The sun is shining that much brighter on Sunday after the Parramatta Eels secured their first victory under Jason Ryles with a golden point special at CommBank Stadium. Now we get to enjoy Sunday footy as the Harold Matthews and SG Ball close out their regulation seasons with a trip to Narrabeen to take on the Manly Sea Eagles.

A guaranteed first place finish has already been secured for the SG Ball after the Bulldogs pipped the Rabbitohs by 2-points. However, bragging rights on the back of an undefeated regular season are still up for grabs and the boys will want to be entering the finals with as much momentum as possible.

For the Harold Matthews, victory is a must if they are to feature in the finals. A win by any margin will allow them to hurdle the Cronulla Sharks into 8th place but a strong result could see them finish as high as 6th.

There is everything to play for today and you an catch all of the action right here on TCT from 10:00AM when the Matts kickoff!

Harold Matthews Team List

 

1	Riley Davis
2	Cobi McCloskey
3	Cyrus Bloomfield
4	Christopher Moala
5	Santiago Uata
6	Talen Risati
7	Caleb Leiataua
10	Kasinga Noa
9	Jireh-Trey Stewart
21	Billy Fanene
11	Michael Nauer
12	Samuel Polley
13	Hayden Bell
14	Zac Withers
15	Curtis Brown
16	Chaise Attard
17	Epapara Tahu-Apiata
18	Strantz Schaumkel
19	Jermayne Faafiu
20	Zain Alameddine

 

Match Updates

 

First Half

 

The Eels will receive the ball to start the game.

A tough opening set for the Blue & Gold here. Manly have good line speed and pin the Eels deep in their own half. Parramatta reply with a running play on the last as they play down their right to Cobi McCloskey and it is the winger who kicks downfield to reasonable effect.

Manly pick up a set restart deep into the return set and will get a good look at Parramatta’s goal line as a result. Jireh-Trey Steward combines with his props to hold a runner over the line on the penultimate tackle of the set before Riley Davis swoops on the attacking grubber kick to get the Eels out of trouble.

Nice work from the right edge at Talen Risati sparks a half break with a play that ends up with McCloskey. The winger can’t beat the cover defenders and flings an offload back infield that Risati does well to reel in before Caleb Leiaitaua sends a midfield bomb up that Manly defuse expertly while under kick chase pressure.

I think it Curtis Brown with a really nice, late offload to Stewart in Parra’s next possession that opens up a channel for the dummy-half to run in and earn a 6-again. The Eels pour on the pressure and while they can’t find points, Leiataua does produce a line drop-out with a deft grubber kick.

A tricky bounce from the restart nearly catches the Eels out but they manage to trap the ball eventually. Nauer trucks it up before some second phase play nearly comes unstuck – great hands from Polley to save it before finding Noa. Speaking of hands, sparkling work from the left edge! Cyrus Bloomfield uses speed and a swerve before feeding a perfect pass to Santiago Uata as the winger dives over for first points! Great little passage there.

 

Try scored by Santiago Uata. Conversion unsuccessful by Talen Risati.

Eels lead 4-0

9min gone

 

Brown with the opening run now but he is met strongly by the defence. Noa and Nauer go next before Brown and Bell get the Eels to their kick. Gee that is important too because Christopher Moala was a man on a mission! He hares after the towering midfield bomb and soars over the Manly fullback to make a spectacular run and catch! Incredible effort from the right centre but he is not done by any measure! He still have 20m+ to cover with defenders closing in but he has the speed and power to fight his way over the line to seal a superb individual try!

 

Try scored by Christopher Moala. Conversion successful by Talen Risati.

Eels lead 10-0

12min gone

 

CHAMPAGNE FOOTY!

Just silk and velvet!

Outside-inside play from Risati and Davis – done to perfection as the fullback knifes through down Parra’s right edge. McCloskey flies through in support and Riley weaves an inch perfect pass to his flanker to secure a brilliant team try. Words do not do it justice! Just stunning stuff!

 

Try scored by Cobi McCloskey. Conversion successful by Talen Risati.

Eels lead 16-0

15min gone

 

A penalty from tackle one now as Chaise Attard picks up the call. A great touch finder puts the Eels on halfway to start their next set. The team build from left to right with a short ball to Polley before Leiataua runs the ball to the left on the last and is pulled down after using an extravagant dummy. All in all, not a bad to the set as the Sea Eagles have to come out of their own quarter.

That allows Uata to make good inroads with his kick return. Davis and Moala tack on to put the Eels inside Manly’s half. Bell rips in through the middle with a ferocious carry and play-the-ball that opens up the follow-up scoot. That nets the Eels a penalty as Stewart picks off the offside defenders and Parramatta quickly signal to the posts for what should be an easy 2-points for Risati.

 

Penalty goal attempt successful by Talen Risati.

Eels lead 18-0

19min gone

 

The Eels complete a sound set after the penalty goal. Nothing flash there but you are always happy to see a young team get to their kick after points. Manly grind their way to centrefield on the last but their kick is claimed easily by Davis as the Eels look to take play into Manly’s half en route to an attacking kick. Leiataua sends a bomb to the left where Uata gives chase but Parra’s winger allows his opposite to take the ball uncontested because he is looking to drive him into touch. Alas, the penalty is called due to a lack of momentum in the tackle and it is probably a fair call. Right idea just off on the execution.

Ah so close! Davis glides through the fractured Sea Eagles kick chase at the end of that set and makes 25m before looking to link up with support but his pass hits the deck and Manly recover it. Bold play but an unfortunate result. It opens the door for the home team to make an inroad into the big deficit but brilliant cover defence from McCloskey down the right edge prevents a near sure try and forces a double movement from the attacking player.

Signs of life from the Sea Eagles here as they produce a scything kick return that threatens points. Again though the cover defence from the right edge is unreal and turns a near certain 4-pointer into a 20m restart. I didn’t quite catch all the players involved but it was some combination of Riley Davis, Talen Risati and maybe Moala?

A set restart further boosts the Eels in the muster downfield but just as it looks they have come unstuck on the last tackle a penalty for offside defenders gives them a free play in front of the posts. Again they err on the side easy points as Risati points to the uprights for the penalty goal and a four-score lead.

 

Penalty goal attempt successful by Talen Risati.

Eels lead 20-0

28min gone

 

Attard with the lead run now. A good one as well. Nauer plows through defenders on the second tackle with a vicious carry that draws a penalty. Good stuff!

Attard gets the call next set with another carry as the Eels spin right to Moala as the siren sounds. He beats his opposite and threatens to break through for one last scoring play but the Manly cover defence arrives in time to prevent further damage on the scoreboard.

A brilliant first half effort from the Eels out at Narrabeen. They still need to go on and seal the deal but the signs are very good right now.

 

Half Time

Parramatta Eels 20 lead the Manly Sea Eagles 0

 

Second Half

 

Eels to kickoff.

Davis gets us back underway.

Manly fight hard for metres but Parra’s defence is switched on from the get-go and a rare downtown penalty against the home gifts the Eels a huge field position boost.

Tap and go as the Eels go two passes left to Attard. Davis ventures down the right on a sweep and finds Moala for a nice gain before Withers dances past a number of defenders for another good run. The big swing to the left goes awry when the lead blocker gets in front of the ball forcing a surrender tackle and Leiataua is caught running it from dummy half on the last for the turnover.

Manly do well to fight their way to centrefield for the clearing kick but Davis still catches it on the full. Uata and Nauer take early runs before Attard sets up the kick with a centreing run. The Eels drive the ball down their right edge and pour through in chase.

The Sea Eagles finally generate points in reply though, albeit from a questionable pass in my opinion. They hammer multiple plays down their right and pump fatigue into the defence before creating the line break. The pass that caused the break is the dubious one but it is greenlit by the touch judge and Parra’s cover defence can’t make the tackle on Tom Longland – the Manly winger – looming in support.

 

Try scored by Tom Longland. Conversion successful by Max Prykiel.

Manly trail 6-20

35min gone

 

And the complexion of the game changes in a flash. Imbued with the energy of that breakthrough try, the Sea Eagles punch a hole through the opposite of the field and it is their halfback Max Prykiel that is the benefactor as he pours through in support back to the right. Davis can’t bat the pass down and Prykiel scores under the posts. This game is well and truly on.

 

Try scored by Max Prykiel. Conversion successful by Max Prykiel.

Manly trail 12-20

38min gone

 

Now a set restart for Manly but they make a complete meal of the opportunity! They had numbers down their right off the back of the extended possession but have dropped the ball cold in a massive let off for the Blue & Gold. The Eels need to arrest this wave of momentum immediately.

Nauer is unlucky not to draw a penalty for second effort in the tackle before Stewart finds valuable metres around the ruck. Risati sends up the clearing kick but the Sea Eagles are winning the territorial battle right now. The defence needs another stop.

Better! The Eels do indeed hold on and find early traction around the ruck with a nice dart from Risati. The ref misses a high shot on Caleb as Talen hoists a bomb that is claimed by the Sea Eagles. A good kick chase helps out but the referee – after missing the high shot on Leiataua – aids Manly with a ruck penalty.

Critical tackle by the right edge on their goal line as the Eels hold on once more. Metres are tough to come by in return though and the ref spies a lost ball in a tackle. Might have been Bell there as the lock was met with a heavy shot. Big chance for Manly now.

Nauer delivers a bone rattler as a forward pass is missed out of dummy half on the following play. The Sea Eagles are looking to change angles around the ruck but the Eels adjust well. The Sea Eagles believe that have scored via their five-eighth Morris but the goal line defence hold him up only to concede a penalty on the last when they play at the hands of the dummy half. Tough call. They have gone the other way plenty this year but in years prior that has been called penalty consistently.

The guts on the goal line is rewarded when Many Elliot coughs up the ball in contact venturing down Parra’s left edge. Big metres finally come for the Eels as they fight their way into Manly’s half and a vigourous chase from McCloskey sees him win the contest for the bomb. His offload, an incredibly tough one, is off the mark though and Manly get the ball back.

Not for long though!

Ambush is the call from the sidelines and it is Talen Risati with the line speed that helps force the ball loose! Christopher Moala pounces on the dribbling ball and slices through a stunned Manly front-line to secure a crucial score against the run of play!

 

Try scored by Christopher Moala. Conversion successful by Talen Risati.

Eels lead 26-12

51min gone

 

Quality set after points. The Eels punch it to half way and close it out with a good bomb and chase. Think it was Nauer there with big effort on the kick chase.

Manly can on respond with an errant pass that trickles into touch down their left edge as the game slips away from them here.

Noa carts it up first and is met with a heavy tackle. Schaumekl follows to the left before the ball swings right to Moala where the dynamic centre gets it wrong fighting to his feet and drops the pill. The ref is right on it and quickly pulls play up.

Good slide defence from the left edge here as Bloomfield and Uata keep their eyes up and their hips open. Manly keep chipping away at the same edge and eventually pick up another penalty for the dummy-half getting taken too early.

Can the Eels hold on? Some tremendous early efforts in the following set keep Manly over the line before they play to their left but no – they switch it back to the posts with their lock Butler to bring up the last and then execute a sensational kick and tip back. McCloskey tries to shield his opposite over the sideline for the kick but the tip back infield is immaculate and allows the centre Oldfield to cross for a great try.

 

Try scored by Sia Oldfield. Conversion unsuccessful by Max Prykiel.

Manly trail 16-26

58min gone

 

Parramatta in no rush to get play back underway. Manly create something out of nothing when their five-eight Morris bursts through Parra’s right edge defence but the Eels manage to drag him down in time. Just when it looks like the home team have bottled it with a drop, the ref rules the Eels offsides. The Sea Eagles are able to punch the ball over next to the posts but the conversion is rushed and missed.

 

Try scored by Kai Brennan. Conversion unsuccessful by Max Prykiel.

Manly trail 20-26

59min gone

 

Manly throw it around with no time on the clock as the siren sounds and play expires. The Eels maintain a composed defensive line and although they made it difficult for themselves in the second half – they hold on! All four Parramatta teams will take part in the finals this year.

 

Full Time

Parramatta Eels 26 defeat the Manly Sea Eagles 20

 

SG Ball Team List

 

1	Cameron Bamblett
2	Dom Farrugia
3	Andes Johansson
4	Nathan Howlett
5	Aidan Kebourian
6	Lorenzo Talataina
7	Lincoln Fletcher
8	Isaac Jim
9	Lachlan Coinakis
10	Ryda Talagi
11	Mark Williams
12	Trace Beattie
13	Max Popo
14	Tom Summer
15	Wesley Pakoti
16	Elijah-Shane Tapau
17	Phoenix Tauasa
18	Lorima Saukuru
19	Michael Fililava

 

Match Updates

 

 

First Half

 

Eels kicking off.

Driving defence early on here as they push Manly back, looking to pin the home team deep in their half. They are too eager though and the referee finds a penalty in a competitive ruck to take the Sea Eagles out of the danger zone.

More punishing defence as Talagi and Coinakis combine through the middle. Manly send a bomb up to their left on the last but spill the ball in the following contest as the Eels hold on. A batted pass in the next set gives Parramatta the option for a set restart as they pack a scrum 15m out from halfway.

The ball comes left from the loosehead to Johansson for a good run. Right to big Isaac Jim for a solid charge before the Eels load up to the left. Sharp, swift hands from the right edge releases Aidan Kebourian into wide open space as Talataina and Johansson combine in the lead up. Aidan has plenty to do with the cover defence closing in but has the speed to get close to the try line and the power to fight through the initial contact to score!

 

Try scored by Aidan Kebourian. Conversion unsuccessful by Lincoln Fletcher.

Eels lead 4-0

5min gone

 

Jim steams in for a big run from the kickoff but undoes the good work with an error getting to his feet. An immediate chance for Manly to hit back now.

Split alignment from the scrum as they play right. Parramatta mark up nicely though. Manly work to their left now – just hands with no major shape used. A double switch of play takes the ball right then left when the sliding defence of the Blue & Gold traps the Sea Eagles on the sideline and forces an error. Nice work to cover the initial mistake from the kickoff.

Big carries from Johansson and Popo take the Eels to halfway with the latter also picking up a penalty. Nice stuff from the energetic lock there.

Talagi rips in from the tap restart ast the Eels spin right. Combination play from Fletcher and Talataina puts Howlett into half a gap for good metres and it lays the platform for a very brief goal line siege as deft work from Lachlan Coinakis out of dummy half finds a seam, maybe a chasm given his mountainous size, for Isaac Jim to crash over! Great work all around there.

 

Try scored by Isaac Jim. Conversion successful by Lincoln Fletcher.

Eels lead 10-0

11min gone

 

Jim with the lead run again but he plays it correctly this time! Popo has a good centreing carry before the Eels go left as Kebourian scoops up a bounced pass and heads infield. Talagi crashes into the defensive line to bring up the last where Fletcher feigns the kick and opts to run. He links up with Talataina who rifles a pass to Farrugia but the winger’s kick ahead rolls dead in-goals and Manly escape the danger.

Sharp defensive work from Lorenzo now. Linespeed and aggression nearly force an error. Tough metres for the home team – even with the aid of a 7-tackle set as they barely get to halfway.

Coinakis pours on the kick pressure as Farrugia claims the clearing kick and sorties infield.

Crisp, early ball to the right edge as they drive over halfway to set up the attacking options to the left. A silky tip on down that side of the field gives Kebourian a difficult tilt at the line but he is swamped by the cover defence and looks to fire the ball infield on the last. Manly dive on the loose ball for the turnover and then pick up a penalty as the Eels are caught infringing in the ruck.

The home team look to create something down their left with second phase play but Mark Williams makes an important tackle.

And now brilliant work from Dom on the right wing! He shows off the vertical leap and clean hands to defuse the attacking bomb and then pick up the penalty.

Eels find touch 10m short of halfway and get to work with their middles punching it up – including tom summer off the bench. Talataina turns the screws with a deftly stabbed kick that forces Manly to bat the ball dead. Quality play from the five-eighth.

Manly go long and give Talagi a chance to wind up. Right to Farrugia from there as the winger does well to stay in the field of play before the Eels pick up a fresh set for a tipped pass. They venture to their left from there where the exact same thing happens as Johansson tries to use quick hands to find Kebourian on his outside but catches the hand of a defender for a scrum to the Eels.

It is set infront of the uprights, just 10m out and that is what we call prime real estate for the dynamic attacking threats the Eels possess! Fletcher stretches the defence out ever so slightly to the right before feeding Talataina early ball and the acceleration of Lorenzo is too much for Manly as he crashes over for a simple try out wide! Fletcher drills the extras with a sweet strike.

 

Try scored by Lorenzo Talataina. Conversion successful by Lincoln Fletcher.

Eels lead 16-0

22min gone

 

Just suffocating footy now as Parramatta hammer the ball into Manly’s half. Coinakis sums it up brilliantly with a kick out of dummy half that forces a line drop out from long range. Outstanding stuff from the #9.

Manly go short but knock it on allowing the Eels an extra tackle to work with. Parramatta play bold footy either side of the posts and Manly hold on grimly. The passage of play includes dancing carries from Fletcher and Bamblett with the fullback also tacking up a bulleted cutout pass to Kebourian. However, it is Coinakis who shines brightest at the end of it all with a gorgeous cutout pass from the ground that puts the try to Nathan Howlett on a silver platter!

 

Try scored by Nathan Howlett. Conversion successful by Lincoln Fletcher.

Eels lead 22-0

26min gone

 

Surging metres for the Eels here and the visitors nearly force a second drop out from the kickoff as the ref takes a good look at Elkins kick retrieval before ruling he got back into the field of play. Gee I don’t know but it was super close either way.

It is a critical call for the home team though as they throw caution to the win chasing points and spin it right deep in their own half. It finds the overlap though and their centre Max Davies is rewarded for his support play as he outpaces the cover defence to score under the posts.

 

Try scored by Max Davies. Conversion successful by Tamoko Berryman-Duff.

Manly trail 6-22

28min gone

 

The door is kept ajar for the Sea Eagles now as Bamblett is pulled up for a lost ball getting to his feet. Manly pack the scrum 24m out from Parra’s goal line.

Early play goes to the right for the Sea Eagles. Parramatta’s left edge hold their shape with Trace Beattie making a critical tackle before the eels hold up Beau Alexander on the last for the turnover.

Tough call against Mark Williams there as the big backrower fought to get to his feet after a good charge. It leads to a penalty for Manly while the Eels are in possession. The Sea Eagles unravel on the last tackle of the following set but Bamblett misjudges his play at a second kick from the home team and gives away a fresh set.

The Eels stand tall under the mountain of defensive work on their goal line though and are in position to defend a final raid down their left edge as the ball is flung into touch by the Manly centre as the siren sounds.

 

Half Time

Parramatta Eels 22 lead the Manly Sea Eagles 6

 

Second Half

 

Manly kicking off.

Strong opening set from the Eels as they crunch the ball to halfway before neat work from Elijah-Shane Tapau keeps multiple defenders in the tackle to earn a penalty for a strip. The big man used his free arm to keep a defender engaged there.

Now sharp work from the Sea Eagles! Fletcher dabbed a little grubber kick for himself on the goal line and it took a big diving save to prevent him from securing the bouncing ball. Manly then pick up a penalty to go deep into Parra’s half as they look to reign in the half-time deficit.

Just dominant defensive work from Farrugia there. He shows Manly the sideline and they oblige with a cutout pass as he effortlessly checks off to his opposite and then heaves him into touch for the turnover.

Wesley Pakoti stays down in a tackle during the next set as his compatriots bay for a penalty with calls of a crusher tackle. He looks to be in some strife here with a considerable delay in the game. The officials did blow a penalty before the stoppage mind you.

Tapau gets us back underway with Pakoti following on the second tackle. Left from there and it is just too smooth and Fletcher digs deep into the line and finds his partner-in-crime lancing to his left as Talataina goes over untouched out wide. As good as combination in the halves as you will find in the Junior Reps!

 

Try scored by Lorenzo Talataina. Conversion unsuccessful by Lincoln Fletcher.

Eels lead 26-6

42min

 

Short kickoff from Manly and Howlett does a superb job to rise up and take it.

Fletcher uses Beattie down the left for a good gain before the forwards pass amongst themselves to end up with Pakoti taking a run. Fletcher swoops down the right on the last and has a crack at the line himself but Manly barely repel him although it has left a defender on the ground in a bad state. Time is quickly called as trainers attend to the Sea Eagles. I am not sure what happened there. Didn’t look to be a particularly violent collision. As always, hoping for nothing serious to have occurred to the young man involved.

We eventually get back underway with the injured Sea Eagle aided off. Manly complete the set and get to their kick as the Eels cough the ball up on halfway in return.

Staunch defence from Parramatta prevails as the Sea Eagles lose the ball in contact late in the set. The linespeed was very good from the Eels there.

Farrugia flies into the line from the scrum win. Phoenix Tausa is up next before Beattie takes the ball down the left. A tidy kick completes the set and pins Manly in the corner and the home team are now desperately chasing points. It leads to a big shift to their right and a bigger error as the sliding defence of the Eels closes in and stifles the time and space of the Manly right edge.

A weaving run for Talataina brings play to the posts where Summer tries to crash his way over next tackle. While he fails in that regard – although it was a good run – Dom Farrugia has no such issue storming over in the right corner next play. Good lead up work from Fletcher and Bamblett give him the opportunity and Dom is too powerful from that range to be stopped.

 

Try scored by Dom Farrugia. Conversion unsuccessful by Lincoln Fletcher.

Eels lead 30-6

53min gone

 

Fletcher claims the shortish kickoff. Pakoti and Summer take good early runs before Coinakis attacks the short side with Talataina. Lorenzo bursts through the front line but it looks like his pass around the corner is intercepted by the Sea Eagles in a fair effort from the defender.

Bamblett climbs high to defuse the attacking bomb at the end of the set but the ball is raked out by a defender for a Parra scrum.

A penalty then comes later in the following set after a great charge from Tauasa as the ball is very clearly reefed out of his grip on the ground. Jim takes the first carry from the restart before Beattie nearly finds a crease down the left. Same for Tauasa when the ball comes back to the right and he does so well to nearly score before he is dragged down. Third time is the charm though as the Eels spin wide right from there to give Farrugia an iso-look versus his opposite and Dom is too strong once again as he plants the ball down through contact to score.

 

Try scored by Dom Farrugia. Conversion unsuccessful by Lincoln Fletcher.

Eels lead 34-6

57min gone

 

The big boys are a rumbling as Jim and Tapau cut deep into Manly’s line. It positions the Eels for an attacking kick that Farrugia races through to contest and the referee rules a Manly knock on. Ooh that is a close one. Looks like he deemed it to be knocked back by Dom into a Manly knock on in the clean up attempt.

Crisp stuff from the Eels. Clinical one might even say. Fletcher is the key man to the left of the scrum as he uses speed and hands to find Kebourian out wide for the big dive and touch down. The winger springs to his feet off the ground and dusts himself off after the clean finish.

 

Try scored by Aidan Kebourian. Conversion successful by Lincoln Fletcher.

Eels lead 40-6

61min gone

 

Manly finally have some success with the short restart as they race through to take the ball and gt a chance to improve the look on the scoreboard a smidgen.

The goal line defence from the Eels has been feisty to say the least though and it is no different this time around as they swarm the Sea Eagles on either side of the field. For all the shining offence today – the defence has been setting the tone. The set culminates with Bamblett guiding a grubber kick over the dead-ball line.

Just lovely stuff now. Ryda Talagi had a magnificent opening stint in this game as he is finally back on in the latter exchanges as he plays with Manly’s right edge before offloading to Fletcher. Lincoln sorties all the way to the right and then flicks an effortless ball back inside to Bamblett to get his fullback in on the fun next to the posts.

 

Try scored by Cameron Bamblett. Conversion successful by Lincoln Fletcher.

Eels lead 46-6

66min gone

 

A rare error from Talagi from the kickoff as Manly get one final chance to tack onto the scoreboard. And they do manage to breach Parramatta’s steely goal line defence on the back of a grubber kick that is chased right to the dead-ball line by their backrower Ezekiel Paulo. A very good effort from the edge forward there and it prevents the Eels from notching the half century with the clock likely to expire after the conversion attempt.

 

Try scored by Ezekiel Paulo Conversion unsuccessful by Tamoko Berryman-Duff

Manly trail 10-46

69min gone

 

Well the clock doesn’t run out and indeed the Eels are caught offside from the kickoff as Manly get a penalty with a chance to score another try. Thankfully the Eels are up to the task and will not let the Sea Eagles find a way over again.

An emphatic conclusion to the regular season from the Eels as they enter the finals without a loss to their name. It will be a whole new season from next week but the SG Ball can be damn proud of their efforts this year. They have grown and grown into a phenomenal unit over the 9 rounds of footy played.

 

Full Time

Parramatta Eels 46 defeat the Manly Sea Eagles 10