Following a 22-18 loss to the Melbourne Storm in Victoria the week before, the Sea Eagles went down 26-24 to the Newcastle Knights in Newcastle last Saturday after trailing 16-4 at the break.
Manly went into the game without regular half-back Tylor Bunting, who was called up to play his first NSW Cup game for Blacktown Workers. Bunting has kept his spot this week for Blacktown after a fine performance.
The Sea Eagles have the chance to rectify their form when they take on St George-Illawarra Dragons in the curtain raiser game to the NRL on Sunday.
The Dragons have won one of their last five games to sit ninth on 14 points, two behind the seventh placed Sea Eagles.
Manly Coach Scott Kenna said his team was determined to fire again at home after the demanding road trips. The Sea Eagles have won three of their five games at Brookvale this season.
“We made some crucial errors at crucial times against the Knights and then we couldn’t defend our errors which really hurt us,’’ he said.
“We showed some good character to come back in the second half to take the lead but just couldn’t close the game out.
“Our centre Alton Naiyep was very strong with the ball and looked our most dangerous player.
