Welcome to the first footy of 2021! TCT will be live from New Era Stadium at Cabramatta to bring you all of the live action from the Harold Matthews and SG Ball today. Please note that due to a scheduling conflict we will not be able to provide live updates of the Tarsha Gale but we will have a match report up later today.

The Eels are hosting an archrival to launch their 2021 campaigns in the Harolds Matthews and SG Ball as the Manly Warringah Sea Eagles venture West today. Meanwhile, the Tarsha Gale travel to Leichardt Oval to tackle an opponent they already know very well in the Wests Tigers.

It is a truly massive day of footy ahead of us. Matches against the Sea Eagles are always intense and highly physical in the junior representatives and the extra energy that comes with the very first game of the season will only serve to dial everything up to 11.

Coverage starts at 10:00AM with the kickoff of the Harold Matthews but as always, feel free to join the conversation in the comments section at any time!

 

 

Tarsha Gale – Round 1 vs Wests Tigers

11:00 AM @ Leichardt Oval

1	Demia Pritchard	1	Jessica Whelan
2	Hannah McFayden	2	Jayme Willingham
3	Jacinta Tui	3	Shelby Muir
4	Tahleisha Pugh	4	Tiamo Williams
5	Tamerah Leati	5	Kirra Boland
6	Loreen Luamanuvae	6	Georgia Edwards
7	Jada Toevai	7	Hope Tevaga
8	Losalio Payne	8	Georgia Lotawa
9	Kristen Cawthorne	9	Ebony Prior
10	Martha Fua	10	Katie Edwards
11	Summah Terare	11	Tehillah Vaeluaga
12	Lei-Lani Tua	12	Shondell Akhabue
13	Ruby-Jean Kennard	13	Jessica Kennedy
14	Ameena Kanj	14	Anna Moa
15	Summer Brown	15	Imogen Gobran
16	Taimani Kolomati	16	Folau Vaki
17	Katalina Vave	17	Piper Sutton
18	Rosalia Lea	18	Briana Dean
19		19	Chloe Newman

 

 

 

 

Harold Matthews – Round 1 vs Manly Warringah Sea Eagles

10:00AM @ New Era Stadium

1	Patrick Spence	1	Lehi Hopoate
2	Suliasi Aho	2	Calvin Levy
3	Charlie Guymer	3	Eli Sagala
4	Declan Murray	4	Josh Feledy (c)
5	Josh Lealaiauloto	5	Maxwell Taotua
6	Terrence Lafai	6	Latu Fainu
7	Ethan Sanders	7	Alfred Ah Chong
8	Sam Tuivaiti	8	Samuela Fainu
9	Yehya Ayache	9	Ollie Cummins
10	Aufago Mino	10	Jakob Biet
11	Domenic Destradis	11	Dylan Coutts
12	Saxon Pryke	12	Drew Williams
13	Myles Martin	13	Zedrick Tupulua
14	Blaise Talagi	14	Rene Bagon
15	Jacob John	15	Noa Faatui
16	Josh Alhazim	16	Mitchell Taotua
17	Cooper Sinclair	17	Rory Morgan
18	Tyrese Lokeni	18	Jake Smith
		19	Dayshawn Lyden

 

First Half

The Eels are receiving the ball to start 2021 as the rain drizzles down at Cabramatta. Good first set! Nothing fancy as the middles toil through the ruck and set up for a clearing kick. Ethan Sanders duly provides and finds the grass and on the following tackle Parra force an error!

Down the right edge early in this set now before big Sam Tuivati centres play on the goal line. He earns a penalty for his efforts as Manly lay all over him. Parramatta aren’t interested in the penalty attempt and opt for the tap. Declan Murray looks to have scored for all money on the second tackle as the boys celebrate but a late call of held up brings play back out 10m. He looked to have grounded that for all money.

The boys put that all behind them though as a right edge shift finds Terrence Lafai. He takes a nice snag in the greasy conditions and finds Dom De Stradis who flies into the line running an unders route. Gorgeous, angled run by the backrower and he screams through the defensive line to score under the posts!

Try scored Dom De Stradis. Conversion successful by Ethan Sanders.

Eels lead 6-0

6min gone

 

Frustrating mistake after points from the young lads. Looks like Tuivati lost the ball in the tackle on the second play. Manly with a chance to hit back here. They attack down their left edge early but when the change the point of attack a great read and jam from Ethan Sanders forces an error!

Yehya Ayache nearly splits Manly open with an incisive dart through the middle but with the Eels surging over midfield, Manly manufacture a turnover as they attack the hands of the ball runner – Saxon Pryke I believe.

Manly earn their first penalty of the game as the Eels infringe in the ruck and get their second real attack opportunity of the first half. As before they work down their left edge initially before switching to the right. This time they roll in a grubber kick and it has a real chance to do some work. Big Josh Lealaiauloto can’t get to it first but his opposite number knocks on in the scramble for the loose pill and Parra survive.

Manic stuff follows. Parramatta earn a penalty and hoof it downfield but Declan Murray loses possession in a heavy tackle first up only for Manly to then knock on. No advantage for the visitor and the Sea Eagles retain possession.

Fortunately the Eels defend strongly in the subsequent possession and Suliasi Aho has a nice slide and regather to clean up the kick. Goodness, another error from the Eels. Painful stuff here. Again, Manly cough it up shortly after but there is no advantage here given there was a play in between errors and the eels go on the attacks.

Sam Tuivati steamrolls a defender and sets up a raid down the right edge deep in the red zone. Lafai links up with Charlie Guymer on a crash line back to the posts but the touch judge intervenes to rule the pass forwards. Huge let off for Manly there as Guymer was looking hard to stop.

Manly flip the field with a monstrous 40/20. That was a seriously impressive kick that left Patrick Spence with zero chance to stop it. Sixties is sitting next to me and he calls a Manly error early in the attacking set and he gets it right! Alas, the Eels also turn it over a few tackles later as both teams struggle with the greasy conditions.

The visitors continue to favour their right edge in offence and make their first real inroad with the passing game but their final pass on a possible try-scoring movement is ruled forwards – correctly mind you – and the Eels will have the ball after the drinks break!

Play resumes on Parra’s 10m line with a scrum feed. Sanders drops the ball in behind his front-rower’s feet and Guymer takes the initial hit-up which immediately draws a penalty. Guymer is back for the first carry from the tap restart. Tuivati follows and he picks up another penalty! Ayache wants a quick tap and he goes but the ref doesn’t agree, somewhat fortunately, as Dom De Stradis drops the offload.

Dom produces a great carry in the next set though, settiing up a left edge movement that sees Spence tackled out wide in a good read from the Manly defender. Parra go coast-to-coast now as Spence rapidly realigns himself down the right edge. Lafai looks to run wide right and switch back his fullback on the left but Spence can’t quite reel it a difficult pass before a defender reaches him.

Elementary error for Manly, well not technically not an error on the stat sheet, as they forget it is the last and are tackled at midfield on a nothing play. Parra punch it downfield with great carries from Tuivati and Aufago Mino before lacing a neat grubber kick that nearly gets a try but looks to have still produced a drop out but a chaser, maybe Sanders, was called offsides so Manly dodge a huge bullet.

Josh Lealaiauloto makes a top catch under pressure at the end of that set but again the Eels struggle to complete their set as another error affords Manly the chance to reply before half-time. A big run of second phase play down their left edge puts the Sea Eagles right on Parra’s goal line and while their right edge is baying for a spread, Manly’s fullback Lehi Hopoate takes the ball close to the line and darts in between the ruck defenders to score.

Try scored by Lehi Hopoate. Conversion successful by Ollie Cummins.

Manly lock the scores up at 6-all

26min gone

Big contact from Tuivati from the kickoff! He levels his opposite in a bone-rattler. Manly produce another cracking clearing kick that threatens another 40/20 but Spence does really well to get back and tap the ball infield before cleaning it up ahead of a host of Manly chasers. Terrifc effort.

The Eels need a strong set here and they muscle their way out near halfway before a neat kick turns Manly around. The contest is starting to see-saw now as both teams find something of a rhythm.

Pryke leads the Eels close to halfway before a flying Jacob John earns a penalty on the stroke of half time. The indiscretion occurred on half way and Parra seem at a loss as to what to do. They don’t have the distance to go for 2 it seems and they either don’t know or care they can kick for touch and still have one final play. Ultimately they opt to tap it and give Johns another run to finish the half.

 

Half Time

Parramatta 6 locked up with Manly 6

 

Second Half

The Eels kick it off to start the second half but quickly concede a penalty for a high shot it looks like. Manly find touch 10m short of halfway and get to work. High volume of play down their left here but the Eels hold on despite a dubious offload that looked an awful lot like a lost ball in contact. The Sea Eagles stab the ball in under the posts on the last and Parra do well to keep it to a drop out.

Oooh! Suliasi Aho nearly mitts a huge interception there but the ball hits the deck. Very good read but it was a tough chance. Fresh set for Manly. Good contact from Myles Martin on his goal line and a couple of tackles later the Sea Eagles have a look! The ball spills out as the defence crashes down and the Eels will work it out from their 10m line.

Oh that is just good footy. Yehya makes another big dart from dummy half and scorches the Sea Eagles for a good 30m. He earns a penalty for the fruits of his labour. Quick tap and go now and an offside defender makes a blatant tackle and he gets his marching orders!

Parra with a red hot chance to reclaim the lead now but some sloppy play as they attack Manly’s goal line lets the sea-chickens off. Aho tried to force an offload there and the ball squirted out backwards. Lafai had a chance to dive on it but tried to toe it ahead and misses it. Manly cleaned it up as a result.

It will be Parra ball though with the Sea Eagles getting pinged for an accidental offside at the end of their clearing set. The Eels go left then right here before chaos erupt! Lafai rolls it a cheeky grubber on the last and Manly make a meal of the clean up deep in goals! Parra chasers roll through and claim the try but after the officials converge they decide the ball was grounded. Correct call I reckon. Line drop out coming.

Ah dang it. Blaise Talagi is on and making some sharp carries in behind the ruck but he tries to force the issue here and turns it over. Was that Sanders and Martin combining there? Regardless the Eels force a turnover immediately!

What a huge play as well as Ethan Sanders does it all himself near the goal line. He steps off his left and simply powers between multiple defenders to score to the left of the uprights. Huge effort!

Try scored by Ethan Sanders. Conversion successful by Ethan Sanders.

Eels lead 12-6

42min gone

Oh that is a coach killer. Another error after points for the Eels as Pryke loses the pill 10m short of midfield. Can’t keep gifting Manly these chances.

Redemption for Blaise! He has shot out of dummy half and drilled the Manly rake as he tries to plant the foot and take off. Big hit and it forces the turnover. What a way to bring up the second drinks break of the game.

Jacob John continues his strong game with another bullocking carry and from the clearing kick the Manly custodian, Lehi Hopoate, has made a mistake! Great work from Lafai to clean up a rubbish pass and still earn some metres. Dom De Stradies picks up a penalty for some extra curriculars delivered unto him in the ruck and the Eels will look to extend their lead with a penalty conversion as a result.

Penalty conversion successful by Ethan Sanders.

Eels lead 14-6

48min gone

For the love of…another restart after points and another turnover. This one was a huge collision. Not sure if it was Johns or Mino there from the kickoff return but the error keeps Manly in the hunt.

Yep. It comes back to haunt the young lads as the Manly five-eighth breaks through a tackle in front of the posts and rolls through Spence’s final effort to score. Parramatta kept inviting Manly back into contest and they have finally paid for it.

Try scored by Latu Fainu. Conversion successful by Ollie Cummins.

Manly trail 12-14

51min gone

Here we go! Parra reverse the script as an energetic kick chase from the kick off jolts the ball loose. Lafai goes desperately close as he bounces off his right foot. It is on for all money down the left edge but the pass from dummy half can’t find the mark so Spence settles it back to the posts. Another money grubber kick comes on the last, think that was from Sander’s foot and again a botched clean up job from Manly nearly results in a try for the Eels.

Pivotal set coming but gee all the Eels manage is a mistake. Too much energy now as the big man Jacob John tries to get to his feet and play the ball and instead drops it.

Swings and roundabouts. They can be so cruel. Parra have just coughed it up too much today. The latest error robbed Parra of a chance to ice the game and instead Latu Fainu stamps his authority on the match as he frees his arms through contact down the left edge, just over half way, and links up with Josh Feledy. The Manly centres flies downfield and beats Spence at the last line to put the Sea Eagles in front for the first time today.

Try scored by Josh Feledy. Conversion successful by Ollie Cummins.

Manly lead 18-14

56min gone

No frills from Manly here as they play to protect their lead. Spence tidies it up and carts it back to his 40m mark. Parra have got to go here but Manly defenders are miles in front of the referee. He could call any number of them but hasn’t. Instead, Parramatta can’t execute as a short pass to Myles Martin through the middle goes behind the rangy lock and he drops it.

Gee, some contentious knock back calls now as Manly lose it in contact twice in one play. Unbelievable scenes now as Parra concede one of the wildest tries you will ever see. Manly completely lose the plot on their last tackle and loses in excess of 30m to go from inside Parra’s half to their own 30m mark. The Eels are pushing through in chase for the entire period until the very last moment as they just get lax and Feledy cleans up the ball without nay pressure on him. He then somehow how slices through the scattered defensive line and through a series of passes and offloads the Sea Eagles score on full time in one of the most memorable tries they will ever produce.

Try scored by Manly. Conversion unsuccessful by Ollie Cummins

Full Time

Manly Warringah Sea Eagles 22 def. Parramatta Eels 14

 

SG Ball – Round 1 vs Manly Warringah Sea Eagles

12:00PM @ New Era Stadium

1	Tyrone Sau	1	Luke Tucker
2	Junior Wright	2	Tom Jarrett
3	Jock Brazel (VC)	3	James Malauulu
4	Jabriel Kalache	4	Simon Tito
5	Freeman Forsythe	5	Cameron Brown
6	Joshua Chappell	6	Krystian Mapapalangi
7	Keahlan Bray	7	Jamie Humphreys
8	Jontay Junior Mesa Betham	8	James Uesele
9	Drew LLoyd	9	Gordon Chan Kum Tong (c)
10	Brock Parker	10	Faafetai Autagavaia
11	Peter Taatao (c)	11	Zane Dunford
12	Maximus Tupou	12	Siua Fotu
13	Taylor Maula	13	Jack Gunton
14	Vlado Jankovic	14	Daniel O’Donnell
15	Larry Muagututia	15	Daniel Stovold
16	Koevy Lemusu	16	Hunta Saunders
17	Francis Tuitino	17	Seturi Iakopo
18	Kylan Mafoa	18	Darcy Hoy
		19	Kobe Fulton
		20	Jake Watmough

First Half

Parramatta will be kicking off in the SG Ball. Big contact from the kick off but the referee is looking to establish his presence early on as he pings the Eels for slowing the ruck down when there was absolutely nothing in it.  Manly resume play in midfield and are met strongly by Parramatta before they sortie down their left and make 15m.

Half break for the Sea Eagles as they work the ball to their right. They backrower poked in behind the defensive line there. Mad scramble for the corner follows as the visitors spread the ball on the last but the Eels are desperate to protect their goal line here and they drive the winger into touch. Huge effort!

Parra then earn their first penalty of the game in the wake of that effort for dangerous contact but they are unable to complete their opening possession as it looks like Josh Chappell loses control in a tackle. Manly are already piling on the niggle and spite and they shove the Parra half to the ground with the ball dead, hope the referee gets on top of this.

Now the Eels force a mistake! Strong defence rewarded there. The Eels drive the ball deep into Manly’s red zone as a result and when Chappell’s cross-field kick on the last earns a 6-again call it looks like Parramatta are setup to score first. An error quickly puts the kibosh on that however.

Manly receiver a piggyback down the field when Parramatta’s right edge are pinged for infringing inside the 10m and the visitors find touch on Parra’s 30m mark.

Again the Eels produce a turnover with resolute defence but they need to complete this set now. Sure enough they do, by way of a penalty, as the Sea Eagles are done for slowing down the ruck. Brock Parker takes the opening carry and he is followed by a left edge shift to fullback Tyrone Sau. Jontay Junior gets in behind the ruck and earns a penalty for a pulling of the leg as possession surges the way of the blue and gold.

Maximus powers into the line in a threatening moment on the goal line but as I audibly declare ‘good run Maximus!” the big unit loses the ball. Put the deadset mockers on him.

Pivotal moment arrives now, even this early on as Brock Parker is sinbinned for a try saving cover tackle. We had a great vantage on the tackle and the Manly centre, James Malauulu lost it clean but thems are the breaks.

Now it is just comical as Manly score. However the ref originally told the #10 to play the ball before failing to consult either touch judge and awarding the try as the ball was played. 

Try scored by Faafetai Autagavaia. Conversion successful by Jamie Humphreys.

Manly lead 6-0

12min gone

Manly pile on the pain with the numbers advantage now but there is plenty more drama. The Sea Eagles make a break from the kick off and the Eels eventually recover but an Eel has gone down and the trainer has very clearly signalled to the officials to halt play. They ignore him and allow play to continue as Manly enjoy a 13 on 11 advantage and cross down Parra’s left edge.

Try scored by Luke Tucker. Conversion successful by Jamie Humphreys.

Manly lead 12-0

14min gone

The Eels finally get the ball back as Manly drop the ball from an errant pass late in the count. Tyrone Sau sizzles down the left edge from the scrum win. A massive effort from the Mably rake tracks him down from behind- serious wheels on him as well! Parra look to press the advantage now but some clunkiness between Chappell and Jontay let’s Manly off.

Is the flow of the game turning now? Another mistake from Manly, this one on halfway gives the Eels possession. Jock Brazel takes the first carry down the left. Parra build down their right and have a chance to slip an offload near the goal line but the ball was almost too good as the support player wasn’t fully awake to it. Manly survive. 

Big Larry has absolutely murdered a man there. What a read and hit! Sensational play.

It sets the tone for the set and the Eels force another turnover with the intensity of their effort down the right edge. Jock Brazel the man again from the scrum win. Short interchange of passes in the ruck finds Brock Parker as the Eels grind their way downfield. The set concludes with a short kick from Keahlan Bray that is knocked on! Parra with a scrum in front of the posts. 

Big carries from Parker and Muagututia put the Eels inches out and Larry’s carry draws a penalty and a caution of a potential sinbinning. Manly reef the ball out from the first tackle but knock it on in the process and the Eels still get a second scrum in the middle.

Tupou settles things early and is followed by Parker. Second phase play sees Josh Chappell threaten the goal line but he is clobbered across his face in a wild moment. Does the ref have the chops to march the Manly player? He does but as a sinbin only. That was arguably a send off.

There you go! A powerful carry from captain Peter Taateo lays the platform as Drew Lloyd darts out of dummy half and turns a flying Brock Parker inside. The tireless bookend crashes through to score!

Try scored by Brock Parker. Conversion successful by Joshua Chappell.

Eels trail 6-12

33min gone

Tough break for the Eels there. Ref gives Manly an aeon to effect a one-on-one strip on Larry Muagututita but justice prevails when the visitors are pulled up for a forward pass.

Manly rip the ball out again, maybe two men in the tackle there, but Parra have to be more awake to the threat. Siren rings out and Manly roll out a grubber kick but Tyrone Sau taps it dead.

 

Half Time

Manly Warringah Sea Eagles 12 lead the Parramatta Eels 6

 

Second Half

What a sequence of play! The Hyphen aka Jontay-Junior Mesa-Betham uncorks a phenomenal hit that sees the ball fly out! Next play Drew Lloyd has an incisive dart from dummy half and the Eels pour it on from there. Jontay powers to the posts and on the next tackle Chappell stabs the ball through for a flying Tutonu Junior Wright who plants it down!

Try scored by Tyrone Junior Wright. Conversion successful by Joshua Chappell.

Eels lock the scores up at 12-all

44min gone

Now it is all swinging the way of the blue and gold as another error is forced in defence. Big Movete is on and draws a penalty directly in front of the posts and despite some cheeky posturing by Vlado Jankovic for a quick tap, the Eels opt to take the lead with the penalty goal.

Penalty conversion attempt successful by Joshua Chappell.

Eels lead 14-12

47min gone

Messy minutes here with both teams turning the pill over. The Eels ultimately get possession as Manly aim up in defence and force Parra into a clearing kick rather than an attacking bomb.

The Sea Eagles get the next chance when a soaring bomb is grassed by Junior Wright. They make the Eels pay full freight for it as well. Some second phase play opens up Parra’s right side and sees one of Manly’s big bookends cross.

Try scored by James Uesele. Conversion successful by Jamie Humphreys.

Manly lead 18-14

52min gone

What an effort by the captain! Peter Taateo has lined up the Manly prop and unleashed Thor’s hammer on him! One of the best kick off hits you will ever see! Ball flies out and it is Parra’s! Frustratingly they can’t capitalise on the opportunity as they turn it over shortly after but desperate cover defence bundles Manly into touch the next play and they don’t make the same mistake this time around.

Jabriel Kalache beats his opposite all ends up before slipping over himself. He manages to swiftly recover though and glides past winger and fullback to score a solo try!

Try scored by Jabriel Kalache. Conversion successful by Joshua Chappell.

Eels lead 20-18

56min gone

Solid set after points for the Eels. Nice to see them get to their kick honestly after the Matts. Chappell leads the chase for his own kick and sticks the fullback with a nice tackle.  Mably, to their credit, string together a strong set that is capped off with a kick that traps Tyrone Sau ingoals. Huge set incoming. 

The Sea Eagles play down their right for three tackles before sliding to their left. They run the ball on the last with their halfback but the Eels overread the play and bite on the big dummy as the Manly #7 slices through to reclaim the lead.

Try scored by Jamie Humphreys. Conversion successful by Jamie Humphreys.

Manly lead 24-20

61min gone

It has been a cracking match and fitting that it comes down to final exchanges. Once more the defence effort the Eels has produced a turnover and they will get a crack with multiple tackles in Manly’s half.

Parra build through the set and a good carry from Brock sets up the kick but the chasers are off. Manly defused the bomb regardless but the infringement nets them some safety metres.

And that might be game. The referee pulls the Eels up for a slow play the ball, an almost farcical call given what he has allowed in the ruck the entire game, and Manly tap and go. Their livewire dummyhalf links up with their halfback who scores a backbreaking try. The play left an Eel strewn on the ground and time is now off as they attend him. I hope he is alright but they are being extremely careful with him.

Try scored by Jamie Humphreys. Conversion successful by Jamie Humphreys.

Manly lead 30-20

66min gone

Good news in a loss but the downed Eel, Brock Parker, is up and walking off. Seems to be a head knock which would place him in doubt for next week but at least he could leave the field unaided.

Parramatta will have one final possession before the siren rings out after Manly’s dummy half makes a meal out of a scoot attempt. Need to wrangle 10pts of it somehow. They kick downfield from the scrum win but Manly clean it up and that will allow them to almost run out the clock.

They are forced to kick it but the Eels aren’t able to trouble the scorers with a hail mary play and that will do us.

 

Full Time

Manly Warringah Sea Eagles 30 def. Parramatta Eels 20