‘Can’t believe it’: Manly run down Dogs in finals thriller

Manly have produced one of the gutsiest wins of the season, running down the Bulldogs to keep their premiership hopes alive in an elimination final classic.
In front of a 50,000-strong crowd at Accor Stadium who were mainly decked out in blue and white, it was an unlikely hero in Tolu Koula who sealed the 24-22 result.
With less than 10 minutes remaining, Daly Cherry-Evans and Tom Trbojevic linked up for a low-percentage play inside their own half and the ball ended up with the speedy centre, who beat multiple defenders and raced away to score.
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“They had no right to be in this game,” Andrew Johns said on Nine.
Daly Cherry-Evans and Tolu Koula celebrate during Manly’s win.  Getty
“They have been on the back foot … Cherry-Evans kicking game has kept them in this.
“I still can’t believe they have won this game. They have been so courageous.”
Canterbury were ahead by 10 points mid-way through the second half, thanks largely to inspirational captain Stephen Crichton who was gallant in defeat.
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Reed Mahoney’s antics saw tensions spill over for a second time as Cherry-Evans and Reuben Garrick took offence to the niggly Dogs dummy-half.
The hooker was placed on report for a high shot on Garrick that prompted the melee and Manly’s subsequent field position allowed Cherry-Evans to strike, narrowing the margin after a lovely set play with halves partner Luke Brooks.
The drama went down to the final minutes, with Matt Burton missing out on two field-goal opportunities from long-range that could have levelled the scores.
In the 78th minute, Burton ran the ball on fourth tackle and was out of position when the ball came his way and his two-point shot fell just below the posts.
“They weren’t in position – he wasn’t thinking two-point field-goal,” Billy Slater said.
The five-eighth had one more chance on the full-time siren, but it again dropped short.
Manly’s victory sees them advance through to next week’s semi-final clash with the Roosters, while the competition’s surprise packets Canterbury bow out.