In what was a game dominated by defence, the Parramatta Eels have put a serious dent in the finals hopes of the Manly Sea Eagles, taking a one-point win at Pirtek Stadium.
The game itself could really only be described as a weird one, with neither team able to gain control and only penalty goals being scored in the second half as the lead continued to change hands all the way to the end.
Neither team played what would described as good quality rugby league, and there were 23 errors throughout the game, many of them basic ones at best.
Manly seemed to be unable to get into the contest, and it almost looked like a lack of motivation and effort at times. With a spot on the finals requiring a win, plus another of early scuffles to get the adrenaline pumping it was surprising just how out of the game the Sea Eagles were at times.
Parramatta seemed to hold the upper hand for much of the first half, but failed to turn it into points with generally poor execution throughout.
In saying that, their forwards led by Manu Ma’u and Daniel Alvaro early on, before Kenny Edwards took the reigns for the later part of the game dominated for most of the night, and made things very hard for Manly. With a game so focused on defence, the extra tackles seemed to hurt them in a big way.
The Eels though again lacked execution and had to work hard to stay in the match and shut down some try scoring opportunities during the second half.
Apisai Koroisau added plenty of spark for the Sea Eagles out of dummy half to light them up, and with the help of Tom Trbojevic they refused to go away.
Daly Cherry-Evans had a poor game, especially given the way he has played for the last few weeks. His kicking game was poor at best and he got tackled in the line numerous times. With next to no support from Dylan Walker Manly were never looking like scoring.
The try scoring opened early in the piece with the Eels on the attack, and a crossfield kick from Jeff Robson. Brad Takairangi would fly to take it, throwing it back for Bevan French who grubbered and then put on a brilliant turn of pace to score.
The Sea Eagles would take about half an hour to hit back with Apisai Koroisau scoring under the posts. He would spin out of dummy half, through some lethargic and staggered defence, crashing over with a determined effort.
Manly would get back on the attack with time running down and from a distance of 30 metres out Daly Cherry-Evans would send them into the lead at halftime with a field goal from 30 metres out, snapping one over.
The second half was a penalty-goal-a-thon, and there were no other points scored. It was more of the same as we saw in the first half with generally poor kicking games, little execution of plays and poor decisions from both sides.
The Eels would push to the lead first, before Manly hit back with just 15 minutes to go in the contest.
Parramatta would then confirm the win with a penalty goal just three minutes from time – it came after Bevan French, who had an excellent game was taken without the ball high. Some will say it was a contentious decision, but the penalty was awarded, the extras were slotted and the rest is history.
In the end, Parramatta with the victory at home and Manly will struggle to stay in the finals race.
Final Score
Parramatta Eels 10
Manly Sea Eagles 9
Match statistics
Tries: Eels (1), Sea Eagles (1)
Goals: Eels (1/1), Sea Eagles (1/1)
Penalty Goals: Eels (2/2), Sea Eagles (1/1)
Field Goals: Eels (0), Sea Eagles (1/1)
Possession: Eels (51%), Sea Eagles (49%)
Completions: Eels (28/41), Sea Eagles (28/38)
All runs: Eels (178), Sea Eagles (163)
All run metres: Eels (1504), Sea Eagles (1391)
Line breaks: Eels (2), Sea Eagles (2)
Offloads: Eels (11), Sea Eagles (7)
Tackles: Eels (362), Sea Eagles (339)
Missed Tackles: Eels (23), Sea Eagles (22)
Penalties: Eels (7), Sea Eagles (7)
Errors: Eels (11), Sea Eagles (23)
The Roar’s NRL MVP
3 – Michael Gordon
2 – Tom Trbojevic
1 – Kenny Edwards
Planko
Guest
Anyone supporting that penalty need to watch more league. 20 times a game a decoy runner at the line is tackled or held with no penalty. It was as the ball was passed. It was not high and not a shoulder charge. If that is a penalty penalty counts are going to get very high very quickly.
Benedict Arnold
Guest
There it is again. The most overused/over published word in the NRL in 2016 has to be: "dour". Never have I seen this word get so much use in the press. I don't know if it was because of origin where it was used as an adjective to describe game one, or it's the continual regurgitation from Ben Ikin on nrl360 that it has been etched into everyone's rugby league vocabulary? Dead set, this madness has gone too far!
BA Sports
Guest
Starling will get two weeks for his hit on Moroa but didn't get put on report . Again highlighting the disconnect betweenness he bunker and match review committee
Don
Roar Rookie
He's a ripper no doubt about it EJ. Imagine him with a 5/8 to chime in from. I think his Brother is a long term SOO prop and could be selected next year. I'd have him ahead of Tamou or Woods any time.
Oingo Boingo
Guest
The moral of the story is ... Never kick a field goal in the first half. I'd like to know the stats on teams losing after doing so.
Dutski
Roar Guru
You'd think that centres is Walkers best position and with Lyon going there is space there. Is Isaac John on option this year or is he still injured?
Joe
Roar Rookie
Another tough grind out game. Was an improvement on Thursday though probably because the weather was better. Penalty was deserved, can't take out a player like that. Both tries were individualistic tries and goals to finish the game. Eels were again able to come through the adversity of losing players to head knocks and still win so gotta give them credit for that. Lots of niggle in the game which is not a good look for the game. They should start penalizing those acts to stamp it out of the game.
Dingo
Guest
Another penalty decision decides a game - its getting like soccer. The call could have gone either way but when they attempt to keep penalties to a minimum to keep the game going and then pull out one which is often (but not always) overlooked. As a former ref, I must say I played on sometimes for an early tackle without ball on suspicion and penalised others depending upon severity and whether there was a pattern of illegal play.. Again however as always decisions went to the team trailing
HarryT
Guest
The ref called a no arms tackle and pointed to his shoulder. Good call for mine. Taupau has been very disappointing this year. Maybe he is playing injured.
The Barry
Roar Guru
Disappointing way to lose a game but it looked a definite penalty for mine.
BA Sports
Guest
It could also have been argued that the hit on Frnech didn't have arms in it as well. Dumb penalty. End of the day, Manly can whinge all they like, but if you only score one try, you leave the game to chance. And so Parramatta retain the Eddie Hayson Cup.
eagleJack
Roar Guru
Yeah I agree. But I've been super impressed with his quick hands, and taps on in previous games. A hallmark of Snake at his peak. No need to wait for the future. He's already a superstar who will just get better and better.
eagleJack
Roar Guru
It was definitely a game for the purists MAX. Tough, but God ugly. Manly had plenty to play for but looked lethargic (joys of another 5 dayer?). They had their opportunities but couldn't hold onto the ball. All in all a disappointing end to a disappointing season.
Don
Roar Rookie
Alot was said last night about Bevan French rushing in to save an early try when Manly had men wide. But there was no comment about how young Trbojevic needed quicker hands to get the ball wide. Nor that he should have looked and simply held the pill. Had he held the ball, he would have likely seen French make an inneffective grab at him and either scored himself or been able to get a ball away to score. He's young, and will get better, but he butchered that opportunity.
ferret
Guest
The reason Manly won't be playing in the finals is not some call by a touchie in Round 23 it's the diabolical footy they were playing at the beginning of the season. Even last night I was surprised how pedestrian Many looked in attack. A team playing for a finals berth and they showed very little. Also Buhrer made 3 basic errors at crucial stages of the match. DId he have a bet on?!?! (Only joking folks).
MAX
Guest
eJ, 22 errors and 14 penalties do not for a good game make. Should it now be standard practice for coaches to drill their players in the art of remonstrating with linesmen? Your post, as usual, is refreshing commonsense thinking. It stopped me from posting a meaningless rant.
eagleJack
Roar Guru
Quite a different penalty. Buhrer was held back off the ball in a try scoring position. Realistically could have been 10 in the bin. Taupau hit French after the ball had been lost. Knock on called, Eels remonstrated with the touch judge and he makes the call. Would that be called in Golden Point? Absolutely not. Was it the right call? Absolutely. Unfortunately consistency kills the game. I don't blame the refs as they are under more pressure than close to any other officials in the world. Media scrutiny is intense. But there is no doubt they know and understand the level of importance of games. Making the call with the game on the line between 2 bottom 8 sides is easy. Not so in a blockbuster or semi final. That call won't be made. On Manly if Lyon doesn't play next weekend they need to put Koroisau into 6, Parcell at 9 and Walker back to the centres. Are they looking for a 6 for 2017? They'll have plenty of room in the cap. But overall I think the team is building nicely. It's been a tough year but you can't fault their effort. Another forward, another pre-season and they'll look ok going forward.
Dutski
Roar Guru
Can't believe Manly are blowing up about the penalty that put the Eels in front. The only reason Manly was leading was for the exact same penalty- a player being tackled without the ball. So it's a fair penalty when it's in your favour but an outrage when it's not? Please. Spare me.
The Koomz
Guest
Those two penalties by Starling and Taupau cost them the game. They were very poor poor plays!!!
Dan
Guest
The comments by Barrett and Trbojevic about the "overturned" knock on decision shows a frightening misunderstanding of how adjudication works. A touch judge notifying a referee of an indiscretion is not overturning a decision. It's how the game is officiated.