Local junior Brad Parker celebrated his 100th NRL game in fine style in Manly's 34-30 win over the Parramatta Eels at 4 Pines Park tonight.
In scorching conditions in front of a crowd of 13,353, Parker crossed for his 25th try after making his NRL/Club debut in Perth in 2016.
Manly held the lead for the majority of the match with Tom Trbojevic and Haumole Olakau’atu crossing for two tries each to make it two wins from two starts for the top of the ladder Sea Eagles following a bye last weekend.
Manly winger Reuben Garrick opened the scoring in the seventh minute on the back of a no-look pass from returning five-eighth Josh Schuster and good work from Tom Trbojevic for a 6-0 lead.
A Garrick penalty goal saw Manly lead 8-0 after 18 minutes before the Sea Eagles had their second try in the 25th minute through none other than Tom Trbojevic, scoring his second try of the season. Schuster scooped the ball out of dummy half 10 metres out from the line and found ‘Turbo’ who used sheer strength and acceleration to crash over. Garrick converted from next to the posts for a 14-0 scoreline.
Eels fullback Clinton Gutherson scored six minutes later with a show-and-go to dive over in the left corner. Halfback Mitchell Moses converted from the sideline to bring the score to 14-6.
Three minutes later and Parramatta were back in the game after a close range try from second-rower Matt Doorey, running off Moses with a short ball to beat two defenders to take the score to 14-10.
The Sea Eagles were awarded a penalty at their own 20-metre line with just under a minute of play remaining. After finding touch just shy of the 30-metre line, Cherry-Evans attempted a two-point field goal from 42 metres out. The chance hooked right as Manly went into the sheds at the break with a four-point lead.
The Eels forced an error early in the half and invited chances for the home side after just one minute. Manly were denied their third try of the night when The Bunker ruled on an obstruction in the lead-up to the play, stopping try number two for ‘Turbo’.
Gutherson scored his second try for Parramatta in the 43rd minute after breaking out of a tackle from Manly centre Tolu Koula. Moses converted from in front to take a 16-14 lead for his side.
Manly snatched the lead back in emphatic fashion when 'Turbo’ scored his second after a phenomenal chip from Schuster metres out from the line. The five-eighth chased his own kick but got beat to the ball by Trbojevic who grounded the ball in-goal to give Manly an 18-16 lead.
Parker then scored a well-deserved try three minutes later for back-to-back tries for the Sea Eagles. Cherry-Evans booted the ball downfield with an attempted 40/20, forcing an Eels player to bat the ball back in to prevent it. Garrick was chasing and toed the ball towards the in-goal, tripping over in the process. Parker was chasing hard alongside and dived to get his hand to the ball to extend the lead to 22-16.
Manly could’ve had their third try in nine minutes if not for The Bunker’s ruling. Tuipulotu appeared to go over in the corner but was unfortunately denied by Gutherson, who knocked the ball out of his hands during his tackle attempt to force an error.
Sea Eagles second-rower Haumole Olakau’atu scored a try in the 68th minute with a sensational jumping effort, leaping above Eels centre Waqa Blake to grab Schuster’s crossfield kick, spin away and ground the ball. Garrick converted from next to the posts to take the scoreline to 28-16.
In quick reply, Sivo and Josh Hodgson scored for Parramatta in a three-minute period. Moses converted the second try, meaning Manly held a two-point lead with just over four minutes of play remaining.
In time of need and almost immediately, Olakau’atu stepped up for Manly with a 30-metre intercept try. Eels lock J’maine Hopgood attempted to offload the ball, allowing for Olakau’atu to snatch the ball and race away for the try. Garrick converted for a 34-26 scoreline.
Sivo scored his second for the Eels in quick retaliation after a cut-out pass from Moses, bringing the score back within a try at 34-30.
Moses found space for Parramatta down the right sideline and looked dangerous, only to be stopped by the duo of Garrick and Parker. The left edge combination forced the halfback over the sideline with a strong tackle to win back possession of the ball 25 metres out from their own line. Manly played it safe and held the ball for the remainder of the match for the four point win.
The Sea Eagles take on the South Sydney Rabbitohs in Round 4 of the NRL Telstra Premiership at Accor Stadium at 7.35pm. The NSW Cup kicks off the action at 3.05pm followed by the Jersey Flegg Cup action at 5pm.
