Eels stun Sea Eagles in Friday Night Football

The Parramatta Eels went into Round 1 with question marks over how they would perform without the services of Jarryd Hayne who has found a contract in the NFL. However, the Blue and Gold stood strong as they stunned the Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles, 42-12 at Pirtek Stadium in front of 18,718 fans.

Semi Radradra was on show as he bagged a hat-trick of tries, the first coming in the 7th minute as former Gold Coast Titan, Brad Takairangi provided the link pass.

The Eels quickly jumped to a 10-0 lead after 15 minutes, as fullback, Will Hopoate sliced through the retreating Manly defence with a show-and-go ball.

The Sea Eagles struck back mid-way through the first half as Kieran Foran executed a polished set-play with Brett Stewart, who sailed over the white-line off an inside ball. Manly trailed, 10-6 after 20 minutes.

Junior Paulo will find himself at the NRL Judiciary this coming week as he was placed on report for a lifting tackle on Matt Ballin in the 30th minute.

Cheyse Blair gave the Sea Eagles the lead as Brett Stewart showed his skilful hands again as the quick-fire play was too much for the Eels sliding defence. Sea Eagles, 12-10, after 33 minutes.

Radradra crossed in the final minutes of the first half to give the Eels a 16-12 lead at half time.

Reece Robinson opened the second half scoring with a penalty goal, only a minute into the new half as James Hasson was placed on report as he led with the knees into Anthony Watmough. Watmough, who left the field winded, later returned after a stint on the sideline.

Man of the Match, Chris Sandow shone among the crumbling defence of the Sea Eagles, secured the first of two tries in the 43rd minute. Former Raider, Reece Robinson, looking to cement his spot on the wing, provided a cross field kick for Sandow to bring up the 24-12 lead.

Radradra picked up his third try in the 52nd minute as Corey Norman spun a pin-point long ball to set up his winger. Parramatta strolled to the 30 point mark come the 50th minute.

Brad Takairangi is finding his feet in the Blue and Gold pack as he finished off a well-strung play started off the boot of Chris Sandow. Parramatta extended to 36-12 after 55 minutes.

Sandow secured his second four-pointer as he danced his way over to bring up forty points. The Eels ran riot in the second half to seal a first round victory, 42-12 over their arch-rivals.

Injury concerns out of the contest sees scans required for Clint Gutherson who has a suspected ACL rapture and Kieran Foran left the field late with a hamstring strain.

Kieran Foran limps into the sheds, pain on his face (Image: Channel 9) #NRL #NRLparman pic.twitter.com/cAGMIKkb0N

— League Unlimited NRL (@LeagueUnlimited) March 6, 2015

Next week, it is up the road for the Eels as they meet the Canterbury Bulldogs at ANZ Stadium in Friday Night Football. Meanwhile the Sea Eagles open Brookvale Oval for the first time in 2015 as they host the Melbourne Storm.

PARRAMATTA EELS (42)
Tries: Semi Radradra (3), William Hopoate, Chris Sandow (2), Brad Takairangi
Field Goals:
Conversions: Reece Robinson (6/7)
Penalty Goals: Reece Robinson (1/1)

MANLY-WARRINGAH SEA EAGLES (12)
Tries: Brett Stewart, Cheyse Blair
Field Goals:
Conversions: Jamie Lyon (2/2)
Penalty Goals:

LATE MAIL: Sea Eagles - Justin Horo drops off the extended bench in their only change, they take the field 1-17.

LATE MAIL: Eels - Danny Wicks and Pauli Pauli not required by the Blue and Gold tonight off the bench, the Eels line up 1-17.

Earlier in Holden Cup action, the Sea Eagles racked up a massive score to defeat the Eels, 54-26.

Welcome to LeagueUnlimited.com's LIVE coverage as we bring you action from the first Friday Night game. The Parramatta Eels host the Manly Sea Eagles at Pirtek Stadium. Eyes will be on Anthony Watmough as he lines up against his former club at lock-forward. Also, interest around how Kieran Foran and Daly Cherry-Evans perform with talks they will be exiting the club. Kick off is 7:50pm AEDT, Queenslanders, don't fret, you can follow all the action here in our match centre.

The Sea Eagles first exit the sheds here at Pirtek Stadium, kick off is just moments away

1: We are UNDERWAY as the Sea Eagles kick off following a minute's silence in honour of Terry Fearnley

2: UNFORCED ERROR PARRAMATTA EELS
Darcy Lussick makes an unforced error.
Darcy Lussick comes up with a fumble as the Eels rushed the play. Scrum for the Sea Eagles 40 metres out from the Eels line.

3: First penalty of the game for the Eels, too long in the ruck from the retreating markers. Eels in possession just short of the half way line.

5: Chris Sandow finds the sideline with the last tackle kick, scrum packs for Manly deep in their own half.

6: First penalty for Manly, too long in the ruck. DCE finds touch, attacking 10m out from halfway

6: Mistake from the Sea Eagles sees the Eels back on the attack 20m out from the try line

7: TRY PARRAMATTA EELS
Scored by Semi Radradra. Kick to come.
Semi Radradra has opened the scoring for the Eels as they spread quickly to the left side as Brad Takairangi provided the short pass to secure points

9: SUCCESSFUL CONVERSION PARRAMATTA EELS
Conversion attempt by Reece Robinson successful.
Reece Robinson from the eastern sideline nails the conversion to extend this early lead

9: UNFORCED ERROR PARRAMATTA EELS
Darcy Lussick makes an unforced error.
Darcy Lussick tries the offload late and again it's dropped... Manly with possession inside the Eels half.

10: Penalty with the Manly side as the ruck speed is too slow for the referee. Manly attack 10 metres out

11: Cheyse Blair is denied as Kieran Foran's pass is pulled up as he threw a bullet floating pass across to the open side.

12: UNFORCED ERROR PARRAMATTA EELS
Tepai Moeroa makes an unforced error.
Tepai Moeroa comes up with a mistake which is cleaned up by Willie Mason and the Sea Eagles go back on the attack 10 metres out

12: UNFORCED ERROR PARRAMATTA EELS
Reece Robinson makes an unforced error.
Reece Robinson comes up with a knock on as the Sea Eagle spread again to the left side of the field. Scrum feed 10 metres out

13: Time off here with Clinton Gutherson down grabbing at his knee. Trainers are on the field with him now, accessing his condition

14: Clint Gutherson is assisted off the field by the trainers. Play continues with Manly 20m out

15: Penalty to the Eels, Feleti Mateo pinged for holding down. The Eels kick ahead and attack the Manly try line 30 metres out

15: TRY PARRAMATTA EELS
Scored by William Hopoate. Kick to come.
Will Hopoate has sliced through the Manly defence with a brilliant show and go, the Eels make it 10 points as the injury to Clint Gutherson costing Manly points

17: UNSUCCESSFUL CONVERSION PARRAMATTA EELS
Conversion attempt by Reece Robinson unsuccessful.
Reece Robinson slots the conversion from the left side this time isn't successful and the Eels hold their lead

18: Another mistake from the Eels, sees the Manly side attack again inside their half.

18: Penalty to the Sea Eagles for a strip in the ruck, they attack inside the 20 metre line of the Eels.

19: VIDEO REFEREE for the Sea Eagles, Brett Stewart has darted into a hole but we need a review on grounding. Deemed a try by the referees.

20: TRY MANLY-WARRINGAH SEA EAGLES
Scored by Brett Stewart. Kick to come.
Brett Stewart is awarded the try as he sailed into a defensive line gap off a brilliant inside pass from Foran. The Sea Eagles back in the game with their first points of the night

22: SUCCESSFUL CONVERSION MANLY-WARRINGAH SEA EAGLES
Conversion attempt by Jamie Lyon successful.
Jamie Lyon makes no mistake with the conversion from beside the uprights to close the gap to just 4 points.

22: Penalty to the Sea Eagles, offside at the ruck is the call. Tepai Moeroa the offender as he shouldered the dummy half runner.

23: UNFORCED ERROR MANLY-WARRINGAH SEA EAGLES
Peta Hiku makes an unforced error.
Peta Hiku unable to hold the quick fire passes on the eastern side as the Sea Eagles spread to create an overlap. Scrum for the Eels 10 metres off their try line.

26: FORWARD PASS! Semi Radradra is denied a charging sideline run as Beau Champion's ball is forward. Scrum packs for the Sea Eagles 30 metres off their own try line

27: Just a little too much on the Hiku grubber as he bolted away. Luckily it's a line drop out as the ball deflected off the legs of Semi Radradra

29: ON REPORT: Junior Paulo is penalised for a lifting tackle on Matt Ballin

30: Reece Robinson just beats Cheyse Blair to the ball as it's a line drop out for the Eels now.

31: Beau Champion defuses the DCE chip kick, another line drop out for the Eels as the pressure continues to build.

33: VIDEO REFEREE for Manly, we have a TRY for Cheyse Blair. Obstruction and dead ball line the issue here as Tom Symmonds when through the defensive line.

33: TRY MANLY-WARRINGAH SEA EAGLES
Scored by Cheyse Blair. Kick to come.
Cheyse Blair has been awarded his four-pointer as the Sea Eagles spread across the field which saw Brett Stewart link up with his outside back to score.

34: SUCCESSFUL CONVERSION MANLY-WARRINGAH SEA EAGLES
Conversion attempt by Jamie Lyon successful.
Jamie Lyon gives the Sea Eagles the lead for the first time in the game with the conversion attempt from the left side

35: VIDEO REFEREE for the Eels, Semi Radradra is claiming another. Grounding review here.

36: TRY PARRAMATTA EELS
Scored by Semi Radradra. Kick to come.
Semi Radradra gets GREEN LIGHTS as he bolted over in the corner as the Eels through Beau Champion couldn't be shut down by the Sea Eagles

38: SUCCESSFUL CONVERSION PARRAMATTA EELS
Conversion attempt by Reece Robinson successful.
Reece Robinson slots the conversion attempt from the sideline with a beautiful hooking strike to give the Eels a 4 point lead

40: HALF TIME in Friday Night Football sees the Parramatta Eels hold a 4 point lead over the Sea Eagles after a rusty half of football.

41: Second half is UNDERAY as the Eels kick off and lead the Eels, by 4 points.

41: ON REPORT: James Hasson has been penalised for a leading with the knees. Watmough comes off in a free interchange.

42: SUCCESSFUL PENALTY GOAL PARRAMATTA EELS
Penalty goal attempt by Reece Robinson successful.
Reece Robinson takes the penatly goal on offer and the Eels jump to a 6 point lead.

43: TRY PARRAMATTA EELS
Scored by Chris Sandow. Kick to come.
Chris Sandow jumps on a loose grubber kick after Reece Robinson provided the pin-point kick to give the Eels and extension to their lead

45: SUCCESSFUL CONVERSION PARRAMATTA EELS
Conversion attempt by Reece Robinson successful.
Reece Robinson slots the extras calmly and the Eels hold a two-converted try lead.

47: Beau Champion gives up the penalty following a mistake. Sea Eagles attack 25m out from the Eels try line

48: Penalty on the try line for Manly. Ballin taps and goes 10 metres out from the line.

49: ZERO TACKLE for Manly as Sandow had a touch on the pass. Sea Eagles 10m out from the try line.

50: Another penalty for the Eels, and they attack inside the Sea Eagles half.

51: Line drop out for the Eels as the Sea Eagles just cover up in goal. Pressure on Manly now as they look to be on the back foot.

52: TRY PARRAMATTA EELS
Scored by Semi Radradra. Kick to come.
Semi Radradra takes a bullet pass from Corey Norman who sliced the ball across the Manly defence into open space. Brilliant spreading play from the Eels to further their lead

53: SUCCESSFUL CONVERSION PARRAMATTA EELS
Conversion attempt by Reece Robinson successful.
Reece Robinson pushes the lead further as he nails the conversion from the western sideline with a solid strike splitting the uprights.

55: TRY PARRAMATTA EELS
Scored by Brad Takairangi. Kick to come.
Brad Takairangi finishes off a magical Eels try which started with a Chris Sandow chip kick and regather. Sandow's short pass found Corey Norman who then linked with Brad Takairangi to finish.

57: SUCCESSFUL CONVERSION PARRAMATTA EELS
Conversion attempt by Reece Robinson successful.
Reece Robinson stares down the posts and adds the extras from the sideline to extend the lead for the Eels

59: Penalty to the Sea Eagles, Eels ruled offside. DCE finds touch, Manly attack 30m out from the Eels try line.

60: Penalty to Manly, more pressure on the Eels defence as they attack 10m out

64: INJURY CONCERN: Kieran Foran is limping to the sideline, hand up and possible hamstring

65: TRY PARRAMATTA EELS
Scored by Chris Sandow. Kick to come.
Chris Sandow dances his way through the slipping Manly defence as the Eels bring up the big FOUR-ZERO with another try.

66: SUCCESSFUL CONVERSION PARRAMATTA EELS
Conversion attempt by Reece Robinson successful.
Reece Robinson slots the extras and it's a 30 point lead for the Eels now

66: Kieran Foran has left the field with a possible hamstring injury, pain all over his face as he went into the Sea Eagles sheds.

68: Penalty to Parramatta, Matt Ballin ruled to have caused the "push and shove". Eels attack 20 metres out

70: UNFORCED ERROR PARRAMATTA EELS
Corey Norman makes an unforced error.
Corey Norman is ruled to have lost the ball in the ruck despite a hand in from the Sea Eagles, Jesse Sene-Lefao racking it out. Scrum for the Sea Eagles.

72: UNFORCED ERROR PARRAMATTA EELS
Reece Robinson makes an unforced error.
Reece Robinson fumbles at the ruck and it's a scrum for the Sea Eagles.

74: UNFORCED ERROR MANLY-WARRINGAH SEA EAGLES
Peta Hiku makes an unforced error.
Peta Hiku unable to get hands on the cross field kick, change over for the Eels.

74: UNFORCED ERROR PARRAMATTA EELS
David Gower makes an unforced error.
David Gower juggles the short pass and it's unable to be regathered, scrum for Manly near the half way line.

80: FULL TIME at Pirtek Stadium sees the Parramatta Eels rack up a massive score over the Sea Eagles to secure first round victory.