Manly's Achilles heel in 2019 was the opposition's boot.
The sixth-placed Sea Eagles conceded the most tries from kicks during the regular season with 27 at an average of 1.1 per match.
That amounted to 36 per cent of the 75 tries they allowed overall. (Manly ranked sixth for tries conceded).
In comparison, Canberra set the benchmark by allowing only nine tries from kicks, followed by fellow top-four teams the Storm (11), Roosters and Rabbitohs (both 15).
Manly aside, only two top-eight teams ranked in the bottom half of the competition for tries conceded from kicks - the Eels (11th, 22 tries) and Sharks (9th, 20).
The Sea Eagles' especially high rate of allowing tries from kicks can probably be attributed to their jamming defence.
The up-and-in style often enabled Des Hasler's troops to shut down threatening backline movements but it also created room in behind their line which could be exploited with a well-placed kick.
