Beaten Eagles have faith in the bounce back factor

The Manly Sea Eagles insist they will be quick to brush off Friday night's upset 24-16 loss to the Warriors in Auckland, as they look to continue their charge towards a top-four finish.

The Sea Eagles fell just short of a miraculous comeback after trailing 18-0 with 14 minutes to play at Mt Smart Stadium, scoring three tries in quick succession to close the gap to 18-16 before the Warriors scored late to seal the win.

It was Manly's first loss in a month and saw them drop crucial points in their bid to keep pace with the Roosters, Raiders and Rabbitohs, although they remain safely inside the top eight with four rounds to go.  

Back-rower Joel Thompson – who bagged his seventh try of the season – said he's confident Manly will bounce back on home soil against Wests Tigers on Thursday.

"No [momentum has been lost], we're the type of team that will bounce back," Thompson told NRL.com.

"We will go in, heal up, regroup and go again.

"That's the beautiful part of rugby league, you get to go again next week.

"We didn't adapt to the way they came out [in the first half], but we spoke about it at half-time, fixed some of those areas and came out and scored some tries, so we take some positives from that."

It took Manly 67 minutes to find their first points, despite a glut of possession in attacking territory.

Coach Des Hasler said his side's sluggish start proved costly. 

"At the end of the day we just ran out of time unfortunately," Hasler said.

"Defensively, as far as the numbers are concerned, they look really good for us. You look at the game and you have got to wonder, how did that one get away?

"The Warriors defended well, they hung on, we got really close and we threw some good shape at them.

"I think we at least showed some composure and showed a little bit of control, and probably had opportunities to win the game."

Hasler had mixed news on the injury front after both Brad Parker and Curtis Sironen left the game through injury, and skipper Daly Cherry-Evans played on after appearing to twist his ankle in the first half.

"Curtis Sironen we are hoping was just cramping, but could be a hamstring, and Brad Parker has knee cartilage [damage] I think," Hasler said.

"We'll see how they are early in the week, but it's a short turnaround, we go back and play Thursday, so you'd have to think they are unlikely.

"I don't think it'll be anything serious [for Daly], otherwise he would have come from the field.

"He probably just jammed it a little bit, but the fact that he finished the game means he should be OK."