Report: With new signings Matt Orford and Steve Bell and a fully fit team Manly were expected to thrash a depleted Raiders side at Brookvale in round one. The big crowd of more than 17,000 at "Fortress Brookvale" was shocked as the raiders scored 4 tries to 3 to win 27-14. "Ball control, ruck defence, attitude, structure and mistakes were the facets Manly players claimed badly let them down" (Dean Ritchie, Fox Sports). Fox Sports reported that Matt Orford rated both his and the team's performance as "pretty average". On a more positive note new signing Steve Bell scored two tries in his debut and there were no apparent injuries from the game.