Match Details
Match Date	4th Jul, 2004
Opponent	Manly
Result	Win 50-32
Coach	Steven Folkes
Captain	Braith Anasta
Venue	Brookvale Oval
Crowd	12,328
Referee	Sean Hampstead

Discarded NSW backrower Andrew Ryan gave Blues selectors a not so subtle reminder of his talents when he bagged a hat-trick to steer the Bulldogs to a 50-32 NRL win over the Manly Sea Eagles at Brookvale Oval today.

Ryan was a shock omission from the Blues team for Wednesday night's State of Origin series decider at Telstra Stadium after starring in the backrow in the previous two matches.

And Blues selectors could have been forgiven for having second thoughts after he steamrolled the Eagles in a match that sometimes resembled a touch football contest.

Manly halfback Michael Monaghan made a memorable return after six weeks out with a finger injury and even turned heads before the game when he was named skipper - ahead of long time leader Steve Menzies.

But even Monaghan couldn't stop the Bulldogs - missing Origin stars Mark O'Meley, Willie Tonga, Steve Price and Willie Mason - from running out eight tries to six winners in front of a 12,328-strong crowd.

Manly has not beaten the Bulldogs since 1996 - the year the Sea Eagles last won the premiership.

Manly started well, scoring through Albert Torrens in the opening minute but the Bulldogs kicked out to an 18-6 buffer by the 15th minute.

However, the Sea Eagles locked up the scores 18-18 by the 27th minute when Stewart (22nd minute) scored and Kylie Leuluai (27th) crossed just three minutes after being placed on report for a high shot on Hutch Maiava.

Hazem El Masri gave the Bulldogs some breathing space when he knocked over two penalty kicks and pounced on a spilt Brent Sherwin bomb in the space of 10 minutes.

After the Bulldogs led 26-18 at halftime, both sides traded tries in the highest scoring match of the season with Manly fullback Brett Stewart and recalled Bulldogs winger Matt Utai bagging doubles and Ryan an unlikely hat-trick.

Bulldogs winger El Masri notched a personal tally of 22 points including one try and nine goals.

Source: AAP

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