The nib Newcastle Knights have suffered a fifth straight loss after going down to Manly 30-6 on Saturday afternoon.
With the opening exchanges very much end to end, a break down the Knights’ right edge saw momentum get behind the Sea Eagles.
After a Hymel Hunt strip gifted the home side a fresh set, Daly Cherry-Evans put Curtis Sironen over to open the scoring.
Ruben Garrick missed the shot at goal and the Knights trailed 4-0 after 14 minutes.
The Knights almost responded when Mason Lino sent a cross-field kick to the edge of Shaun Kenny-Dowall but the winger was unable to take the ball.
A dropped bomb from Kurt Mann 15 minutes from halftime put the visitors under pressure 10 metres from their line and Cherry-Evans made them pay.
The No.7 put a pin-point perfect kick through to the wing and Garrick did the rest.
Down 8-0, the Knights needed to respond and Kalyn Ponga delivered with a piece of solo brilliance.
He stepped past several defenders including Tom Trbojevic to score and Mason Lino nailed the goal.
And so the Knights were trailing by two points at halftime.
A dropped ball by James Gavet nine minutes after the break turned over possession and it was costly with Joel Thompson running past Mason Lino moments later. The conversion pushed the Sea Eagles in front 14-6.
Chasing points, the Knights were scheming but an intercept pass from Mitch Pearce into the hand of Cherry-Evans almost proved costly.
Fortunately, the Knights’ defence scrambled and denied the Sea Eagles.
Unable to find their rhythm, a Lino pass was called forward and the following set the boys from the northern beaches were in again. This time it was a Martin Taupau try. The conversion put the home side up 20-6 after 60 minutes.
Tries to Jorge Taufua and then Garrick, extended the lead further 30-6.
