Manly prop Brent Kite showed why he should be in the NSW side and halfback Matt Orford why he is not as the Sea Eagles run out 38-6 victors over a depleted North Queensland side at Bluetongue Stadium.

Rejected by NSW selectors for State of Origin I, Kite provided a worthy response to being the only Australian Test star not picked for his state by turning in a strong forward's performance as the Sea Eagles claimed a comprehensive seven tries to one win in front of a paltry crowd of 9,343.

A surprise starter off the interchange, Kite came on to help set up super-sub Adam Cuthbertson for the first of his two opening half tries and was Manly's best ball carrier in a game where they easily won the battle up the middle.

But while Kite was faultless, halfback Orford produced one horrific clanger that overshadowed an otherwise dominant game but would go a long way to explaining his continued absence from the NSW side.

With Manly in complete control at 16-0 the Sea Eagles started to throw the ball around deep in their own half but North Queensland's rushing defence got into Orford's face and his wildly panicked pass went to ground for centre Ben Farrar to scoop up and run 30m for his side's only try.

It was a low-light in a game where Orford provided kicks for three tries and an inside pass which led to another.

His clever kicking game in the opening half kept the pressure on North Queensland with repeat possession enabling the Eagles eight of the last nine sets which led to Cuthbertson's two tries for a 12-0 halftime lead.

He then came up with the sneaky grubber in the 50th minute that was collected by Jamie Lyon who put David Williams over for his first NRL try in just his second game.

Orford's reverse banana kick led to Manly's final try in the 72nd minute as it rebounded gently off the post for fullback Michael Robertson to win the battle to ground the ball.

Robertson added a second in the final minute when Orford's inside pass opened up the Cowboys defence while the halfback's cross field kick in the 75th flew over the pack for Nick Bradley-Qalilawea to also score.

Despite a sloppy opening Manly were never really troubled in the clash as the Cowboys attack struggled without Origin trio Johnathan Thurston, Carl Webb and Jacob Lillyman.

The loss is North Queensland's fourth in succession and adds to their year of misery with rumours suggesting it could be coach Graham Murray's final time in charge.

© 2008 AAP
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