by Paul Cook - Nine wins in a row had put the most improved team in the Intrust Super Shute Shield, Northern Suburbs, within touching distance of a Minor Premiership, let alone their first appearance in the finals since 2012. Another victory over Manly and suitable results elsewhere would see them top the ladder, but it was a place in the first three and the home qualifying final that came with it, that was the more likely – and no less laudable – holy grail for the Shoremen. Things were a lot simpler for the Marlins. Win and they could look forward to the finals series, lose, and they left themselves open for results elsewhere to consign them to an early exit. It goes without saying then, that conceding a try directly from kick-off was not a part of Manly’s plans. But when Angus Sinclair’s opening bomb landed between two of the Marlins’ catching pods and deflected into the path of Norths’ Lochie Creagh, the winger reacted smartly to dissect a couple more static blue jers