Cooper Johns stars in Manly debut as Seibold era off to fast start but Souths teen has ‘night out’
Cooper Johns #CooperJohns
Cooper Johns has starred in his Manly debut and ensured the Anthony Seibold era began with a 30-28 victory over the Rabbitohs on Friday night.
Souths teenager Dion Teaupa lit up the first half with the crafty No. 6 scoring two tries, but Johns responded emphatically.
MATCH CENTRE: Manly Sea Eagles vs South Sydney Rabbitohs live scores, teams
The Bunnies struck first in Gosford thanks to a sensational grubber from Teaupa and finish from Tom Carr.
Souths charged down field with a break from fullback Blake Taaffe before Teaupa put a beautiful kick in for Carr to cross in the corner.
“Nice kick, nice chase, nice put down, good stuff from the young Bunnies,” Dan Ginnane said on Fox League.
Carr scored 22 tries in 23 games for North Sydney in the NSW Cup last season and is fighting for a spot on Souths’ wing this season.
Dion Teaupa and Cooper Johns on Friday night. GettySource: Getty Images
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Manly struck thanks a class ball from Storm recruit Johns who threw a pinpoint pass for Raymond Tuaimalo Vaega to score with an acrobatic finish.
“A lovely floating pass over the top, he summed it up beautifully and a great finish,” Mick Ennis said.
“Cooper Johns, what a start it’s been for him.”
Teaupa scored the Rabbitohs second try in the 13th minute when he grubbered to himself and collected the ball off the upright.
“He has landed that absolutely perfectly and he’s full of confidence,” Ennis said.
Carr crunched Ben Trbojevic in the 17th minute but the latter still managed to get the pass away to Christian Tuipulotu who was held up in the corner.
“Just look at the desperation here, it’s great catch and pass and skill under pressure from Ben Trbojevic,” Ennis said.
“Tuipulotu is hard to handle close to the line and that is great desperation defence from South Sydney.”
The Rabbitohs turned defence into attack as Taaffe and Teaupa combined again for the teenager to score his second.
“Teaupa is having a night out the young man. He is playing with some confidence, he’s fit, he’s fast and his decision making on the edge has been superb.
“He’s making a name for himself tonight and that’s the great thing of this time of year. On the big stage and under the bright lights he looks right at home.”
Tuaimalo Vaega scored his second when he burrowed between two defenders and slammed the ball down in the 30th minute.
“Just too strong and powerful close to the line, didn’t hesitate did he,” Ennis said.
Manly fullback Jake Toby darted out of dummyhalf from close range and somehow beat three defenders to dot down a soft try.
They then made it three tries in five minutes as Johns put through a grubber for Zac Fulton to score under the posts.
“I thought it was scrappy, we finished really well but let in a few easy tries in, overall a really good start,” Johns said at halftime.
Taaffe put up a bomb in the 46th minute and chased his own kick to score after receiving a bat back from Richard Kennar.
“They is as good as you will see throughout the year, great skill,” Ginnane said.
Manly squared things up when Toby crossed for his second after backing up nicely but Johns missed the sideline conversion to take the lead.
Souths winger Leone Te Hau was binned in the 67th minute for a lifting tackle that concussed Fletcher Myers and the Sea Eagles quickly made them pay.
Fast hands down the left edge saw Toby set up Cameron Brown cross in the corner and Johns slotted the sideline conversion for a 30-24 lead.
“That’s just class, Manly back in front, that is too good,”
An individual effort from Rabbitohs halfback Jarett Subloo saw him score in the 73rd minute but he missed the conversion to lock up the scores.
Trbojevic enjoyed his best game in Manly colours, finishing with 11 metres from 12 runs playing in the backrow.
Here are three of the biggest talking points in the match.
JOHNS LIGHTS IT UP
Cooper Johns has enjoyed a stellar start to his Manly career with a starring performance in his first game for the club.
The Sea eagles were trailing 18-4 with nine minutes left in the first half when Johns orchestrated the comeback.
He set up two tries to ensure his side went into the break leading 20-18 and then picked up where he left off in the second half.
“Cooper Johns for Manly when they got some ball came up with the right options,” GordenTallis said on Fox League.
“He was absolutely brilliant, nephew of Andrew, throws a beautiful ball to set up their first try, great vision under pressure, he saw the Souths’ players creep in and that’s hard to do.
“Great little kick for the next try, well weighted. When they got their opportunities Cooper came up with the right play at the right time.”
SOUTHS TEEN FIRES
South Sydney teenager Dion Teaupa will be a name to remember.
The silky smooth five-eighth had a hand in everything in the first half as the Rabbitohs raced out to a 18-4 lead.
Teaupa scored two tries and set up another in a dominant opening 40 minutes that showed he’s more than capable of replacing Cody Walker if required.
“I guess in trials you’re looking for those one percent efforts, but the moments of gold – is there anything better than what he’s done?” Greg Alexander said.
“He’s come up with three brilliant moments where he’s scored two tries and laid one on.
“Watch the pick up, he scoops it up and scores the try. He’s that rapt with what he’s done and I love watching that, that’s brilliant.”
Talli added: “If there’s no Cody Walker, Souths fans would be so excited to have that young kid, he just played what was in front of him and it was exciting.”
Dan Ginnane said in commentary: “He has Walker mannerisms, there’s something good about him.”
TURBO CHARGED
Ben Trbojevic enjoyed his best game in Manly colours, finishing with 11 metres from 12 runs playing in the second row.
The 21-year-old is battling Kelma Tuilagi and Haumole Olakau’atu for a spot in the backrow and was one of the best players on the park on Friday.
Trbojevic has added some size to his frame and was strong in defence, making one particularly crunching tackle in the second half.
“Was that Ben or was that Jake?” Dan Ginnane said on Fox League.
“Great tackle, Trbojevic underneath. It’s nights like these that you can really force your way into an NRL side when you make a statement like Ben Trbjevic has, he’s been terrific tonight,” Ennis responded.
“Ben Trbojevic has clearly added some muscle over the summer, he’s been physical, he’s been aggressive and been a handful in the second row tonight.”
Trbojevic confirmed after the game he’s been trying to bulk up this summer to avoid another injury-plagued season.
“It’s good to get the first hitout and get the cobwebs off the lungs. I just wanted to run hard, find my front and get quick play the balls and just do my job in defence,” he said.
“I’ve been doing a lot of weights, trying to get a lot of muscle around my shoulders, I’ve had a few injuries there in the past few years so hopefully injury free this year.”
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MATCH PREVIEW
A host of young guns get their opportunity to impress Manly’s new coach Anthony Seibold when they face the Rabbitohs on Friday night.
Raymond Tuaimalo Vaega, who got a taste of NRL last year with two appearances gets his chance on the wing alongside Christian Tuipulotu.
Meanwhile, off-season recruit Cooper Johns makes his first appearance for the Sea Eagles, initially named to partner young gun Jamie Humphreys in the halves.
Humphreys suffered a broken jaw at training on Tuesday and could miss up to six weeks after surgery to repair the blow.
Former Cowboys Ben Condon also lines up at prop, with Ben Trbojevic in the backrow and Ethan Bullemor at lock.
For the Rabbitohs, Peter Mamouzelos and Blake Taaffe are both starting — with a duel for the No.14 jersey firming after Siliva Havili’s ankle injury.
Jacob Gagai, the brother of Maroons gun Dane, also will feature for Jason Demetriou’s side in the centres.