Stacey stars as Warriors stun Manly

BY DUNCAN JOHNSTONE

Stacey Jones showed he still has the magic as he sparked a late rally that saw the Warriors stun Manly and confirm themselves as serious NRL contenders.

Jones provided some inspirational touches on his return to the competition after a three and a half year absence that helped the Warriors storm back to win 26-24 at a packed Brookvale on Sunday.

Ivan Cleary's side have started the season with back to back wins, adding the scalp of the Sea Eagles to last week's encouraging effort at home over Parramatta.

Manly, the defending champions, have now had two losses to add to their major off-field issues.

Jones, the 32-year-old veteran came off the bench in the 32^nd minute and was still there at the final whistle to saviour a remarkable win.

Some sheer individual brilliance from Jones set up Brent Tate's second try to get the Warriors back to within four points with 12 minutes left.

Then with a minute left Jones put up a pin-point bomb that saw Jerome Ropati score a try that levelled the scores and Denan Kemp's goal from wide out got the Warriors a treasured win.

It was a victory that will go a long way to ridding them of a few demons from last year when they lost three championship matches and a preseason clash to Manly. That horror run included a record 52-6 loss at Brookvale.

But the Manly faithful who packed the ground in very hot conditions on Sunday saw the potential of this year's Warriors side as they ran in five tries in a see-sawing battle that also had the hosts crossing the tryline five times.

The Warriors effort was littered with some handling errors and alarming spells when they allowed Manly too much territory.

But once they managed to hold on to the ball the Warriors showed their enormous attacking talents.

The Warriors started the season as third favourite with the Aussie bookies who had Manly at the shortest odds. They may need to rethink that if the Warriors can pick up on this effort and continue to stamp their authority on Australian soil where they have more than often struggled.

Upsetting the Premiers in this sort of fashion is quite a statement.

What is pleasing to Cleary is that he appears to have a squad of superior depth to last year.

And that now officially includes Jones. He started his comebck with some strong defence and then stunned the Sea Eagles with his attacking game, stepping things up as the Warriors appeared to be wilting midweay through the second spell of an exhausting match.

It was stirring stuff and it lifted everyone around him.

Skipper Steve Price was just as inspirational with a tireless performance that included some attacking brilliance of his own.

Simon Mannering wasn't far behind.

Manu Vatuvei and Wade McKinnon, quiet in the win over the Eels, were busy in this victory.

The Warriors played similar halves, conceding early points but storming back when they needed to.

In the fourth minute McKinnon lost the ball in tackle as going over the try line.

The Sea Eagles got the benefit of two penalties to get back down the other end and worked the ball right for wing Michael Bani to dot down in the corner.

Bani tormented the Warriors soon after with a big break down the right touchline. He fed a pass in to Jamie Lyon who managed to keep his balance to plunge his way to the try line.

The Warriors finally managed to get some decent possession and immediately showed their potential with Jacob Lillyman's straight running opening up a gap. He drew the defence and passed to the looming Tate to finish a sweet try.

The Warriors immediately hit again when they worked a clever planned move off a penalty tap.

Price was the first receiver and he instantly switched play to the charging Vatuvei who went over in the corner untouched to stun the Sea Eagles and tie up the match at 10-all after 22 minutes.

They didn't stop there. They rampaged back down on attack from the kickoff and Price was in the action again to feed Jesse Royal for the try by the posts.

The score stayed at 16-10 to the Warriors through to halftime.

The second spell started the same as the first with Manly dominating the ball and opening up plenty of space for wing Andrew Suniula to have a clear trot to the line.

Manly stunned the Warriors again instantly with Adam Cuthbertson scrambling over and the goal suddenly had the home side out in front 20-16.

Bani continued to trouble the Warriors down the right and when Lyons kicked a Bani inpass into the ingoal he won the race for the touchdown.

it looked all over for the Warriors.

But they were desperate and it was time for The Little Gerneral to step up.

A clever piece of close-range attack from Jones almost gave Nathan Fien a try but it was ruled out by the video ref as a knock-on.

But Jones produced some trademark magic with a kick and regather and a super dummy to set up Tate's second try had the game set up for a thrilling finish.

The Warriors maintained their pressure and Vatuvei's pressure on a bomb from that man Jones into the Manly ingoal allowed Jerome Ropati to score.

Then it was left to Kemp to provide the finishing touch.

Manly 24: Michael Bani, Jamie Lyon 2, Andrew Suniula, Adam Cuthbertson tries; Matt Orford 2 goals.

Warriors 26: Brent Tate 2, Manu Vatuvei, Jesse Royal, Jerome Ropati tries; Denan Kemp 3 goals.

HT: 10-16

- © Fairfax NZ News