Inglis and Reynolds star as Souths bring down Manly

Adam Reynolds and Greg Inglis have breathed new life into South Sydney's NRL minor premiership hopes with a brilliant second-half display to help their side edge out Manly 22-10 in a thrilling clash at Gosford.

Manly led 10-6 at halftime and dominated the opening 15 minutes of the second period, looking well set for a seventh successive win and their first over a top-four side this season.

But thanks to some brilliant defending, including a try-saver from Greg Inglis on David Williams and a Steve Matai effort that was adjudged to have been held up, Souths somehow found a way back into the game.

And it was in no small part down to the efforts of man-of-the-match Reynolds.

Just shy of the hour mark Reynolds found touch from a goalline dropout, then produced a superbly-weighted grubber-kick to force a restart, and from the resulting set Nathan Merritt crossed for his 150th NRL try.

That four-pointer well and truly turned the game on its head as Souths, after two successive defeats, rediscovered the form that's kept them on top of the ladder for much of the season to keep Manly pegged back in their own half.

Giant prop George Burgess was kept out from close range, as was Inglis, returning from a knee injury, but the Manly defensive wall finally collapsed in the 68th minute when the Queensland superstar dived over to put his side in front with Reynolds adding the extras.

That setback rocked Geoff Toovey's side and their incisive attacking earlier in the game deserted them and Andrew Everingham iced the result three minutes from time after being put clear by Dylan Walker.

Tries from Jamie Lyon and Jorge Taufua had helped Manly open up a first half lead, either side of a Chris McQueen effort.

Souths' Jeff Lima was placed on report for a spiteful ankle twist on Anthony Watmough who made a shock return to action after initially being ruled out with a knee injury.

In the second half Manly's Justin Horo was also sanctioned for a high tackle on Inglis.

AAP