Wests Tigers have had the last laugh over Luke Brooks, ambushing ill-disciplined Manly for a 34-26 upset win on the Sea Eagles five-eighth's return to Leichhardt Oval.
In the halfback spot that Brooks filled for 11 seasons, former Manly junior Latu Fainu put the last-placed Tigers on top during a run of 30 unanswered points that overturned Manly's 16-0 lead and threw their finals hopes into doubt.
Manly spent 30 minutes of the match with 12 men, after three players were sent to the sin-bin.
The Sea Eagles could have booked their top-eight spot with victory on Thursday night but must now beat either of top-four hopefuls Canterbury or Cronulla to guarantee they will play finals in 2024.
"You get what you deserve in the NRL," Sea Eagles coach Anthony Seibold said after the match.
"We've deserved some really good results because we've played some really good footy but tonight we weren't there.
"We'll go back and prepare well because we've got a big game against the Bulldogs next Friday night. We know how well they've been playing."
Seibold added: "We were well beaten tonight. But I'm confident in the group, we've got a really good side there. Our destiny is in our own hands.
"It's disappointing but it's not the end of the world, right? We're fighting in this competition and we'll go again."
Manly conceded two soft first-half tries, both on the back of Jake Trbojevic mistakes, to watch their 16-0 lead close to four points in the space of five minutes.
Loading...Repeated penalties sent Ethan Bullemor to the sin bin after he had set Tom Trbojevic up for a runaway try earlier in the half, before Haumole Olakau'atu went for 10 minutes following a high shot on rookie fullback Heath Mason.
The Tigers took their first lead as Fainu took control while Olaka'autu was off the park just after half-time.
The 19-year-old sent Alex Seyfarth over untouched with a no-look pass only seconds later, having just come on to replace injured veteran Aidan Sezer (shoulder).
When Fainu scooped the ball up following a set restart and darted for the line, the Tigers were on their way to a shock eight-point lead.
The Sea Eagles were rattled after Lachie Galvin's kick bounced over Tolu Koula to gift Solomon Faataape a try and the Tigers a 14-point advantage.
Trbojevic bagged two more tries to make the Tigers nervous while Corey Waddell was in the sin bin for a high shot on Solomon Alaimalo in the final quarter of the game.
Tigers young gun Lachlan Galvin goes on the attack against the Sea Eagles. (AAP: Dan Himbrechts)
But the Tigers were officially home as Samuela Fainu, the Tigers' best player this season, burst over on the left in the final seconds.
For his part, Brooks had a quiet night following a strong first season since leaving the club where he became maligned for his long-time inability to inspire a finals berth.
He and Tom Trbojevic held Sezer up ahead of what could have been the night's first try but like the rest of the spine, he struggled to reassert Manly's influence on the contest when the Tigers began to fire.
The Leichhardt Oval crowd booed Brooks with every touch in the first half and took particular delight when he dropped the ball cold while Manly were on the attack down the left edge.
The Tigers' second consecutive win moves them onto level points with 16th-placed Parramatta and adds intrigue to the sides' round-27 meeting, which could decide the wooden spoon.
Relive the action on our blog.
What a shock.
At 16-0 in the first half, you would be forgiven for thinking Manly were home.
But Wests Tigers produced a great performance to win.
ABC Sport will be back tomorrow for Friday's NRL action.
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A tough night for Manly. They led 16-0 before conceding 30 unanswered points and having three men sent to the sin-bin.
"You have to give the Wests Tigers some credit," Manly coach Anthony Seibold says.
"It was a really disappointing night.
"You get what you deserve in the NRL."
David Klemmer has praised the Tigers' fans, as everyone who spoke to ABC Sport has done.
"Mate, I'm lost for words, the boys dug deep … We played really well, mate, the last two weeks have been unreal … It's a good feeling, mate … It's Thursday night, they've [the fans] got work tomorrow, and we can send them off with a smile into the weekend … Thankful for the fans."
Apisai Koroisau was brilliant for the Tigers tonight.
He had a big hand in Wests' win tonight.
Api joins ABC Sport.
"That was one of the best games we've played here at Leichhardt… Proud of the boys … To go in at half time 16-12, we knew we were in this game … I'm feeling great man, absolutely fantastic."
Tigers fans are some of the loyal in Australian sport.
Samuela Fainu has joined ABC Sport after the Tigers fantastic win.
"Big up to our supporters … the season we've had and they still get up and come and support us."
Wests Tigers have produced the upset of the NRL season, coming from 16 points down to defeat sixth-placed Manly at Leichhardt Oval.
Manly raced out to a 16-0 lead in the first half but ill-discipline proved to be the Sea Eagles downfall, having three players sent to the sin bin.
The loss means Manly will fall to seventh on the ladder as the Cowboys gain two competition points on their bye week.
WESTS HAVE DONE IT!
Samuela Fainu has carried two players over the try-line to ice the game.
The fans are going wild. As so they should.
Winger Jason Saab wants the Earth to open up and swallow him.
He cost his side a chance at an attacking kick when he dropped the ball from dummy half on fifth tackle.
The Manly bust through the line and Saab dropped the pass which had he, possibly, on his way to the try-line.
Wests are so close.
The Sea Eagles have spent 30 minutes down to 12 men.
Can they score they try they need to save this game?
Tom Trbojevic has his third try of the night.
He is trying to win this game by himself.
Haumole Olakau'atu made the linebreak and Turbo was there in support.
Reuben Garrick missed the conversion.
Tigers hold a 30-26 lead.
ABC Sport sideline report Michael Carayannis has just reported that Aiden Sezer will not ba back tonight.
The Wests half has an arm injury.
Corey Waddell is off for 10 minutes.
He has been sent for a high tackle.
This is the third sin-bin against Manly.
In all honesty, I think Manly was lucky before in that same tackle prop Taniela Paseka appeared to make contact to the ball carrier's head with his shoulder.
Manly needed that.
Tom Trbojevic, on last tackle, has taken a crash ball at the try-line and smashed his way over.
It followed a drop-out that Manly had earned themselves, following a bad play-the-ball from the Tigers which put them under pressure inside their defensive half.
The Wests Tigers have scored five straight tries.
Solomona Faataape has been gifted a try.
Lachy Galvin put in a shocking kick for the Tigers.
But Manly let the ball bounce, and it landed in Faataape lap for the try.
"Manly look lost to me. The Tigers a brimming with energy," Matthew Elliot told ABC Sport broadcast.
Manly do have 13 men back on the field, as Haumole Olakau'atu's sin-bin comes to an end.
The Tigers are roaring.
Latu Fainu has scored.
He is on the field for Aiden Sezer, who is off with an injury.
He scored after Ethan Bullemor had a kick from Wests deflected off his legs, picked up by Fainu and he runs into a massive gap to score.
The Wests Tigers lead and their fans are going wild.
Against 12 men, Alex Seyfarth glided through the defence.
Latu Fainu threw the perfect pass to Seyfarth.
Wests lead 18-16.
Haumole Olakau'atu is off for 10 minutes for a high tackle on Heath Mason.
The sin-bin comes as Ethan Bullemor returns from his 10 minute stint in the bin.
Manly will play 20 minutes with 12 men.
Manly holds a four-point lead, but they will be down to 12 men for the first six minutes of this half.
Enjoying tonight’s blog Michael. Referee is not taking any prisoners and glad to see it.
- KB
Hello KB.
Thank-you for joining me on the ABC Sport live blog.
Manly were their own worst enemy, which led to the sin-bin.
We have a very intriguing second half coming up.
Manly have a fight on their hands.
The Sea Eagles had a 16-0 lead and looked set for a comfortable evening.
But Manly we poor in the final 20 minutes of that half.
They dropped the ball, gave away many penalties and conceded two tries.
The Sea Eagles will be down to 12 men for the first six minutes of the second half as Ethan Bullemor completes his time in the sin-bin.
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