Report: Jersey Flegg Round 15 vs Sea Eagles

Hat-tricks to Solomone Saukuru and Josese Lanyon were among a string of standout performances, as the home side ran in 11 tries in a dominant Round 15 display.

Winger Will Craig opened the scoring in the left corner, finishing off a crisp cut-out pass from fullback Logan Brookes. Just minutes later, Mitch Taotua crossed for the second after a well-worked combination between Jared Haywood and Iverson Matai.

Craig converted to make it 10-0 before Manly responded through winger Zachary Karam, who stepped off his left foot to score and narrow the gap.

Back-rower Solomone Saukuru continued his strong transition to the forwards with a powerful try in the 24th minute, charging onto a Matai pass and crashing over near the posts.

Momentum swung further in the home side’s favour after Manly hooker Zaidas Muagututia was sent to the sin bin for a professional foul. Wests Tigers took full advantage of the extra man, with Josese Lanyon making an immediate impact off the bench to score just moments after entering the game.

Lanyon had his second just minutes later, backing up through the middle as props Shaq Tavita and Lenny Plati combined to tear through the Sea Eagles’ defence.

The second half started much like the first ended, with the Tigers producing points in the opening set. A spilled bomb by Manly was scooped up by Will Craig, who offloaded to Taotua for his second.

Saukuru bagged his second not long after, again running a hard line off Matai to score near the posts. With Taotua off for a HIA, Saukuru shifted to the centres and wasted no time completing his hat-trick, finishing off a sharp Craig pass in the left corner.

Tino Tavana then dazzled the Lidcombe Oval crowd with a slashing run down the right wing, before offloading to Marc Tannous for his first try at U/21’s level.

Matai capped off a strong individual performance with a try of his own in the 70th minute, stepping through defenders to push the home side past the 50-point mark.

Lanyon then sealed his hat-trick and capped a monster performance, darting over from dummy half after moving into the hooker role late in the match.

Manly scored a consolation try through Kurt Fisher in the dying stages, but it was the Tigers' day from start to finish, running out convincing 58-10 winners.

Wests Tigers 58 (Saukuru 3, Lanyon 3, Mi. Taotua 2, Craig, Tannous, Matai tries; Craig 7/10 goals, Tavana 0/1 goals) defeated Sea Eagles 10 (Karam, Fisher tries; Herring 1/1 goal, Dowell 0/1 goals) at Lidcombe Oval.