Just as we all expected! The Parramatta Eels were too tough and too hungry for the lowly Sea Eagles. In a complete reversal of their respective ladder positions it was the Blue & Gold that largely dictated terms to Manly on the first Sunday of July. The stunning upset came on the back of some of the feistiest and energetic play of the Eels from the whole season – with a few comical moments for both sides.
Sixties and Forty20 celebrate a tremendous upset victory as the Eels set things right after a disappointing loss to South Sydney last week!
Those short, little kick offs (with a heavier ball) were a regular from Sterlo etc.
Definitely agree, that Eels performance was a huge surprise. Manly really struggled to contain their attack.
On a bit of a side note, again disappointed with the victory song. We only 5 seconds of it. Absolute disgrace.
Really a good win and some good attacking in their as well as scrambles in defence.
Really made manly look far less dangerous without Olakuatu not playing on an edge for manly, I can only imagine how happy eels halves were that he was not facing them today.
The eels are actually starting to look arguably better when Mitchel Moses isn’t actually playing. This isn’t the first time we have had a great performance with him out. That was probably our best performance this season?
Last seasons we looked like a 2x better team whenever Moses came back. Is that still a thing? No. I’d argue his form, his mindset, his leadership and culture displayed towards his teammates (especially young players), is quite embarrassing and would be very disempowering for some of them.
I think it’s interesting that probably our best performances this season have been when he isn’t playing. His form, confidence, and attitude is poor this year. He is clearly not as his best.
I personally think Volkman has proven that for a young half with minimal NRL experience that he is actually better than many give him credit for.
What’s up with Mitch Moses? Why does he talk about getting ready for nsw and seemingly not have as much hunger to focus on turning the eels season around?
My mail which I will take with a grain of salt, as we all do with second hand info. Is that Mitch Moses actually had high expectations for this year and was gunning for the finals this year after our strong finish to 2025. And I think we can see he seems let down or disappointed to some extent. It would be disheartening.. you can’t blame him.
Mitch Moses is ultra competitive. He would absolutely be frustrated finishing out prime career years in a team who looks nothing like when making the top 8, with no other elite players to alongside.
I was proud of the boys today especially our younger players, the 1% effort areas like Iongi’s tackle 1 inch before the try line was outstanding! Walker was also exceptional and provided great leadership. Great to get a win over manly!!!
A couple of comments after a really exciting win against quality opposition.
As to Volkmann, he seems to me to be surprisingly strong. Apart from the try, the stats publication I use credits him with five tackle breaks yesterday. He has a number of tries from running over the top of defenders who got a clear shot at him. Of course he is a deceptively big man; he isn’t tall but his recorded weight is 91 kilos – that’s a big man
I’ve observed before that I see him as a player of very great potential.
As to remarks about Mitchell Moses, I’ve never met him, have never heard a word to his personal discredit; I regard him as one of our greatest ever players and am grateful for some of the moments of pure joy his football has given me. I can understand the loyalty of his supporters.
It is simply to close your eyes to reality, however, to deny the obvious – he is one of the two or three highest players in world rugby league, he is signed with us for two seasons after this one and, for whatever combination of reasons, he has not made much of a contribution this year.
To concede that is not to disrespect his talent nor whom he’s been to us. To note that Volkman, who’s attacking football has been a strength of our season, whose defence clearly continues to improve is without a contract for next year so that, like Mataele, he could be lost to us any time is not to say he will ever have a better career than Mitch not that he should be signed through Mitchell being sacked. It is simply a reality to be acknowledged.
I have previously noted all of the reasons that motivating himself to.petform for a club that isn’t very successful may be difficult for Mitch. I acknowledge that that’s speculation.
He’s got the rest of the season to show us where he’s at in his journey for Parramatta. For club leadership the fact that our two halves from yesterday’s improved win were made up by one player who is moving on and another who could to-morrow accept an offer from elsewhere certainly needs to be acknowledged and thought about.
Tks men. I thought I was in an alternative universe today. Was doing some paving and thought the game was 4pm televised (punch drunk from too much sport right now), got a text from my brother in law saying Eels went well first half, raced inside, flicked on the TV and sat there for 40 minutes thinking “Is this for real?”..the whole vibe was off the scale( the normal scale), the flick pass, the Garrick re-start,the Ionghi trysaver, the Kelma stumble, the Pezet game sealer, the line speed, the sting, the Turbo lurking threat(he usually nails us), the Volkman footwork…the list is long. The game was allowed to be decided on merit (an emerging alternative universe).
A couple of randoms – Kautoga on the deck, ball carrying arm on the deck, tackled completed, Garrick takes a swing at the ball and dislodges it as a second action…if that’s OK, all coaches should have a tackler take a swing as the tackle completes.
Garrick again, he has form in staying down, like me has been watching the World Cup soccer.
Garrick again, the restart regather indicates he really is a quality schemer. 100% Sixties, far more should be attempted with the different re-starts.
And one more random- was Turbo in front of the kicker for the Walsh scrimmage try.? Interesting the other night, Gus called Souths in front of the kicker all game, like forward passes from dummy half, a blind eye is being turned.
A few things I took out of today. If jack Williams isn’t leadership material we re looking in the wrong place him and ryley smith are the exact two types of characters who just stand out completely in terns of leadership quality’s. I’d actually be devastated to see these two players leave the club.
Jonah, Sean and kelma as much as they have there moments of ok football I’m glad they’ll be moving on from the club there’s just way to much negative in all three of them
Lastly it’s a real shame to see walker apparently move on, I understand it in a way but I still think he has a lot of value to add at the club in some capacity
My live match notes (watching it at 9pm) and the rollercoaster ride of being an Eels fan…
Off the kick off – Predetermined to shift early – but then first hit up went no where and as a result the shift doesn’t work and the rest of the set was poor. Early sign we have no one capable of thinking.
Both props get bumped off by Paseka who gets an offload. Next play goes 80m up field….
Our right edge looks AWFUL. Tualagi and Pezet side by side is a recipe for disaster. Kelma HIA, I hope he is ok, but I also hope he makes a balls up of the Assessment and we get more Brown.
Possible try – doesn’t look like a try live, but Klein is in the bunker so its going to be a lottery all day.
Forward pass by Ward and no reaction from the crowd.. This might be a pesuedo away game… Now the Manly chant has started! We may need that taped “Parra” chant back?!
Try saver from JAC – highly underrated defender.
15mins gone. I have to say, 0-2 flatters us. We’re getting walked over in defence. Williams is missing as many tackles as he makes and in general we are getting pushed backward. Attack is very, very flat. Desperately need Walker out there to organise.
If Russell stays down there – Saab is in the bin.
Our timing with decoy runners is dreadful. We scored 2 tries last week – both from kicks – looks like the only way we will score today as well.
Manly kick the ball in to touch. There is a delay before the play the ball to restart play in centre field. And Pezet is at dummy half for the next two tackles. Where is the hooker?
Our timing with decoy runners is dreadful. We scored 2 tries last week – both from kicks – looks like the only way we will score today as well…. Or Volkman just walks through a poor tackle. Well done young man. 6-2.
Did well to survive after the intercept.
Try had to come eventually. 2-6.
Last attacking play in the half. Not only does Kelma get in the road when not needed, then not shift the ball, he can’t be in the play! How bad a play is that?! Seriously?! This is the
complete lack of Football IQ that kills this team.
Half time 6-8 Manly errors keeping us in it and to be fair our handling has been much better. 4 interchange players used so TDS will go 80 minutes it seems. With our middles routinely out played physically, it doesn’t bode well for late in this game. Need Walker to have a game and Iongi to step up.
DYLAN WALKER!!! Turbo is still trying to work out what happened! 10-8!
And just like that we give it back because, once again, no football IQ, Manly get the ball back from the kick off with players out of position and we’re behind again. 10-14
Well done Volkman. He has done pretty well the young fella. Not sure you win a comp with him as your 5/8, but he has filled in the void this year 16-14
Kautoga is banned from challenges. That Is not the first time this year he has clearly knocked on and demanded a challenge.
Eels defence has definitely got better as the game has gone on, particularly on the edges.
Garrick is pathetic. Backs into tackles all the time, stays down looking for crusher penalties all the time. Refs have to have a tip sheet on him. Serves him right having to go get HIA’d.
Kelma… Kelma…. Kelma… Backrowers! We need backrowers!
Kelly throws a ridiculously stupid offload… and it works out with JAC making a line break.
Ben Turbo is definitely the lesser of the three Turbos.
Pezet scores and I actually think we deserve the lead. Been the better team by far in the second half. 22-14
23-16. Take the W. Second half Manly were awful, we contributed to that with some much better defence. There were moments today when our weaknesses showed – middles getting run over, edges missing tackles and their poor ball control, and just poor footy iq. But there was good resilience and the players who can do things did them. 3 points Iongi, 2 points Volkman, 1 point Walker. Honourable mentions, JAC, Kelly on both sides of the ball.
Great win by our understrength team of regies, juniors and seniors. The coaching staff will be pleased that the hard work they have been putting in at training has paid off and the effort areas are once again very good. Yes there’s mistakes and some fairly dumb footy in patches but overall very promising.
I thought late in the second half we would tire and fall away but the effort was there for the whole game and I think our defence caused Manly to make poor decisions and make mistakes.
Also how good was Iongi? He is getting better each game back and some of the other young ones have stepped up and really having a go, great to see.
Looking forward to the grades this week and I’m sure Gol will put a smile on everyones face.
Go The Eels
The season has shown us many things and teams have evolved with the rules, body sizes and injuries. A common denominator remains you need to have two big middles who can move well and play beyond 20-30 minutes They create so much when these big boys punch forward and get to their feet quickly.
From yesterdays match, PEZET can go no issue there. Yes he scored a nice try but he needed to run the ball more and create and left it all to VOLKMAN. He is a handy footballer when he plays in a star team with big forwards going ahead.
WILLIAMS is a 2026 Nathan CAYLESS. Full of heart, passion and tank but prone to the odd error . Definately a leader though.
JAC I believe is our best buy in last 10 years. He is the ultimate winger and mentor. Rarely misses his assignment and works with his young inside men so well. Never loses his shit and takes the hard run EVERY TIME. He could play til he is 40. Must Signing beyond his current contract.
LONGI is all class and if he has our Top 17 he would be unstoppable. His defensive game has improved rapidly in past 2-3 weeks. Definately our cheaper version of Dylan EDWARDS. Excellent game yesterday.
WE desperately need a hard nosed edge runner in his prime, like a Hudson YOUNG , NANAI or RADLEY. Go all day, can score tries, put hits on and change momentum. REally shame we didnt snare Keon he is impressive.
I was proud that yesterdays old boys day meant something and we never gave up. Manly might rue that lost 2 points.
Really surprised that no offer was made to Dylan Walker. That’s said without any knowledge of the goings on but he still looks as though he has plenty to offer and such a pint of difference in that team.
Maybe we could replace Walker with Gutho coming back to play where Ryles wanted him to play with Saints picking up most of the freight as he does not seem wanted by them
Gutho is washed. We need talent not another broken 30+ year old from the dragons
Really enjoyable win over an arch rival. After the first 10-15 minutes I thought we were toast. So it was good to see the team recompose itself and stay in the game. Our straight line defence in that first bit was diabolical but our scrambling defence kept us in the game.
I agree with A.B., Iongi’s defence seems to be improving as the seasons progresses. But then again it needed to. He is one of the blokes Ryles is referring to as having to play 50 games to get 50 games experience and we know there will be learning hiccups along the way.
Special shout out to Walker. He provides such good direction and calmness when on. It is a shame the Eels couldn’t come to an agreement for next year with him. Sounds like he may have stayed another year if an agreement could have been worked out.
Also interesting to see TDS play out the match. He is so frustrating to watch but I do think he is going to be worth it in the long run.
I would like to see big Sam run hard all the time. Sometimes he seems to just amble up and take the tackle. He needs to run harder and skittle a few defenders. Perhaps he doesn’t realise what a wrecking ball he could be.
We are such a frustrating team at the moment. I really hope some of the young blokes and those in the age groups come through and show more than potential. It is time we became a consistently competitive team.
I’ve always thought that young Sam just seems to labour in his first 2 or 3 steps, his instant agility may be the thing to work on. Waerea-Hargreaves tore into the ruck from instant agility, like 0 to 100 in 5 seconds.The benefits would be numerous. I’d be surprised if this hasn’t already been targeted, but you never know.
As to Dylan Walker, obviously he will be a loss but the situation is understandable. I read the Leeds has signed him for three years. That’s a lot of security for someone who’ll be 32 by the end of the season
If we made him an offer it will have been for one season; responsibly, we should not have offered more. One of those situations where we’re destined to lose a player.
Still.
That’s Twidle, Walker, Mataele, Russell and Prezet leaving, Su’A coming and Volkmann and Junior still unsigned. We are in the awful situation that the squad next year could be weaker than we have now