Eagles soar in Leeds

Leeds have failed in their attempt to become the first team to retain the World Club Challenge title, opponents Manly scoring a 28-20 victory at Elland Road.

The NRL champions scored five tries to the Rhinos' four in a match was effectively over early in the second half after they crossed three times in rapid succession.

Having scored in the first half, Brett Stewart and man-of-the-match Anthony Watmough both touched down once more, with Steve Matai adding the fifth.

Jamie Jones-Buchanan scored in a first half that Manly dominated, while Keith Senior, Ryan Hall and Danny McGuire added tries that amounted to little more than consolation.

Of the two sides, Manly were supposedly the more rusty and yet they appeared the more likely to score almost from kick-off.

Rob Burrow was a late inclusion but the scrum-half's comeback lasted all of 16 minutes before he was on the receiving end of a crunching tackle from Watmough.

With Ali Lauitiiti replacing his shell-shocked team-mate, Leeds failed to take advantage of the subsequent penalty.

Brawl

Fisticuffs between Jamie Peacock and Josh Perry briefly developed into a mass brawl halfway through the opening period - both number 10s entering the sin-bin for their troubles.

Peacock threw the first punch and so Manly earned the penalty - which they capitalised on when full-back Stewart scrambled over.

Matt Orford kicked the extras for 6-0 and the captain's pass then set up the Sea Eagles' second try on the half-hour.

With Carl Ablett having conceded a penalty for interference just inside the Rhinos' half, Orford's pass - which appeared forward - set up Watmough, who sprinted clear to score.

Orford again converted and it could have been all over for Leeds just three minutes later when Watmough again broke clear.

Brett Stewart appeared in support but, after a spell of juggling - and with the Rhinos' line at his mercy - he could not control the final pass.

Against the run of play, Leeds scored a try of their own after Glenn Stewart lost the ball under pressure from McGuire.

The latter then received a pass from Jones-Buchanan and sprinted for the line but, having crossed, he was tackled by Orford and the ball broke loose.

However, Jones-Buchanan followed up to touch down and after a period of deliberation, video referee Steve Ganson awarded the try.

But Sinfield missed the extras, leaving his side 12-4 down at half time.

Stunned

Rhinos fans anticipating a comeback would have been left stunned when Manly put their opponents to the sword with three tries at the start of the second half.

They came in rapid succession, Stewart and Watmough both touching down for a second time - Michael Robertson breaking down the left in each instance - with Matai also getting on the scoresheet through the centre in the 46th minute.

Orford converted once for 24-6, which remained the scoreline until a protracted period of Leeds pressure eventually resulted in Senior crossing just past the hour.

Sinfield converted and the final 10 minutes saw Leeds score their third - Lauitiiti picking up the ball one-handed from scrum-half before releasing Hall to sprint clear on the left-hand flank.

The skipper kicked the extras off the post and although Manly were clearly tired in the closing stages, McGuire's late try merely added gloss to the scoreline.