New Manly coach Geoff Toovey admitted finding it “nerve-wracking” as the Sea Eagles began their NRL title defence with a thrilling 26-20 win over the Warriors.
The Sea Eagles raced out to an early 16-0 in front of a big crowd assembled at Auckland’s rugby union mecca Eden Park for the 2011 grand final rematch.
But they had to withstand a withering Warriors fightback before sealing victory with a Glenn Stewart try eight minutes from time.
It was positive start to Manly’s campaign after their two pre-season losses, including to Leeds in the World Club Challenge.
Toovey, at the helm for his first NRL match since taking over from two-time premiership-winning coach Des Hasler, was quick to acknowledge the result could easily have gone either way narrowly.
“We got away to a great start and then we just fell away in regards to our execution,” said Toovey.
“We started speculating a bit and the Warriors are a great side. You leave that little gap open and they’re going to take it, so it was very nervous.”
He agreed it was important for his side to get that first win under their belt.
“It’s always tough, travelling here to New Zealand, playing a great side,” Toovey said.
“If you give them a sniff, they will take it and that’s what nearly happened today to us.”
The Sea Eagles opened in champagne style, spreading the ball wide to both sides of field, and putting on tries to David Williams, Daly Cherry-Evans and Steve Matai in the first quarter.
The catalyst for the Warriors’ comeback was young prodigy Shaun Johnson, who was provider for Manu Vatuvei before scoring himself with a superb individual effort, beating four defenders from five metres out.
Second-rower Tony Williams, who was a dominant figure on the Manly left, forced his way over to help to open the score out to 22-10.
However, replies by Kevin Locke and by Vatuvei for his second try closed the gap to two points before Stewart’s decisive touchdown.
Stewart had gone off earlier in the match for treatment for a hand problem, while Matai also went off with what Toovey described as a thumb injury.
Toovey was awaiting a doctor’s report on both players, but was hopeful both would be right to face the Wests Tigers in the next round.
The prognosis was less rosy for Warriors centre Jerome Ropati, who faces from four to eight weeks out with a high ankle sprain suffered in the first half.
It was a cruel blow for Ropati, who missed most of last season with a knee reconstruction.
The Warriors’ own new coach, Brian McClennan, admitted that his young side’s lack of composure at key moments had proved costly, especially after they had got over Manly’s strong start.
“We put too much ball down early in the sets,” he said.
“I think we played with about 60 per cent ball control and you’re not going to win many footy game with that, particularly against a club that has been in three of the last five grand finals.”