Walker stars in Eagles NRL trial thrashing

Star recruits Dylan Walker and Martin Taupau have starred in Manly’s 58-0 thrashing of Ipswich in a NRL trial at Pittwater Park in Sydney.

The home side ran in 10 tries to nil against the Queensland Cup champions on Saturday night in a one-sided affair that, while entertaining, gave little indication of where they stood just a fortnight out from the season kickoff.

While it was hard to look too deeply into the result, the Sea Eagles looked sharp with recruits Walker and Taupau strong in their first outings in their new colours.

Walker and halves partner Daly-Cherry Evans ran on both sides of the field and combined fluently in signs that boded well for new coach Trent Barrett following his makeover of the club roster.

Walker looked comfortable playing at five-eighth, after shifting from the centres following his departure from South Sydney, and sliced through to score a deserved 59th-minute try.

Taupau received a round of applause when he came from the field in the first half after making a number of bone-jarring charges which dented the Jets’ defensive line.

He also produced a brilliant offload which set up the first of Jorge Taufua’s two first-half tries.

Fellow new face Nate Myles scored with his first touch of the ball in a Sea Eagles jumper as they jumped out to a 6-0 lead in just the second minute.

A steady avalanche of tries followed with the scoreline opening up to 40-0 after Brenton Lawrence crossed on halftime.

The Jets won last year’s Queensland Cup and NRL Interstate Championship with some enterprising football that ran against the grain, however they were cruelled by their own ill-discipline and were badly outclassed.

The Sea Eagles will welcome the return of back-rowers Lewis Brown and Feleti Mateo as well as hookers Api Koroisau and Matt Parcell for their season opener against Canterbury on March 4 at Brookvale Oval.

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