Daly Cherry-Evans has reasserted his status as the NRL's coolest head under pressure, help ing Manly to a clutch 9-8 win over the Sydney Roosters at Sydney's Leichhardt Oval.
In a high-quality game played in front of about 25 people, watching from neighbouring roofs and a nearby scaffold, Cherry-Evans won it with just four minutes left on the clock.
The result gave the Roosters the worst start to a season by defending champions in 11 years, as they went 0-2 after also losing last week to Penrith.
The 'Tri-colours' had dominated the territorial battle all game, with Manly getting just eight tackles inside their 20-metre zone.
The Roosters also had their chance to win it, when a Luke Keary field goal shot from right in front swung into the left-hand upright.
But the game swung late, when Lachlan Croker crunched James Tedesco in a tackle, forcing an error from the Roosters fullback.
Manly worked it down the middle from the ensuing set, before Cherry-Evans iced the match.
The 21st field goal of Cherry-Evans' career was the most of any current player in the competition.
Tom Trbojevic was also immense. Menacing as always in attack, he scored Manly's only try in the 14th minute, when he ran onto an inside ball from Cherry-Evans close to the line.
The Manly No.7 took a ball on the short side from dummy-half Danny Levi and found Trbojevic at speed back inside him.
But Trbojevic was also superb in defence. He helped Jorge Taufua in one try-saver on James Tedesco and ran a flying Brett Morris down on another occasion to put him into touch.
But his best work came when he chased Keary and dislodged the ball from his hands, just as he was about to give the Roosters the lead early in the second half.
Keary had earlier laid on the Roosters' only try in the first half, when he provided a beautiful two-man cut-out ball for Daniel Tupou on the left wing.
Jared Waerea-Hargreaves and Sio Suia Taukeiaho were also strong for the Roosters up front, while their last-tackle plays again proved an issue at times.
AAP
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