Manly beat injury-hit Warriors in Auckland

Manly have overcome a week of drama to push four points clear at the top of the NRL ladder with a gutsy 22-12 win over the injury-hit Warriors.

Peta Hiku scored a brilliant try double in front of 19,199 fans at Mount Smart Stadium on Sunday to secure Manly’s third consecutive win and inflict a rare defeat over the Warriors at home.

The hard-fought victory was more proof that the off-field squabbles between Sea Eagles players and management that have become more intense in recent weeks – and led to Steve Matai asking for a release to join the Warriors – haven’t affected them on the park.

They have now won eight of their last nine matches against the New Zealand side, who sorely missed two key injured players – halfback Shaun Johnson (groin) and Feleti Mateo (calf).

The Warriors remain precariously placed on the edge of the top eight following their first back-to-back losses since April.

Coach Andrew McFadden must now turn things around on a difficult trip to Canberra next week while Manly return to Brookvale Oval where they will host the Broncos.

Konrad Hurrell opened the scoring for the Warriors in the second minute, and the 22-year-old Tongan international enjoyed possibly his best 40 minutes of the season.

However Cheyse Blair, who replaced winger Jorge Taufua just prior to kick-off, answered with with his own four-pointer and played a huge role in restricting big centre Hurrell in the second half.

Manly were starved of possession in the opening 20 minutes as the Warriors were awarded four consecutive penalties and were helped by poor ballhandling from the Sea Eagles.

Taking over from Johnson as the premier playmaker, Chad Townsend couldn’t provide the same polish with too many misguided kicks on the last tackle.

After the aerial route proved unsuccessful, some slick passing from the visitors put Hiku into space on the outside of Manu Vatuvei for a try that earned Manly their first lead in the 29th minute.

A tight arm-wrestle ensued over the next 25 minutes as Manly’s tryline defence brilliantly denied tries to Ben Henry and Vatuvei.

The wasted chances proved costly as Hiku crossed for his second before Daly Cherry-Evans put the icing on the cake nine minutes from fulltime.

Mannering scored a late try from a grubber kick but Manly held on for a hard-fought win to finish off a difficult week for the top-of-the-table Sea Eagles.

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