The spoon-bound Parramatta Eels take on the top-four-bound Manly Sea Eagles in a game that looks more one-sided than an Allgood-Matai fistfight. Join us for live scores and commentary from 5.30pm AEST.
Sitting on 10 competition points – and needing binoculars to see second last – the Eels are enduring arguably their worst season in recent memory.
About $1 million of poorly spent salary cap sits on the sideline in the form of Jarryd Hayne and Chris Sandow, and what’s left is a team that, both on paper and off, simply does not seem up to NRL standard.
Right across the park, Manly look to have the Eels covered. Kieran Foran and DCE vs. Api Pewhairangi and Ben Roberts. Brett Stewart vs. Jake Mullaney. Jamie Lyon and Steve Matai vs. Ryan Morgan and Willie Tonga. Heck, even the Eels back row is made up of former Manly benchies.
There’s no light at the end of the tunnel for Parramatta in 2013, and Ricky Stuart will already be looking towards next year with a long off-season and an overhauled roster.
But this is the NRL, where the mantra of “anyone can beat anyone on any day” is truer than… well, anywhere.
We all wrote off the Panthers before they defeated the Storm in Round 9, and we all wrote off the Dragons before they defeated the Rabbitohs in Round 19. We shouldn’t make the same mistake here.
Manly should win this, and win it comfortably. I’m tipping them by 13+. But I wouldn’t bet the house.
Can the Eels pull off one of the biggest upsets of the season, or will Manly continue their triumphant march towards September?
Join us for live scores and commentary from 5.30pm AEST, and be sure to let us know your thoughts if you’re following along.
The Spectator
Roar Guru
OMG, choc and snake have an appointment tomorrow.
des' right hand
Guest
Boooom!!! Slapped parra into next week lol. Forshame not even nsw cup standard! Good luck Ricky been hearing hoppa will be coming back to manly!
liatrevlis
Guest
Go Ricky go Ricky go Ricky , aaaaaaaaaaaa ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha there pathetic , there a joke , there soft , there coached by Ricky ! 8 year project , your kidding parra aren't Holden cup standard even with the refs on there side ,
bjt
Is Ricky Stuart being overlooked for buy of the season?
Adam
Roar Guru
FULL-TIME: Eels 6 - Sea Eagles 40 That concludes tonight's coverage of Eels vs. Sea Eagles on The Roar. Thanks for following along!
Adam
Roar Guru
FULL-TIME: Eels 6 - Sea Eagles 40 Not too much to say here that we didn't know already -- Manly are looking more and more like a premiership-winning side, their 1-7 probably in the best form of any in the competition. They've had a good run of playing lower-placed sides the last few weeks; they'll now get to really test themselves as their run to the finals includes the Rabbitohs, Storm, and the Raiders at home. For the Eels, coach Stuart will be happy enough with the effort today, but the team's execution is nothing short of woeful. If they keep showing up with the same sort of fire -- and perhaps get Jarryd Hayne back -- you can see them winning one or two more games this season, but either way, it's going to be a long, hard off-season for the Blue and Golds. Oh, and for those interested, Matai vs. Allgood? Didn't happen. Don't think they even came into contact.
Adam
Roar Guru
FULL-TIME: Eels 6 - Sea Eagles 40
Adam
Roar Guru
Live score: Eels 6 - Sea Eagles 40 79' Fa'aoso puts Rose through a gap and the big man almost scores, but it's called back for a forward pass. That may be the last opportunity you'll ever get to see that particular assist-try combo.
Adam
Roar Guru
Live score: Eels 6 - Sea Eagles 40 79' And Taufua breaks down the left! He runs 60m, Manly back on the attack now!
Adam
Roar Guru
Live score: Eels 6 - Sea Eagles 40 78' Long ball to Roberts and Lyon picks it early -- he rushed Roberts and hit him just as he received the ball, forcing the error. Great defence by Lyon, may have been an overlap there if Roberts could have passed.
Adam
Roar Guru
Live score: Eels 6 - Sea Eagles 40 77' Fa'aoso concedes one for the Eagles and Parra find touch 30m out. Can they score a late one?
Adam
Roar Guru
Live score: Eels 6 - Sea Eagles 40 76' DCE tries to create something on the right but it ends messily as his pass goes to ground and a double knock-on is ruled, Eels with the scrum feed now.
Zaccaaa
Guest
Hahhaha chip from fui
Adam
Roar Guru
Live score: Eels 6 - Sea Eagles 40 74' And frustrations getting the better of the players now as a little scuffle breaks out between Mannah and Fa'aoso. Not too much in it, Manly will feed the scrum now.
Adam
Roar Guru
Live score: Eels 6 - Sea Eagles 40 73' Parramatta controlling possession for the last 7 or 8 minutes, they win a penalty late in the count and go back on the attack now... ...but Tim Mannah loses the ball from the tap. WOW.
Adam
Roar Guru
Live score: Eels 6 - Sea Eagles 40 71' CHIP OVER THE TOP FROM FUIFUI MOIMOI! But Taufua gets there first and defuses the situation. ...sorry about that, but not sure there's a more exciting sight in the game than a Moimoi chip-chase.
Adam
Roar Guru
Live score: Eels 6 - Sea Eagles 40 REPLAY: Radradra with plenty of power as he took the ball 30m out, broke the tackle of Lyon, skipped away from Williams and was too strong for the fullback in cover. CONVERSION SUCCESSFUL -- Mullaney adds the extras.
Adam
Roar Guru
Live score: Eels 4 - Sea Eagles 40 68' TRY EELS! Radradra with a great individual effort to finally post some points for the home side!
Adam
Roar Guru
Live score: Eels 0 - Sea Eagles 40 66' Manly off-loading at will here, carting it upfield with ease. They spot an overlap on the left but the final pass from Matai to Taufua goes over the sideline.
Adam
Roar Guru
Live score: Eels 0 - Sea Eagles 40 65' CONVERSION SUCCESSFUL.