Regardless of the scoreline, the victory – the Warriors’ 18th of the season – sees the Kiwi club set a new record for the most in a single campaign, bettering the 17 achieved by the 2002 grand finalists.
The Warriors had earlier had two tries ruled out in the final stages, while another Harris-Tavita drop attempt was charged down.
It was a spectacular game. Coach Andrew Webster won’t be thrilled with aspects of the defensive effort – his team leaked five tries and looked vulnerable on both edges – but he will be happy with the grit, determination and sheer desire shown, especially in the second half.
Taine Tuaupiki grabbed a brilliant hat-trick – another reminder of his ability at fullback – though his goal-kicking was less impressive, with three from six off the tee.
Taine Tuaupiki celebrates scoring for the Warriors against the Manly Sea Eagles. Photo / Photosport
The result means the Warriors remain on top of the NRL ladder, though their chances of claiming the minor premiership seem remote, contingent on the West Tigers beating Penrith on Sunday evening.
But that doesn’t really matter. What matters is that the Warriors got through another decent test, while halves Te Maire Martin and Harris-Tavita made safe returns from injury and Erin Clark had a performance befitting his milestone match.
The game swung on several occasions. Manly had an early 12-4 lead, then the Warriors were ahead 24-12 early in the second half.
But the Sea Eagles came back – and looked more likely – before the biggest turning point. With the visitors ahead 30-24 with 15 minutes to play, a Manly try was scratched – correctly – before Tuaupiki flashed across for his hat-trick moments later.
Martin was brilliant in the first half – with key involvements in every try – before Tom Trbojevic took Manly on his shoulders in the second.
That the Sea Eagles meant business was evident from the start, when they dumped James Fisher-Harris on his back in an early tackle.
Their threat was clear straight away, as Tom Trbojevic eased into space before sending Reuben Garrick away to score in the fourth minute.
However, the Warriors’ reply was impressive, Martin putting Eddie Ieremia-Toeava into a hole, with the youngster demonstrating his neat hands to set Adam Pompey up. But the Sea Eagles have pace to burn and Lehi Hopoate was over in the left corner, after Jason Saab burgled a Chanel Harris-Tavita pass when the Warriors had an overlap.
Saab was away again soon afterwards, though it was called back for a marginal forward pass. From there the Warriors clicked into gear, scoring three unanswered first-half tries, amid virtuoso moments from Martin.
Te Maire Martin competes with Manly’s Clayton Faulalo at Go Media Stadium. Photo / Photosport
The halfback had the ball on a string, as almost everything he tried turned to gold. He was putting players into space, forcing repeat sets and was always where he needed to be.
Jacob Laban managed a lovely delayed ball to put Tuaupiki in, after Martin created the initial incision, before a touch rugby-esque move five minutes later placed the fullback under the posts, with neat sleight-of-hand from the halfback.
The best moment came with the fourth try – to Nicoll-Klokstad – as Martin conjured a 25m left-hand pass of absolute beauty. The only blip was hooker Sam Healey leaving the field, with Ben Trbojevic sinbinned for the hip-drop tackle, replaced by Makaia Tafua, though Healey would return in the second half.
The momentum continued after the interval, with Nicholl-Klokstad soaring to take a Martin bomb as the capacity crowd settled back to enjoy a Penrose party. The script flipped, though, with Manly scoring two tries in four minutes – as Tom Trbojevic turned on the magic – to level the scores.
They were unlucky not to have a third in that phase, with the bunker identifying a Tom Trbojevic infringement after Manly had outflanked the hosts.
Suddenly the mood had changed; tension replaced anticipation. The Warriors went close at one end before Tom Trbojevic – who else – manufactured another long-range break, with Garrick dotting down under the posts as the visitors took the lead.
The Warriors were on thin ice – and had a narrow escape when another Manly try was scratched, thanks to a moment of brain fade for Tom Trbojevic as he took out Jacob Laban off the ball. It soon turned into a 12-point swing, courtesy of pure individual brilliance from Tuaupiki, who beat three defenders to score near the posts in a dizzying 20m burst.
Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad celebrates his try against the Manly Sea Eagles. Photo / Photosport
The last 10 minutes were a blur. An opportunist Harris-Tavita try was ruled out – probably correctly – but the subsequent Tanner Stowers-Smith effort, ruled a double movement, looked a much closer call.
There were micro moments everywhere, before Harris-Tavita calmly slotted his single-point shot from 20m with just under three minutes to play.
Warriors 31 (Pompey, Tuaupiki 3, Nicoll-Klokstad 2 tries; Tuaupiki 2 cons; Harris-Tavita field goal)
Sea Eagles 30 (Garrick 2, Hopoate 2, Feledy tries; Fogarty 4 cons)
H/T: 20-12
Michael Burgess has been a sports journalist for the New Zealand Herald since 2005, covering the Olympics, Fifa World Cups, and America’s Cup campaigns. He is a co-host of the Big League podcast.