As it happened: Sharks hold off gallant Sea Eagles

Press conferences

Driving force: Braydon Trindall deserves the praise from his dominant performance, but as they say, behind every good half is a tremendous forward pack. None were more impressive than Addin Fonua-Blake backing up from his State of Origin debut, who amassed 159 run metres from 16 runs, two tackle breaks and 20 tackles. The roll-on didn't stop when he was off the field, with Thomas Hazelton proving the perfect foil and showing exactly why he was drafted into train with the Blues prior to Game 1, producing 130 metres gained from 14 runs, and 23 tackles.

Full-time: The Sharks do just enough in front of their home fans, holding off a second half blitz from the Sea Eagles to secure a 28-22 victory.

80th min: After the Sharks march the ball deep on attack, the Sea Eagles recover the ball but Lehi Hopoate knocks the ball on in-goal. The drop-out in the dying seconds doesn't go the 10 and the home side celebrates.

79th min: The Sea Eagles look to have found some space down the right from their own half, but once again it's Jason Saab who can't get away from the cover defence and is bundled into touch on half way.

77th min: The Sharks receive a penalty after the restart from the Sea Eagles is made out-on-the-full by a smartly positioned Sam Stonestreet. But the visitors hold on.

76th min: Luke Brooks is ruled to have obstructed Ronaldo Mulitalo on a run to aerial contest and the Sharks are awarded a penalty adjacent the posts. Braydon Trindall hands over the kicking duties to Mawene Hiroti, who pilots the ball through the uprights. Sharks 28-22.

73rd min: The Sharks keep it simple on the ensuing set, opting to take the tackle on the last 5m out from the line. It has the desired outcome, with Jason Saab throwing a loose offload while being driven back to give the home side another opportunity.

72nd min: Both sides have reined in the attack, going set-for-set with completions to try to win the arm wrestle. But it ends when Sea Eagles winger Jason Saab goes a little too close to the sideline and is taken over it on the slippery surface right on half way.

66th min: Addin Fonua-Blake grounds the ball for a try, but the Bunker steps in ruling a deflection from Sam Stonestreet in the aerial contest in the lead-up travelled forward.

63rd min: After a 40/20 kick to put the Sea Eagles on the attack, the Sharks defence holds firm and Will Kennedy makes a miraculous escape from the in-goal. He earns a penalty to get the Sharks out of a tough spot.

58th min: Manly is on the charge! An offload from Ben Trbojevic in his own half goes the Luke Brooks, who turns on his trademark speed to streak down the field. He passes inside in support, where the ball is tipped by a Sea Eagles defender, only for Jamal Fogarty to toe ahead and ground the rolling ball. Reuben Garrick adds the extras. Sharks lead 26-22.

Injury update: Blayke Brailey has unexpectedly been forced from the field with concerns of a broken arm.

56th min: It's try-for-try here at Ocean Protect Stadium. Jamal Fogarty puts up an end-over-end bomb and some miscommunication at the back causes it to bounce in front of Sam Stonestreet, landing in the arms of Jason Saab for one of the easiest tries he will ever score. Reuben Garrick converts from out wide. Sharks lead 26-16.

52nd min: The Sharks immediately bounce back with a try to Braydon Trindall. It came on the back of some monstrous defence from the Sharks, who forced Jackson Shereb into touch on the second tackle of the Sea Eagles' set after scoring at the other end. Trindall's show-and-go completely bamboozles his opposite number Luke Brooks and he slams the ball down. But once again, Trindall can't convert despite the attempt coming from 10m wide of the posts. Sharks 26-10.

49th min: After four consecutive sets on the Sharks' line, Luke Brooks turns Ben Trbojevic back inside and he plants the ball down for a try despite attention from a number of Sharks defenders. He gets up clutching his left shoulder, but ultimately shakes off the trainer. Reuben Garrick converts the try. Sharks lead 22-10.

44th min: In the return set after Braydon Trindall grubber kicks dead, the Sea Eagles earn a penalty for a late tackle on a roaming Reuben Garrick, getting his side on the attack. 

42nd min: The second half starts in a similar way to the first for the Sea Eagles, with a Luke Brooks error putting the Sharks on the attack. 

Half time: Fans at Ocean Protect Stadium have been treated to a crowd-pleasing opening stanza with entertaining footy from both sides. The Sharks held sway for the first portion of the game, keeping the error-ridden Sea Eagles out of their territory for the first 12 minutes. The visitors still defended well and quickly built pressure when given the chance in a strong middle of the half, however their discipline began to waver and the Sharks took control. Braydon Trindall has orchestrated it all in the absence of Nicho Hynes with three try assists from four tries, but has only managed to kick two goals, including a penalty goal early on, to keep the Sea Eagles just in the contest.

40th minute: A try on the stroke of half-time! Champagne rugby league from the Sharks, who keep finding an offload in an entertaining last-gasp-of-the-half play, the ball eventually finding the hands of Braydon Trindall, whose cross-field kick just goes over the top of Lehi Hopoate and bounces well enough for Billy Burns on the wing to plant the ball down. Trindall can't convert that one and they go to the sheds with the Sharks leading 22-4.

36th min: Braydon Trindall has the ball on a string, this time using his exemplary short kicking game to find space behind the Sea Eagles defence. The first bounce evades the intended chaser Ronaldo Mulitalo and Manly fullback Clayton Faulalo, leaving Billy Burns to pick up the scraps and dot down in the corner. Trindall misses the attempted conversion. Sharks 18-4.

32nd min: The pressure finally tells on the Sea Eagles, with Braydon Trindall turning Teig Wilton back inside for the backrower to step sharply off his right foot past Manly's Nathan Brown and through the tackle attempt of Clayton Faulalo to score. Trindall converts. Sharks 14-4.

29th min: The Sharks march up the field off a set restart and Braydon Trindall heaps on the pressure with a deft grubber in-goal to force a dropout. On the repeat set, Teig Wilton is taken down just short, but gets a late offload away which Ethan Bullemor fails to grasp.

25th min: Taniela Paseka's footwork and offload puts Jamal Fogarty away, but he's pulled down just short of the corner post. Reuben Garrick slips over on last tackle on the following play and the chance goes begging.

Injury update: Jackson Shereb has passed his HIA and will return to the field.

24th min: Clayton Faulalo breaks through the Sharks defence on the back of 18 consecutive tackles inside the 20m zone, fending off Sharks try scorer Niwhai Puru on his way to the line. Reuben Garrick misses the conversion attempt away to the left. Sharks lead 8-4.

17th min: The Sea Eagles are full of errors to start the game, but keep defending them, with Lehi Hopoate intercepting a wide pass to stop a Sharks attacking raid.

15th min: The Sharks get in great position after back-to-back ruck infringements from the Sea Eagles, but a shift to right breaks down and they hand the ball back.

12th min: The Sea Eagles enter Sharks territory for the first time in the match after a set restart for a slow play-the-ball. It only lasts a couple of tackles until Reuben Garrick knocks on. In the meantime, Jackson Shereb left the field for HIA.

10th min: The debutant is over! After the Sharks earn a set restart, Blues hooker Blayke Brailey carves up the Sea Eagles' middle defence and hands it off to Niwhai Puru backing up on the inside to score. Braydon Trindall nails the conversion. Sharks 8-0.

4th min: After coming close to an early try, the Sea Eagles are caught offside late in the tackle count and the home side opts to take an early penalty goal. Braydon Trindall has the kicking duties and he makes no mistake. Sharks 2-0.

2nd min: The Sharks enter the opposition half for the first attacking set after a high tackle from Ben Trbojevic.

Kick-off: We're underway at Ocean Protect Stadium under clear skies.

Late Mail

Sharks: Star halfback Nicho Hynes will miss Friday’s match due to a calf injury, while Maroons forward Briton Nikora and Cook Islands centre KL Iro were late scratchings on Thursday. Nikora, a Kiwis international, is being rested, while Iro is out with a knee laceration. Debutant Niwhai Puru has been named in the No.7 jumper to partner Braydon Trindall in the halves, while Billy Burns will start in the second row and Mawene Hiroti comes into the centres. Blues pair Blayke Brailey and Addin Fonua-Blake are set to back up after making their Origin debuts. Cameron McInnes will start at lock in his 100th game for the club, while Ronaldo Mulitalo and Jesse Ramien retain their place in the backline after making successful returns from injury before last week’s bye. Oregon Kaufusi was omitted 90 minutes before kick-off, with Riley Jones coming into the 19.

Sea Eagles: Manly will line up 1-19 from the team originally named on Tuesday. Centre Tolutau Koula will miss the game after failing a HIA in Wednesday's Origin opener while Haumole Olakau'atu is also being rested. Both were originally named in the reserves. "We are going to take the long-game approach. It's pretty risky to throw them back out there 48 hours after a big game like that so it will be good for them to freshen up," coach Kieran Foran said on Thursday. Back-rower Ben Trbojevic has been cleared to play after a head injury assessment was reclassified by the NRL from a category 1 to a category 2, following no diagnosis of concussion being made. 

Numbers Game

• The Sharks have won six of their last seven games against the Sea Eagles.
• The Sea Eagles have won 11 of their last 14 games at Ocean Protect Stadium.
• Sharks winger Ronaldo Mulitalo has scored seven tries in his last seven games against the Sea Eagles.
• Sharks co-captain Cameron McInnes will play his 100th game for the club.