Parramatta produced the NRL’s biggest head-to-head turnaround in 16 years as they snapped their winless start to the season and heaped all their misery onto Manly in a 44-10 flogging.
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Final score
Parramatta Eels 44
Manly Sea Eagles 10
Old hostilities resume as the Parramatta Eels take on the Manly Sea Eagles. Join The Roar for a live blog from 2pm (AEST).
The Eels have not only won a game all season and have clearly been second best in each outing.
As such, Brad Arthur continues to rotate his side, in search of the winning formula.
Jarryd Hayne returns from a quad injury, replacing the injured Bevan French on the wing. Brad Takairangi will make an early return from his fractured eye socket, replacing injured centre Kirisome Auva’a.
Peni Terepo shifts to lock due to Tepai Moeroa being ruled out because of concussion protocols, while Kane Evans fills the void in the front row. Will Smith and David Gower also return, taking spots on the bench, while Beau Scott has been dropped to the NSW Cup.
Of course, things haven’t really been much better for the Sea Eagles.
Manly have lost three of their last four games against the backdrop of salary cap drama, and now a division among the playing group surrounding Jackson Hastings.
Last weekend, Manly were booed off their own turf after sustaining a heavy loss to the Wests Tigers. However, they are unchanged from last week’s loss.
It all makes the 54-0 blowout in Round 2 between these two seem an eternity ago.
Prediction
It’s crazy to tip a team who hasn’t looked good at all this season. A team that is winless, a team that is failing to come close to the expectations placed upon them at the beginning of the year.
But that is what I’m going to do. C’mon guys, Parra have to win at some stage… right?
Eels by 8.
Join The Roar for a live blog from 2pm (AEST).
Stuart
Roar Rookie
Worst Manly side with the most talent ever. Gormless rabble with no heart and no pride. Enjoy the first spoon that is surely coming your way. Oh, and I am a passionate Manly supporter of 20 years.
soapit
Guest
definitely sounds like its divided if there multiple stories around tho.
Chris Love
Guest
I missed the game. I’m wondering how Clint Gutherson looked today. Any glimmers of how he was performing before the injury last year? With him fit and in form Parramatta are a completely different side.
Kangajets
Guest
Onwards to the grand final now parramatta
no one in particular
Roar Guru
The commentator on Fox makes Hadley sound like Frank Hyde
Curtis Figon
Roar Guru
The Eels have recorded their first win of the season Parramatta Eels have defeated the Manly Sea Eagles 44-10 in an impressive outing led by the brilliance of Mitchell Moses. Though it was still a passionate team effort, responding well to tough and honest training sessions all week. Manly Sea Eagles are in trouble. A lot of off field dramas in the Northern Suburbs are at the fore-front of the NRL world and it seems like it has effected the players. The Sea Eagles looked toothless and distracted. They've lost their last three games in a row, including four of their last five and have conceded 164 points at an average of 32.8 a game. Thanks for joining me throughout this round 7 encounter. Thomas English will take you through the action between the Cronulla Sharks and Penrith Panthers.
eagleJack
Roar Guru
Manly’s season took a turn for the worse in the 2nd half v the Titans. They were getting on top, it was the first tackle, and DCE inexplicably put a grubber through to nobody. You could almost see the team deflate as one. It killed their momentum, and things have gone downhill since. Not sure how they get out of this rut. Jake T has been terrible for 3 weeks now. He is the heart of the team. When he’s off, they are all off.
Curtis Figon
Roar Guru
That's fair to say.
eagleJack
Roar Guru
I’d say there would be multiple stories doing the rounds. Always hard to know unless you are in the team environment.
Curtis Figon
Roar Guru
Well the Eels are impressively wrapping up their first win of the season. Is it a change in the tides? Or have they just taken advantage of an out-of-sorts Manly side?
Curtis Figon
Roar Guru
From my mate at Triple M.
Curtis Figon
Roar Guru
Where to for Manly? The club is surely in crisis mode and what seemed like a promising start to the season is starting to quickly unravel.
eagleJack
Roar Guru
Not sure how you would know who is in the wrong.
Curtis Figon
Roar Guru
Cherry-Evans is in the wrong and has divided the dressing room. It's going to be an interesting week in Manly.
Curtis Figon
Roar Guru
71st min Eels 44-10 Sea Eagles Cherry-Evans has again kicked the ball out on a full as he attempted a short kickoff. Sums up their day, their week, their month.
cowcorner
Roar Pro
Maybe fights between players on the same team is not such a good idea ?
Kangajets
Guest
I can finally celebrate a win this season
Curtis Figon
Roar Guru
70th min Eels 44-10 Sea Eagles Penalty for the Eels. They've opted for the two points and Moses converts.
Curtis Figon
Roar Guru
68th min Eels 42-10 Sea Eagles TRY!!! Mitchell Moses scoots through the middle of the ruck and finds Clint Gutherson who hurries over the line beating a few desperate Manly chasers. Moses converts the try from under the post.
Curtis Figon
Roar Guru
65th min Eels 36-10 Sea Eagles Another turnover from Manly and it's Martin Taupau again.