The Sea Eagles defeated the Dragons 20-12 at Brookvale Oval in Round 13 last season – reversing the decision that went the way of St George Illawarra 17-6 at WIN Jubilee Oval in Round 4.
The visitors opened the scoring with a penalty goal before Jamie Lyon laid on a wonderful try for winger Michael Oldfield with a delicate grubber kick behind the defence for a 6-2 scoreline after 18 minutes. Neither team added to the scoreboard before halftime.
Lyon clicked into gear immediately after the break, his quick hands providing Oldfield with his second try of the night in the 43rd minute for an eight-point buffer.
St George Illawarra struck back 10 minutes later when Daniel Vidot crashed over a few tackles after an 80-metre bust by Brett Morris and at 10-8 the Red V were well in the contest.
However, Manly’s Brett Stewart ended their dreams of a win with a sublime piece of deception six minutes from fulltime; the NSW fullback made an angled run for the right corner post, dummied inside to Jamie Lyon then passed to Oldfield who scored his third try. Darcy Lussick’s charge from 12 metres out in the 76th minute completed the home side’s scoring.
