ComfortGlaze Lower Grade Report: Warriors hold on for a pair of victories over Manly
The NSW Cup and Jersey Flegg fixtures followed similar scripts, with the Warriors outlasting the Sea Eagles in both.
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A fruitful day at Brookvale Oval for our teams in the NSWRL competitions, albeit a bit shakier than hoped for against low-ranked Manly sides after getting outscored in the second half of both games.
The Warriors have maintained their spot in the NSW Cup’s top five via an unexpectedly hard-fought 18-12 win over last-placed Manly at 4 Pines Park on Saturday.
After conceding the first try to a Sea Eagles side that has won just one game in 2026, the Warriors took control with a three-try burst in the space of 11 minutes midway through the first half. But the visitors were held scoreless in the second half, with Manly reducing the Warriors’ lead to six points— which they successfully defended for the last 24 minutes of the match.
Jye Linnane’s electric form at left centre continued with a brilliant try to open the Warriors’ account in the 21st minute and crashing over from a Luke Laulilii offload to notch his team’s third.
Linnane finished with 161 metres, three line-breaks and 11 tackle-breaks.
Gold Coast-bound Luke Hanson gave his chances of being recalled to NRL level in the wake of Luke Metcalf’s latest injury a massive boost, having a nice hand in both of Linnane's tries either side of his own superb solo four-pointer.
Potential halves debutant Jett Cleary
Laulilii racked up a game-high 219 metres from 21 carries to keep his name in the first-grade mix, as did prop Riley Price with 22 runs for 174 metres and a game-high 42 tackles.
David Tangata-Toa’s side now prepares for a Redfern Oval showdown with eighth-placed South Sydney in the penultimate round next Saturday.
NSW CUP — ROUND 24: Warriors 18 (Jye Linnane 2, Luke Hanson tries; Jett Cleary 3 goals) at Manly Sea Eagles 12 at 4 Pines Park, Sydney.
The Warriors’ Jersey Flegg side survived a second-half fightback from Manly to eke out a 26-24 victory at 4 Pines Park on Saturday afternoon and snap a three-game losing run.
Leading 22-6 at one stage, the Warriors conceded three of the last four tries but hung tough after being pegged back to two points with 10 minutes left.
Props Tepatasi Laumalili and Emosi Ravosai crashed over from close range inside the first 20 minutes, before prolific winger Brandon Norris produced a brilliant finish in the right-hand corner.
Second-rower Dezman Laban ran a good line to score the Warriors’ fourth, after which the Sea Eagles began their rally.
A late inclusion on the wing, Jeriah Vagana-Malaitai finished off a crucial 64th-minute try on the back of a Mark Sikuvea intercept and long run from halfback and captain Jack Thompson.
Despite the drought-breaking win, the Warriors are out of finals contention with two rounds remaining, sitting five points outside the top five in eighth place. They face a still-in-contention Souths outfit at Redfern Oval next Saturday.
JERSEY FLEGG CUP — ROUND 24: Warriors 26 (Tepatasi Lamalili, Emosi Ravosai, Brandon Norris, Dezman Laban, Jeriah Vagana-Malaitai tries; Harry Inch 3 goals) defeated Manly Sea Eagles 24 at 4 Pines Park, Sydney.