Parramatta has always been a team that can blow opposition sides off the park, but often we've lacked the necessary resolve to ground out a good, hard win. Not tonight.
The 19 to 12 win over the Sea Eagles wasn't the prettiest win of the season - although there were some magical moments - but the Eels took on one of the best packs in the competition, they withstood a strong surge and in the end won by a length going away.
As expected and first tipped on 1Eyed Eel, Kris Keating was missing and replaced by young Tom Humble at five-eighth. However, a neck strain wasn't about to keep Nathan Hindmarsh out and the Eels warhorse took his place in the side.
The start of the game wasn't so much a grinding as a beating. The Eels started on fire and they had early first points when Jarryd Hayne fired one of his trademark cut-out passes to Luke Burt, which the winger did fabulously well to hold onto and run over the line for a 3 minute special. Burt converted and we had an early lead inside the first five minutes, a nice reversal of fortune from our Round two clash.
Hayne was on fire tonight and clearly the NSW selectors had made up their mind about the side to take on Queensland because there is just no way you could not have Jarryd Hayne as fullback based on his performance tonight. The Hayne/Mateo combination could prove to be one of the most potent pairings in the NRL this year, with Mateo running off a short, soft pass from Hayne and proving too dangerous close to the line for the Sea Eagle supporters.
Another Burt conversion and it was 12 nil to the Eels after 25 minutes.
However, to Manly's credit they lifted themselves off the canvas and came charging back. They looked to have a try from a cross-field kick but it was disallowed after all Eels failed to get anywhere near the ball. The feintest of knock-ons saved the Eels but Manly were definitely on the ascendency. And when Krisnan Inu got dragged into touch returning the football from an innocuous kick, the pressure proved too move with Steve Matai - Manly's best on the night - charging onto a pass to score.
Five minutes later Manly was in again with Jamie Lyon producing a typical piece of individual brilliance to break through the line 10 metres out and score a fantastic individual try. He converted his own try and the sides would go into the break even, despite the Eels having had the better of most of the first stanza.
What will cheer Eels fans most, and is perhaps the best indication yet this season of the Eel's premiership credentials is that in the second half, with a slippery ball and playing an opposition who were patchy but determined, Parramatta buckled down. They didn't make too many mistakes, they fought tough, agressive defence with some of their own big tackles and they slowly but surely took hold of the match.
Manly was required to make a couple of fine tackles to stop more points. Michael Robertson came up with a strong on-goal tackle to deny Joel Reddy and then Jamie Lyon somehow managed to pick up a flying Tom Humble and was adjudged to have pulled him into touch. Whether he did or not, is a matter for debate. The opportunity came when Krisnan Inu picked up a loose ball and scooted away. However, Inu has most definitely lost a yard of pace and never backed himself to run the distance. Steve Matai is no speedster but with Inu more interested in holding Matai off with a fend, he was brought down before he reached the 30 metre but he managed to get a pass to a trailing Tom Humble. Humble, who produced a solid debut, set his sights for the line but Lyon came screaming across in cover and attempted to take Humble into touch as he reached out to put the ball down. To me, Humble did brilliantly to get the ball down but the video referee ruled otherwise, somehow managing to find a fleck of white paint that grazed a Humble shoelace.
This Eels outfit was not to be denied and it was that man again who started the Eels next attack, firing a cut-out pass to Timana Tahu, who would let loose Luke Burt down the left flank. With Manly's determined cover defence converging, Burt - who is the best winger in the game in this kind of situation - stepped inside, looked up and kicked inside for an unmarked Jeff Robson, who dived on the ball for the match winner. Burt would then complete a fantastic match by knocking over a long-range field goal to close out the victory.
The only blight on the match, was Timana Tahu - who earlier in the night had won a return to State of Origin duties - limping off the field.
Considering the Eels were without Kris Keating - by far their most dominant half this year - and still haven't quite put it alltogether, it was a win to warm the cockles of the heart on a cold winter's night. With performances like this, the Eels will be tough to beat in any clash this season. They once again produced some extraordinary goal-line defence, which would swing the momentum of the match and it's that defence which would really be worrying opposition sides. Given the amount of individual brilliance in the side's roster, you know you're going to have to come up with three or four tries to beat the Eels and they're aren't many teams left in the running who are going to show up to play the Eels and be confident they can find those points.
All this said, Manly are going to be a threat this year. With a number of stars still left to return to their roster - and the side looking a little rudderless without a talented half Keiran Foran - I would not be surprised if this match turns out to be a grand final preview. That may be a big call, this early in the season but to me both teams are going as well as any in the competition but have ample improvement left in them.
Replies
Anyway, a good win....4 in a row!
My fantasy team will benefit greatly by the performances of Hayne and hindy :)
Lets hope tahu is ok and for those on fox sports saying hayne is most over rated tonightt he proved you wrong :)]
GO parra
I thought Humble had a good debut, he didn't disrupt the side at all i thought, and he showed he's definately got skill. I say lets give him Haynes fullback job while he's away on origin duties. A KK and Humble halves pairing could be unbelievable if they live up to potential.
Having said that, I'd still keep with a KK and Morts halves pairing for now. I don't rate mortimer on form at the moment, and i'm not too convinced he'll stay with the club long-term. But i'm sure he'll come good for us and he'll be a great halfback whoever he plays for.
besides IF grothe isnt back nxt week Humble May play fullback against Cronulla - a game where he would be able to show what his got.
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