Cherry-Evans has last laugh as Sea Eagles slump to third-straight defeat

Well, that was a display from the Roosters where they dominated territory and eventually made it count, condemning the Sea Eagles to a third-straight defeat to start their 2026 NRL season.

It was a great way to start round four though, a thoroughly intriguing game that saw stunning tries and a healthy dose of vitriol from the crowd for what is a crunch encounter.

You know what’s great though? There’s plenty more grudge matches to come – starting tomorrow with the in form Warriors taking on the *checks notes* in form Wests Tigers.

And then, it’s the Battle of Brisbane at Lang Park, where the under-siege Broncos take on the surging Dolphins.

Then there’s a Battle of the West in Parramatta on Saturday night, plus a Basement Battle between the Titans and the Dragons on Sunday.

What’s not to like? (apart from the basement battle, I guess).

We’ll be with you all the way throughout the weekend, and I look forward to seeing you then.

Daly Cherry-Evans has been speaking to ABC Sport at Brookvale.

He knew what he was walking into.

“I knew that coming in it would be all types of receptions,” he says.

“Some were going to boo, some would be happy to see me.

“I’ve got nothing but love for the people of Manly.

“So many great memories and tonight will be another great memory.”

Great memory for him, perhaps.

Less so for the Manly faithful, of whom 16,000 turned up in the apocalyptic weather.

The Roosters and Daly Cherry-Evans claim victory on a wild night at Brookvale Oval.

Mark Nawaqanitawase scored a double, before three tries in five second half minutes sealed the deal for the Roosters, who somewhat inexplicably trailed after the half time break despite having 49 tackles in the opposition half compared to just nine for the Sea Eagles.

That the Sea Eagles led was due to two long-range tries from Tom Trbojevic in the first play of the game, and a stunner from Tolutau Koula to lead 10-8 at the break.

Trbojevic scored another to reduce the deficit for the hosts.

However, Jason Saab was sin binned and Toia added a second try to seal the win, with a long-range drop goal from Sam Walker confirming a 33-16 victory.

Manly lose their first three matches of the season for the first time since 2004.

Manly have lost seven-straight Thursday night NRL matches.

There you go!

The most casual drop goal you’ll ever see.

He got the ball off the goal line drop out, looked around, took a couple of walking steps and clipped the ball over the bar.

It ends 33-16.

Wow, Mark Nawaqanitawase leaped like a modern-day Israel Folau and claimed the short-ish kick off.

Then Naifahu Whyte powers his way through the line and makes the best part of 20 metres post-contact.

Then the Roosters get a penalty for offside, but they can’t do anything with it.

This might take some explaining.

The Roosters kicked the ball dead BUT then challenged whether there was a touch or not.

It was a hail Mary play from the Roosters, who felt that there wasn’t a touch from Whyte as he went to ground and Ben Trbojevic kicked it dead over his own dead ball line.

It was a mutual infringement?

Because the referee didn’t signal a six again call, the Roosters get to take the last play again.

From that play, Rob Toia leaped up, out-duelled Tom Trbojevic and fell over the line.

Try confirmed.

I am not really sure why the Roosters needed to get that play again, but I’m sure there was a reason for it that the NRL can explain.

The kick is good and it’s 32-16.

OH MY WORD!

Jason Saab has made direct contact with the head of Hugo Savala and this could be a send off.

It’s just 10 minutes off – a sin bin.

It was an enormous shot. There was a bit of a slip from Savala but his head was rocked back by the point of the shoulder.

Wowza.

James Tedesco just did enough as the Sea Eagles moved the ball really well down the right side.

Trbojevic created the extra man and then passed to Jason Saab, who had open space to run into but Tedesco’s lunge was just distracting enough.

Perhaps it’s not done yet?

Luke Brooks does really well, offloading to Tom Trbojevic, who sends Lehi Hopoate away down the left.

He draws Tedesco wide and passes inside to Trbojevic who scores untouched.

There was suspicion that the pass to Brooks was forward, a Rooster voice called that loudly but it wasn’t given.

The kick, important from Fogarty, is made.

It’s 26-16.

It’s a Cat 2 according to Fox Sports.

It does mean Simione Laiafi is on the field, the 191cm, 116kg, 19-year-old kid prop, for his NRL debut.

He is an absolute monster of a teenager. Wow.

Lindsay Collins fumbles the ball off the kick off and Manly have to score here!

They have the scrum 15 metres out from the Roosters line.

Fogarty almost breaks through the line! Collins with a try-saving grab of the Sea Eagle!

The kick comes in from Brooks but it’s gathered and the Roosters get away from it.

Tupou dots down, but was he being tackled without the ball by Reuben Garrick?

James Tedesco gets up ahead of Tom Trbojevic to claim the bomb.

The ball is kicked wide to Daniel Tupou.

It’s wonderful from Daniel Tupou really, gathering, grubbering through and still getting the ball down, but Reuben Garrick grabbed him well after the kick was made.

He should have let go – Tupou would have scored comfortably in the corner if he didn’t.

It’s a penalty try and a pretty clear one to be honest.

The kick from in front of the posts is an easy one.

It’s 26-10.

The game is getting away from Manly.

There were moments of magic all over the pitch there from the Roosters.

Daly Cherry-Evans with a delightful spin move earned a break.

Hugo Savala got the ball to Daniel Tupou that beggared belief, spun around in the tackle and still passing out the back,

And then it was a brilliant kick from Reece Robson, a curling grubber that Conor Watson puts down.

Brilliant stuff from the Roosters.

All of a sudden the visitors lead 20-10.

High shot from Luke Brooks there, or was it Jake Simpkin?

Someone hit a Rooster high off the return and they’ll get some extra distance for free, the Roosters.

Conor Watson got the ball off an error by Manly, Corey Waddell just lost it in the tackle – perhaps a strip?

There were a lot of players in the tackle.

The Roosters move the ball down towards the Manly line.

There is a repeat set won.

Robert Toia gets the ball from Daly Cherry-Evans, puts a step on Luke Brooks and then bumps him off, lovely footwork.

The kick is good!

Roosters lead 14-10.

Lovely kick from Sam Walker, just a short one for Nat Butcher to chase.

But Trbojevic is there to save the day with a neat slide.

That move started with one of the most outrageous offloads from Mark Nawaqanitawase
– it was barely picked up by the commentators but it was utterly remarkable, the way he held the ball in one hand, stood up in the tackle and waited for support, before flicking the ball to a teammate.

Then Angus Crichton took up the charge and made it deep into Manly territory.

The goal line drop out was long again from Fogarty, another insane 60+ metre kick.

The Roosters have just 15 players to chose from at the moment.

Billy Smith is off, Hugo Savala is on in the centres in his place.

Egan Butcher failed his HIA earlier in the contest too.

The rain appears to have blown away for now.

That will be a relief to the crowd.

And the players, too.

Goodness, what a stunning first 40 minutes.

Two length of the field tries from the Sea Eagles – including the fastest ever try in this fixture – means that despite having barely any territory and just nine tackles in the Roosters half of the field, they lead 10-8.

The Roosters, by the way, have had 49 tackles in Manly’s half.

Daly Cherry-Evans has been relentlessly booed throughout but has been steady, helping the Roosters to a 100 per cent completion rate of 22/22 despite the appalling wet conditions.

But it’s very much game on in Manly at the moment.

Trbojevic sets off again down the left edge and passes back inside alongside Luke Brooks, who has really burst into space.

The ball goes to deck but there was a knock on.

The Sea Eagles can’t keep hold of the ball from the resulting move to the right though and the Roosters come away with it.

But hang on, Sam Walker is forced off the field with a head clash – it was friendly fire but he does look a big groggy.