Hodkinson kicks well for Manly

Trent Hodkinson converted two field goals in the last three minutes to give Manly Sea Eagles a 26-25 NRL win over South Sydney Rabbitohs at Brookvale Oval yesterday, and then admitted it was the first time he had ever kicked a field goal. Hodkinson told reporters after the game that he had been struggling with his kicking in training, saying: "I was missing them from about 20 metres so it was great to see them both go over. I have never kicked one before so it was great way to win a game."

Trailing 25-24 with three minutes remaining, Hodkinson, 21, who this week signed a three-year deal to move to Cantebury Bulldogs next season, booted his kicks to give the Sea Eagles a first home win in six games. Sydney had clawed back an 11-point second-half deficit to take the lead, only to come up short and Des Hasler, the Manly coach, was not satisfied with the way they let Souths back into the game.

"It was a courageous effort as we had quite a few busted players today and lost Killer [centre Jamie Lyon who limped off with an ankle injury in the first half] early," Hasler said. "Stevie Matai stayed out there with an injury ... but we still put ourselves under pressure in a game we probably had under control a number of times and let it slip." Elsewhere in the NRL, a battle of the bottom-placed teams ended in a 58-12 romp for Melbourne Storm, who prop up the table, over North Queensland Cowboys, one spot above them.

It was the Storm's ninth win of the season, but they lost the right to accumulate any points this season after being found guilty of breaching their salary cap. In England's Super League yesterday, Bradford were beaten 28-40 at home by Warrington, and the Catalans Dragons overcame Wakefield 30-23.

* Agencies