Match Details
Match Date	6th Jul, 2009
Opponent	Manly
Result	Loss 12-19
Coach	Kevin Moore
Captain	Andrew Ryan
Venue	Brookvale Oval
Crowd	15,501
Referee	Tony Archer Jared Maxwell

Two errors in the final five minutes from Ben Roberts has robbed the Bulldogs of an opportunity to snatch victory at Brookvale Oval as Manly hung on for a stunning 19-12 win.

Josh Perry celebrated his return to the State of Origin fold after a six-year hiatus with a bullocking try in the penultimate minute that sealed the match after the visitors threatened Manly's previous one-point lead.

Perry reflected on a thrilling game of rugby league and a surprise call-up to the New South Wales side to earn his second Origin cap in Game II.

"We always knew it was going to be close. We've had a long lay-off and we really enjoyed that," he told Fox Sports.

"We've still got some work to do but we've definitely got a roll on and we're going to give this a shake."

The Sea Eagles' fourth successive victory has lifted them into sixth spot on the NRL ladder and revived their premiership defence after a horrendous run of losses earlier in the year.

A cheeky field goal from Matt Orford before half-time ultimately played a pivotal part in proceedings as it gave the Sea Eagles a psychological advantage for the final 11 minutes.

Orford's boot also provided a decisive sideline kick to convert David Williams's try in the 69th minute to restore Manly's lead at 13-12 after the Bulldogs went ahead 11 minutes into the second half.

From that point on, the visitors' tough-as-nails defence repelled the Sea Eagles' further advances as they regained the momentum and threatened to steal victory.

But that momentum was lost as the ball twice fell to Roberts with the Bulldogs on the attack in the 75th and 77th minutes respectively, and he gave up possession both times with terrible passes.

With the ball back in their hands, the Sea Eagles were carried up-field by some Orford magic from the scrum, and Perry barged over later in the set with a powerful run that left Daniel Holdsworth clutching at air.

Bulldogs schemers Brett Kimmorley and Michael Ennis did all they could to get the visitors home, with the former screaming for the ball on their last attacking set as he plotted a game-tying field goal.

They told Fox Sports they were disappointed to fall off at the end but admitted their delight at being paired together in the Blues side for Origin III.

"That's obviously a good reward for the solid form we've had," Kimmorley said.

"I think we've come together well... we give each other a fair bit of freedom - I think we both play a similar game plan we play very direct."

Kimmorley took responsibility for not controlling the side in a frantic final 10 minutes.

"We shot ourselves in the foot a bit and it's disappointing. We had plenty of chances," he added.

"We knew it was going to be a great arm wrestle. We struggled a bit for composure - it got a bit fast and frantic."

Bulldogs duo Greg Eastwood and Bryson Goodwin will likely have cases to answer after being put on report for separate incidents, as will Manly's Heath L'Estrange.

Source: Evan Sieff

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