Manly's Jorge Taufua goes over for his third try tonight against the Knights. Picture: Gregg Porteous Source: News Limited
MANLY has continued its impressive start to the NRL season with a comprehensive 32-0 victory over a disappointing Newcastle at Brookvale Oval today.
Building on their first-round away win over Brisbane, the Sea Eagles dominated Newcastle in almost every facet of the six-tries-to-nil win, with Jorge Taufua scoring a hat-trick.
Manly's key players - Kieran Foran, Daly Cherry-Evans, Anthony Watmough and Jamie Lyon all had good games against a poor Knights, who were completely outclassed and struggled to muster any of the opening round form they showed in thrashing Wests Tigers last Monday.
In their first home game of the season Manly burst out of the blocks to lead 10-0 after just 16 minutes.
Taufua scored the first of his tries in the fourth minute when he found himself on the end of a nice backline move.
Lyon added to that 12 minutes later when he latched onto a Foran kick in the Knights ingoal.
Despite enjoying the better of field position and dominating up front Manly couldn't add further points until after halftime.
Just four minutes after the break Watmough showed great pace to race 60m and scored after two offloads created a disjointed Knights defensive line.
Taufua then put the result beyond doubt on the hour when he forced his way over in the corner for another converted try and an 18-0 scoreline.
Brett Stewart then scored his mandatory Brookvale Oval try, his 67th four-pointer in 70 matches at the venue, in the 72nd minute when he chased down a Lyon kick from 20m out.
Taufua added to the Knights' misery just before fulltime for his third try.
But the win came at a cost for Manly with centre Steve Matai suffering a neck injury.
Dane Gagai (ankle) and Willie Mason (leg) were the main concerns for Newcastle.
The loss continued the Knights poor record at the ground, they have now enjoyed just two wins at Brookvale Oval in 26 years.
AAP
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