A double from Dylan Kelly has helped Manly upset the Mounties 22-10 at Brookvale Oval.
Manly forward Nathan Green was impressive all match with his running and some skillful passing.
Green opened the scoring in the third minute after busted through the flimsy Mounties defence.
In the first half, Mounties were ill-disciplined and gave away a penalties which gave Manly the easy metres and go-forward.
In the 16th minute, Manly kept pressing on and Green shaped a lovely pass for Kelly to score his first try.
For the next period of the match, Mounties were either dropping the ball or giving away penalties, handing golden opportunities for Manly.
Mounties looked they were in to score in the 22nd minute but the pass given to Alofi Mataele was called forward.
Manly's scramble and goal-line defence was impressive and kept the Mounties side from scoring for 30 minutes.
Mounties fullback Zac Santo was at his elusive best. In the set up to their first try, he saved a certain 40/20 kick.
Following the next phase Mounties steamrolled downfield but dropped the ball close to the line. Manly dropped it so it gave Mounties a chance.
A cut-out ball provided by Sam Williams gave winger Eddie Aiono the try the Mounties needed.
On the stroke of half-time, debutant Darcy Cox went over for Manly after Green only had to simply draw and pass.
At half-time it was 18-4 and Manly wanted to pick up where they left off. Their scrambling defence and the efforts from their forward pack proved to be the defence between the two teams.
Fatigue started to set in as the score did not change until the 62nd minute. Kelly crossed for his second, but Hugh Pratt failed to take the lead out to 20 points missing his attempt at conversion.
This gave the Mounties an opening and the Mounties produced their best football in the last 15 minutes.
Santo set it up after he scooted short side from dummy-half, handed it to the five-eighth and then finished it off for Lachlan Croker to score in the 70th minute.
Manly's defence held strong and prevented any sort of comeback by Mounties.
