Another classic chapter has been written tonight in one of rugby league's great rivalries between the Manly Warringah Sea Eagles and Parramatta Eels.
In front of Manly's third sold out home crowd of the season, the ANZAC Round match had plenty of emotion and some heavy hits in a thrilling contest won 32-18 by the the Sea Eagles at 4 Pines Park after the Eels took a 14-6 lead into half-time.
On a night Manly wore black armbands to honour the passing of former premiership winning centre Terry Hill two days earlier, one got the sense that the great 'Tezza'' would have more than enjoyed being in the heat of battle with his famous sledging from the 90s.
The Eels opened the scoring through a penalty goal to Clinton Gutherson after Manly second-rower Haumole Olakauátu was sin-binned and placed on report for a dangerous tackle on Shaun Lane.
Manly managed well in defence to keep the Eels out without Olakauátu before the visitors crossed for a 6-0 lead through winger Maiko Sivo after centre Morgan Harper managed to offload a miracle pass despite Jason Saab smothering him.
Sea Eagles v Eels – Round 8, 2024
A perfectly weighted kick from Manly five-eighth Luke Brooks saw Tommy Talau cross for a converted try for a 6-all scoreline after 29 minutes.
The Eels then scored twice in 10 minutes through a second to Sivo and fellow winger Bailey Simonsson for a 14-6 lead at half-time.
The Sea Eagles started the second half perfectly when Daly Cherry-Evans and Saab combined to send Tom Trbojevic over to trail 14-12 four minutes after the break.
Five minutes later, it was Cherry-Evans the benefactor after a perfect break up the middle by Jake Trbojevic to give Manly an 18-14 lead.
The Eels then had centre Will Penisini sin-binned after tackling Tom Trbojevic without the ball off a smart kick behind the line by Brooks. Garrick converted for a 20-14 lead after 58 minutes.
Sea Eagles: Round 8
Sivo then crossed for his third in a desperate run for the corner 14 minutes from full-time to leave the Eels trailing 20-18. The winger then cost Parramatta dearly after being sin-binned in the 70th minute for an elbow to Garrick's face in making a tackle.
Garrick got the last laugh when he strolled over for two of his own converted tries with Sivo off for a 32-18 win.
