The Sea Eagles have thrashed the Knights 44-6 at Brookvale Oval to rocket themselves back inside the top eight.
It was one-way traffic from the opening whistle but the highlight was a piece of individual brilliance from Manly teenager Lehi Hopoate.
MATCH CENTRE: Sea Eagles vs Knights, scores, stats, video
Luke Brooks put up a pinpoint bomb for 19-year-old Hopoate who caught the ball and threw a no-look pass on his inside, all in one motion, for Tommy Talau to score in the 35th minute.
Sea Eagles debutant Jamie Humphreys scored the opener just five minutes into his NRL career in controversial circumstances.
The rising star, who has long been touted as the heir to Daly Cherry-Evans’ halfback throne, was handed the No.7 jersey by Anthony Seibold in Round 19.
Third generation NRL player Humphreys was awarded the try but it came after a blatant forward pass from his winger Jason Saab.
“That’s a howler. Have a look at where the ref and touch judge are… if we can see it out of the hand, surely (they can),” Steve Roach said on Fox League.
Hopoate bagged a double in the second half to cap a stellar night, while first-time skipper Tom Trbojevic was sublime at the back.
Newcastle were without Origin stars Kalyn Ponga, Bradman Best and Dane Gagai and it showed as the visitors were shredded on the edges all night.
Here are the biggest talking points out of the match from NCA Newswire’s Jack Brady.
TURBO-CHARGED
Tom Trbojevic has ensured his place in Manly’s No. 1 jersey for a while yet with a star showing in his side’s shellacking of the Knights.
Eight days removed from ending a 10-week layoff with a lacklustre return in the centres, Trbojevic looked far removed from any trepidation surrounding his well-documented injury quarrels.
Proving an old hand in his usual position, Trbojevic’s return to fullback was incredibly a forced move for the Sea Eagles in light of Tolu Koula’s knee injury.
Producing six line break assists, many of which eventuated in Manly four-pointers, the Sea Eagles enjoyed the spoils of the space provided by Trbojevic all afternoon as they consolidated their place in the competition’s top eight.
Not to be outdone, he would score one himself when he outleaped Newcastle counterpart Fletcher Sharpe midway through the first half.
In the absence of captain Daly Cherry-Evans, Trbojevic was well-complemented by five-eighth Luke Brooks, who had two try assists of his own.
Brooks, who joined the Sea Eagles this season, is now one step closer to a maiden finals campaign in what is his 12th NRL campaign.
ON A FINGER AND A PRAYER
There was one moment on the stroke of halftime that will certainly make the highlights reel at season’s end.
Sea Eagles rookie Lehi Hopoate blew the roof of Fortress Brookvale with a slight of hand that could only be described as incredible.
It came from a Brooks bomb across field which landed plum in the winger’s arms. The magic came instantly as Hopoate, in one fell swoop, passed the ball back inside for centre Tommy Talau to score untouched.
It later emerged that Hopoate managed this remarkable play with a dislocated finger.
Proving he had nine good others, Hopoate persevered and later crossed for two second half tries.
WELL-TIMED DEBUT
After years of plying his trade in the lower grades, Jamie Humphreys didn’t take long to ensure a memorable NRL debut.
In a matter of minutes, and very few touches, Humphreys hailed the beginning of the Sea Eagles’ onslaught with the game’s first try.
A third-generation player, following in the steps of his father Steven and grandfather Kevin of Balmain fame, Humphreys astutely moved the team around the paddock and proved the perfect foil for the stellar showings of Trobjevic and Brooks.
His debut couldn’t have been timelier.
Days out from formalising a 2025 move to the Rabbitohs, and with news of fellow Souths recruit Lewis Dodd being dropped to reserve grade by St Helens, it could well be Humphreys leading the likes of Cody Walker and Latrell Mitchell come next season.
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Source Agencies
