Eels beat pedestrian Manly

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Parramatta Eels v Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles

An Eels side missing halfback Mitch Moses and outside back Zac Lomax looked like a well-oiled machine on Friday night, as they comfortably accounted for a Manly side that was pedestrian at best and at times, lost.

Manly too were missing key players Daly Cherry-Evans and Jake Trbojevic, but looked all at sea against the Eels, especially in the second half.

Just 2 minutes into the match and Eels centre Will Penisini came off after a head clash. He failed his HIA and was replaced by youngster Joash Papali'i. Manly opened the scoring in the ninth minute when Toluta'u Koula produced a brilliant no-look catch and pass to put Lehi Hopoate over in the corner for a good try. Reuben Garrick failed to convert from the sideline.

Parramatta hit back in the 23rd minute after Dylan Brown kicked high. Dylan Walker batted the ball back, where Dean Hawkins regathered and promptly grubbered through for Papali'I, who blindly passed to his outside where Jordan Samrani wrapped around and somehow got the ball down while being flipped over. Sean Russell failed to convert.

In the first set after the restart, Walker threw a dummy and then ran 60 metres before throwing a long ball out to Papali'i, who let it bounce, regathered, stepped inside the defence and then dived over to score a brilliant try. Russell converted.

From the ensuing restart, the Eels turned the ball over on the second tackle. From the ensuing set, Manly produced some nice ball movement on their left side, creating an extra man to send Hopoate in for an easy try. Garrick converted to level the scores.

Just on the stroke of halftime, the Eels crossed again when Hawkins held up a nice ball to his lead runner Jack Williams, as the defence over-commits out wide. Williams stormed onto the ball, ran through the open space to score. Russell converted and at halftime the Eels led 16-10.

The Eels continued the scoring 6 minutes after play resumed when Isaiah Iongi threw a dummy, then slipped through the gap in the line and slid in to score to a clever solo try. Russell converted.

Hopoate very nearly scored in the 59th minute, but his free arm touched the ground outside the field of play a fraction before he got the ball down.

The Eels added to Manly's woes by scoring shortly after when a grubber by Hawkins bounced around everywhere before Iongi cleaned it up, stepped and then passed to J'maine Hopgood who bulldozed his way through the defence to score. Russell converted.

Russell kicked a penalty goal in the 64th minute and neither side managed to look interested in scoring points anymore after. And they didn't. Parramatta scored a commanding 30-10 victory.