LeagueNews.co | Cooper McEnroe
In a pulsating showdown that had fans on the edge of their seats, the Manly Sea Eagles swooped in at the last minute to snatch a thrilling victory from the Canterbury Bulldogs, booking their ticket to the NRL semi-finals with a 24-22 win.
Despite not being at his best, the legendary Tom Trbojevic showed true grit and determination, leading his team to a come-from-behind triumph in front of a raucous crowd of over 50,000 supporters.
The game kicked off with a bang as a rare error from Trbojevic handed the Bulldogs a golden opportunity, which they capitalized on swiftly, sending the ball wide for Jacob Kiraz to crash over the try line and draw first blood.
However, a string of penalties conceded by Reed Mahoney gave Manly the opening they needed to mount a counterattack, with Tommy Talau slotting home a crucial conversion to edge the Sea Eagles in front in a heart-stopping, high-octane clash.
With the game played at a frenetic pace, both teams left it all on the field, with the Sea Eagles ultimately prevailing in a nail-biting finish to break the Bulldogs' hearts and keep their own finals hopes alive and kicking.