It ended a golden run for Ivan Cleary's side in recent weeks as they were looking to become the first side outside the top four to win the title since the creation of the NRL in 1998. They weren't supposed to win, but they hadn't been supposed to win in the previous two weeks either, and they refused to give up even when they trailed 18-2 with 20 minutes remaining.
It was a bruising and sometimes brutal match and the Warriors matched Manly's physicality, but the Sea Eagles have made an art form of grinding sides down. They play relentless, tough football. They would steal candy from a baby if it helped them win, and they won it in the first hour.
The Warriors were brilliant in the final stages as they chanced their arm, with Shaun Johnson proving he is a superstar in the making, but simply left themselves too much ground to make up.
There had been a perception that if the Warriors could live with Manly in the opening 20 minutes they would be in with a chance. They did more than that, with the score locked up 0-0 after the first quarter, but just needed to be closer in the final 20.
They initially played with control and aggression and showed they wouldn't be intimidated by the toughest pack in the competition.
Manly tried to assert themselves, sometimes illegally like the disgraceful elbow by George Rose to Aaron Heremaia's head when he was prone on the ground, but this Warriors outfit don't buckle easily.
Rose's antics cost his side the first points of the game - a Maloney penalty - but that proved to be a turning point as two massive calls from the referees changed the complexion of the game.
Firstly, they ruled Feleti Mateo lost the ball rather than had it stripped on his own 40m line and Brett Stewart crossed soon after. Then on the stroke of halftime Cherry-Evans was the beneficiary of another contentious decision when Johnson was obstructed by Cherry-Evans. Referee Matt Cecchin had the whistle to his mouth but didn't have the conviction to blow and Cherry-Evans took advantage to cross in the next play.
Although the Warriors hadn't really threatened in the opening 40, they didn't deserve to be trailing 12-2 at halftime, either.
It's always hoped referees have a neglible impact on a match, particularly grand finals, but they needed to take action in those two instances. It resulted in 12 points and it might not have been a coincidence it came immediately after Manly skipper Jamie Lyon had spent a couple of minutes in the ear of Tony Archer.
The Warriors had kept their opposition tryless in the second half of their last two games and they needed to do the same if they were to have any chance.
But Manly played their best football after the restart as they pinned the Warriors in their own half. They were doing to the Warriors what the Warriors did to Melbourne last weekend.
When Glenn Stewart collected a brilliant back-flick from Hopoate as the winger was being bustled over the sideline to establish an 18-2 lead, there was a sense it was too much.
The Warriors changed their approach - they had to - and flicked the ball around in a throwback to 2002. Johnson was mesmerising and laid on tries to Manu Vatuvei and Elijah Taylor. But there wasn't going to be a miracle this time.
That will have to wait at least another year.
Warriors 10 (Manu Vatuvei, Elijah Taylor tries; James Maloney gl) Manly (Brett Stewart, Daly Cherry-Evans, Glenn Stewart, Jamie Lyon tries; Lyon 3 gls, Michael Robertson gl). HT: 2-12.
- Michael Brown
