LeagueNews.co | Jess Malloy
In a display that showcased the resilience and determination of the team, the Sea Eagles stood tall against the formidable Sydney Roosters in their opening Pre-Season Challenge.
Acting coach Jim Dymock's guidance proved instrumental in nurturing a young and inexperienced Sea Eagles squad, with only a handful of NRL players, to go head-to-head with the powerhouse Roosters at Industree Group Stadium.
Just as in their previous trial triumph over Souths, Manly strategically chose to rest their key players, strategically preserving them for the highly anticipated NRL season opener against the Rabbitohs in Las Vegas.
With a halftime lead of 12-10, the Sea Eagles had a golden opportunity to level the scoreline at 24-all in the dying moments, but faltered in their conversion attempt right by the posts.
With the Roosters capitalizing on this opening, they sneaked in two late tries, securing a 36-22 victory.
However, this loss only served as a reminder of the remarkable talent and depth that the Sea Eagles possess in their arsenal this season.