Youthful Sea Eagles outclass experienced Warriors in statement NRL trial win

The Warriors have suffered a 33-18 defeat at the hands of a young Manly Sea Eagles outfit in their Pre-Season Challenge match-up at Napier's McLean Park.

Despite fielding a much more experienced side, the home side struggled to gain territory and failed to find its rhythm throughout the contest.

While threatening a late comeback, the Warriors were ultimately undone by silly, sloppy errors each time they entered Sea Eagles territory, leaving them unable to capitalise on their subsequent chances.

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Warriors' towering right centre Ali Leiataua proved a handful in the opening 40 minutes, claiming a first-half brace to keep the Warriors within striking distance at half time.

However, Manly's Hugo Hart added a double of his own to maintain the Sea Eagles' advantage.

Following an early missed opportunity for the Sea Eagles deep in the Warriors' territory, the home side struck first.

Winger Navren Willett fumbled a Tanah Boyd spiral, allowing Leiataua to pounce on the loose ball and open the scoring in the fourth minute.

The lead remained at four after Boyd's conversion attempt clipped the post and stayed out.

The greasy conditions in Napier plagued the visitors early, as further handling woes for the young Sea Eagles led to more unforced errors.

Despite the sustained pressure, Manly struck back through Paul Bryan, who caught the Warriors napping to crash over and level the scores after Brendan Wakeham darted from dummy-half to find Bryan running a hard line from close range.

Manly's aerial assault then proved to be a trump card once again.

Half Joey Walsh sent up a towering bomb that Willett managed to tap back, allowing Hart to pounce and extend the lead.

The Sea Eagles' dominance continued shortly after as Walsh delivered a crisp cut-out pass for Clayton Faulalo to score on the inside.

However, the Warriors struck back just before the break, capitalising on another error from Willett to cap a mixed half for the Sea Eagles' youngster.

His fumble allowed Leiataua to pounce for his second try.

Boyd then split the uprights with the conversion to narrow the gap to 16-10, bringing the Warriors back within a single converted try at the half.

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Manly wasted no time striking first in the second half as Hart completed his double after a Walsh grubber sat up perfectly in the in-goal.

Winger Blake Wilson then increased the margin by pouncing on an error to streak away and score.

The Warriors responded through bench player Jack Thompson, who produced a cut-out pass over the top to Harry Tauafiafi-Iutoi to reduce the margin to 12.

The home side soon secured back-to-back tries in the left corner after Makaia Tafua, left to his own devices, produced a brilliant solo try out of dummy-half.

However, any hopes of a grandstand finish were quickly extinguished when Zaidas Muagututia crossed for the Sea Eagles to seal the result.

Adding a bit of kicking practice, Walsh slotted a field goal on the buzzer to put the icing on the cake.