A Semi Radradra-inspired Parramatta have upset Manly 20-16 to all but extinguish any chance the Sea Eagles had of making the NRL finals.
The Fijian winger moved to the top of the NRL tryscorers list with a double against the Sea Eagles, taking him to 21 for the season as the Eels prevailed in a scrappy four-tries-to-three contest at a wet Brookvale Oval.
Manly came into the game needing to win by 24 points to move into the top eight with two rounds remaining.
But they never looked likely, appearing flat from the opening whistle as Parramatta flyer Radradra silenced the home fans with a try in the 11th minute for the Eels, who moved to 22 points and seemingly out of wooden spoon contention.
The Sea Eagles played most of the second half without hooker Matt Ballin who suffered a knee injury early in the game before he was forced off the ground with about half an hour remaining.
Parramatta led 14-10 at halftime with Radradra sealing a first-half double after 24 minutes.
The Eels opened the scoring three minutes after the break to make it 20-10 before Manly almost instantly returned serve with a try to forward James Hasson who showed his soccer skills when he kicked a loose ball into the in-goal to score and get Manly within four points.
One bright note for Manly was centre Steve Matai scoring to become the fourth Manly player to score 50 tries at Brookvale Oval behind Steve Menzies (88), Brett Stewart (86) and Bob Fulton (70).
steveng
Roar Rookie
Firs of all, congratulations to Parra for playing and being a better team on the night, and secondly, I would like to congratulate the referees for allowing the game to flow and to NOT BE interrupted by their usual first 20 minutes of crazed whistle blowing which in 99% of the time ruins and determine a game, and this especially applies to the play the balls and the fiasco that players milk penalties with that. Manly were just not good enough to beat Parra and another thing that mustn't of helped (with all the troubles in the club) is to have their 'old timers' there and to have some of the exact people who have sabotaged these players of playing for Manly next year eg Peter Peters who was having a big laugh as the players were coming onto the field.