Tom Trbojevic went down and so did the Tigers, in the cruellest of ways, as Manly dragged themselves off the Campbelltown canvas.
For so much of the second half, the Tigers looked set to end a 267-day drought stretching back to their last win in July 2022.
When Trbojevic left the field with less than 10 minutes remaining due to a groin issue that saw him stop short suddenly in attack, the rains had come in more ways than one.
The very next set, Jason Saab flew high down the right flank for a critical 71st-minute try. Reuben Garrick knocked over a clutch sideline conversion to boot.
And just like that, a slender Tigers lead that had the locals daring to dream was gone.
A scoreline of 20-16 to the Sea Eagles became 22 with another Garrick penalty goal and just like that, the home side was still winless and still stuck to the bottom of the ladder.
Tom Trbojevic leaves the field at Campbelltown Sports Stadium.Credit: Getty
On Sunday they didn’t deserve it. The issues that have plagued the Tigers were still there.
Their 32.2 tackles per game inside the opposition’s 20-metre zone before kick-off were the second-most of anyone in the NRL, yet their attack is the worst in the competition.
So much of the first half played out in similar fashion, the Tigers hammering Manly’s line without anything to show for it.
As was the case against Parramatta on Easter Monday, the Tigers’ early dominance amounted to nought. Haumole Olakau’atu had three defenders on him as he still slung an early offload away and Manly’s outside backs well on their way.
The Tigers were in with a shout of breaking their long drought … but now face Penrith next week.Credit: Getty
Even with Stefano Utoikamanu running down Tom Trbojevic — a precursor perhaps to the injury that was to come — Daly Cherry-Evans was on hand to finish off the Sea Eagles’ first.
Cherry-Evans sent a bomb out on the full soon after, but made up for it by piloting Olakau’atu over untouched in quick time. The hulking back-rower spent plenty of time with Manly’s trainer too, but continues to enhance his NSW Origin credentials every time he takes the field.
At 12-0 down the Tigers could easily have gone to water. Instead they went to work.
Charlie Staines finished off a rare attacking raid that worked, flying over in the corner from a fine Luke Brooks cut-out pass just before halftime.
A penalty goal after the break stretched Manly’s 12-6 advantage by another two points.
But throughout a scrappy, sloppy affair, the Sea Eagles’ 15 errors kept the Tigers in the hunt.
A 55th-minute try from skipper Api Koroisau gave 10,033 western Sydney locals hope and a spilled crossfield kick by Josh Schuster gave the Tigers a sniff.
The very next set, Starford To’a gave them the lead, stepping past Sea Eagles debutant Samuela Fainu and kicking off an all-in stink that somehow saw the rookie lose his jersey in the fracas.
To’a’s try saw the Tigers in front for the first time in more than 500 minutes of play, going back to an early penalty in round one against the Titans. It lasted all of eight minutes.
Despite their best efforts, and with reigning two-time premiers Penrith awaiting next Saturday, the Tigers’ drought stretches on.
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