu and Koula to score next to the posts for an 18-8 lead after 43 minutes.

Five minutes later, Croker lost the ball in trying to score after a desperate tackle from Liddle.

Three minutes later, Dragons second-rower Dan Russell was denied a try by the bunker after it was ruled he was held up by Brad Parker off a Ben Hunt grubber kick.

Cherry-Evans then delivered a lovely cut out pass to send Saab on his way to the line in a 55 metre run for a 22-8 lead after 53 minutes.

The Dragons then hit back with a converted try to Billy Burns in the 59th minute to trail 22-14 before losing Jack De Belin three minutes later to the sin bin for a hip drop on Tuipulotu, who left the field a short time later with a knee injury.

St George-Illawarra reduced the margin to four with a try to full-back Tyrell Sloan in the 70th minute for a 22-18 scoreline.

Garrick then extended the lead to six with a penalty goal in the 79th minute from in front of the posts for a 24-18 lead.

The Sea Eagles then held on the final minute to claim victory.