REVENGE is a dish best served on a mild autumn night on the northern beaches when you score the crucial try by leaping high and taking the ball to from the clutches of the man who had just sent you staggering from the field to have stitches inserted in your blood-soaked face.
His Test jumper might be a thing of the past, for now, but Manly fullback Brett Stewart's reputation is intact. Preparing for the heartache tonight of losing his place in the Australian team to Billy Slater, Stewart suffered a savage cut under his right eye while being clobbered by Bulldogs strongman Andrew Ryan, but returned to get his beloved Sea Eagles home in an occasionally brutal affair.
The Bulldogs lost fullback Luke Patten before kick-off because of back spasms. "The General" was replaced by the relatively unknown debutant Brent Crisp.
The only available information on Crisp is that he's from Western Australia, has something of an AFL background and is no relation to Quentin. He's also as big as a house and despite scoring a late try, Crisp now knows the taste of defeat.
Even without Patten, the Dogs started like a train. The best way for anyone to silence the overflowing hill at Brookvale is to score right in front of the noses of the masses, who numbered 15,229.
Winger Heka Nanai did just that after a superb ball from Ryan. It was 4-0 to the Dogs with another six points on the way.
For once, referring possible strips to the video referee was worth the effort. Ryan was ruled by referee Tony Archer to have spilled the ball but video referee Steve Clark came in over the top and correctly ruled Manly's Josh Perry had raked the pill.
Sonny Bill Williams roared through an attempted tackle by Stewart to score from the next set and when Crisp creamed the sideline conversion, the Dogs were up 10-0 after just 13 minutes.
Manly second-rower Glenn Stewart, who deserves Country selection tonight, barrelled over to make the initial inroads into the deficit. He was involved again, after a magical short pass from Jamie Lyon, when Steve Bell scooted over to send the combatants to the sheds at 10-10.
Clark denied Manly halfback Matt Orford a try, ruling he had lost possession while planting the ball, but there was only millimetres in it.
And it didn't end up mattering.
The Sea Eagles suffered a major blow just before half-time when Brett Stewart was forced from the field clutching at his head. Ryan was not penalised for the heavy hit.
Stewart was taken from the field with his face resting in a towel and did not return until after the break.
Orford launched a towering kick from near the right touchline, back towards the posts, in the 45th minute. He was cleaned up by Corey Hughes, who escaped punishment, so did not see the rest of the play unfold. The crowd rose to its feet at the sight of Brett Stewart motoring down field. He jumped past the comparatively lead-footed Ryan for the most crucial four-pointer of the night. Orford added the extras.
Stewart was given his Test jumper against the Kiwis last October because Karmichael Hunt was unavailable. Stewart is expected to relinquish his Test place to Melbourne's Slater. In some respects, he will be hard done by as he is a superstar in his own right.
Bulldogs five-eighth Ben Roberts was charging towards a match-levelling try midway through the second half but there was a formidable presence in his way: Brett Stewart. Stewart put his body - and face - on the line again and saved the try, with Roberts losing possession in the process. That led to Glenn Hall scoring just moments later and the Sea Eagles were ahead 22-10.
Adam Cuthbertson, who should get a standing ovation at church this morning, scored a late try.
The Dogs only regained their bite, and a few points, when it was too late. Stewart mightn't have a prayer when it comes to Australian selection, but all who saw him play last night realise Slater must be a helluva player.
