Sea Eagles lose to Eels in Flegg nail biter

Manly Warringah Sea Eagles suffered a 22-16 loss to the Parramatta Eels in the Jersey Flegg Cup on Friday night.

Despite a strong start and a 12-6 lead at halftime, the Sea Eagles were unable to hold on as they fell to the Eels

Parramatta opened the scoring in the third minute through winger Turoa Williams after he wrestled past two defenders to score. Halfback Riley Lack converted from the sideline for a 6-0 scoreline. 

Both sides had their share of possession in the next 10 minutes, leaning just in favour of the Parramatta side. Sloppy errors and cheap penalties riddled the next ten minutes of play as Manly pushed forward for their first points.

Sea Eagles hooker Daniel O’Donnell was inches away from the first points for the home side in the 18th minute, only to be hit with a big shot by a defender on the tryline forcing an error. 

Parramatta second-rower Jock Brazel was sin-binned for dissent towards the referee, handing the Sea Eagles a one-man advantage and a fresh set at the line. In the tackles that followed, second-rower Zane Dunford made it through the defence to dive under the posts, only for the referee to call it back for a forward pass from the ruck.  

With pressure mounting, Parramatta’s defence finally cracked when Manly winger Tom Jarrett crossed for a four-pointer in the 23rd minute.  Fullback Blake Metcalfe converted to level the scores at 6-all. 

Seven minutes later and the Sea Eagles were in again, this time in the middle of the field through prop James Uesele who charged down a kick just shy of the halfway line to pick up the ball and race away for a 40 metre try. Metcalfe converted for a 12-6 lead at half-time.

Parramatta scored first points in the second half after one minute with a strong run from centre Ned Hicks. Lack converted to level to scoreline at 12-all. 

Manly regained the lead through centre Luck Tucker in the 43rd minute, finding a gap off a short ball for a 16-12 scoreline.

With just over 10 minutes remaining, Parramatta levelled the score through fullback Lindsay Munro after he burrowed his way underneath the defence with a strong run out of dummy half. Lack converted to give his side a two-point lead. A minute prior, Manly forward Jonathan Chan was sent to the sin-bin, handing the Eels a man advantage for the final portion of the game. 

Munro scored his second in the right corner with just over two minutes remaining, giving the Parramatta side a six-point buffer with not long to play.

Despite an attempted short kick-off, the Eels managed to hold onto the lead and ultimately the victory, winning 22-16. Manly back-rower Kylan Mafoa was sin-binned in the dying stages of the match for a dangerous tackle. 

The Sea Eagles play the South Sydney Rabbitohs next Saturday, March 25, at 5p, at Accor Stadium in the second of three matches.