FORWARDS Steve Menzies and Brent Kite celebrated their first tries of the season as Manly steamrolled a lacklustre Brisbane 30-12 at Suncorp Stadium yesterday.
Brisbane led 12-6 at half-time but the warning signs were evident after it failed to finish off several promising attacks which broke down under Manly's defensive pressure.
Queensland origin hopeful Steve Bell set Manly on the comeback trail, scoring soon after half-time off a well-timed Jamie Lyon pass.
Menzies' 52nd-minute try came after a one-handed off-load from Adam Cuthbertson and was followed by Kite's four-pointer six minutes later, to help put Manly up 24-12. Manly scored again after Brisbane winger Reece Robinson was beaten to a Matt Orford bomb by rival Michael Robinson for Brett Stewart to collect his seventh try of the season.
■Parramatta capitalised on St George Illawarra's misfortune and mistakes to post a tough 19-18 victory at ANZ Stadium.
The Eels took full advantage of a dubious video referee decision against the Dragons and a poor option by Jamie Soward to score two pivotal tries in their three tries apiece win in front of 16,313 fans.
The match-winning field goal came in the 74th minute. A superb 40-20 kick by hooker Matthew Keating gifted Parramatta ideal field position and half-back Brett Finch calmly slotted a 15-metre shot to open up a 19-12 lead.
Dragons centre Matt Cooper then added a try in the 79th minute from a Beau Scott charge down, setting up a frenetic final 30 seconds.
It is the first time the Eels have posted back-to-back victories in 2008.
Parramatta held a 12-6 half-time lead but it could have easily been the Dragons with the six-point buffer if not for a controversial decision by video official Steve Clark, who denied a try to Jason Nightingale after ruling Cooper had stripped Eric Grothe in the tackle on his kick return.
■St George Illawarra chief executive Peter Doust admitted last night the Dragons were powerless to stop Test centre Mark Gasnier walking out on the club just two seasons into a five-year deal to pursue a rugby union career in France.
Gasnier said he had been "confronted with a situation" which may lead to him invoking a get-out clause. It gives him a one-month window each year to explore options.
"I've explored options there, yeah," he said. "Don't put it as I'm trying to get out of my contract. I've been confronted with a situation that I've had to react to, and I'm doing it in my best interests."
AAP, GLENN JACKSON
