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Mannah relishing Eels' NRL finals push

27th July, 2014
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After back-to-back wooden spoons and two years of disappointment, it’s no wonder Tim Mannah found the past fortnight difficult.

The Parramatta captain made a winning return from a shoulder injury against Gold Coast on Saturday night, reviving the Eels’ hopes of making the finals.

His late inclusion, along with Ken Sio and NSW Origin representative Will Hopoate, was just what the Eels needed to halt a four-game losing run.

A senior figure throughout the Eels’ past two years of woe, Mannah said he was relishing entering the pointy end of the season with something to play for.

“Absolutely yeah. The last couple of years have obviously been pretty tough,” he told AAP.

“It’s not just your football and stuff, it flows on to your life when you’re going through such tough games and tough times and tough seasons.

“It is nice to be on the right end of some results and it’d be nice to do a little bit of a charge over the next few weeks.”

The win over the Titans lifts the Eels to 22 competition points.

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That’s level with several other teams in and around the eight but given the Eels’ points differential (-96) is so poor, it seems they’ll need to get their noses ahead of those around them to make finals.

Mannah believes if the club can make it into the top eight, they have the strikepower through matchwinners such as Jarryd Hayne and Chris Sandow to make a real impact.

“We’re capable of producing some special footy,” he said.

“I’ve got no doubt if we keep ticking away, anything’s possible.”

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