|
|
Post by Electric Eel on Mar 16, 2023 21:29:35 GMT 10
THURSDAY 16th March: Manly Sea Eagles vs Parramatta Eels at 4 Pines Park, 8.00pm
|
|
|
|
Post by Electric Eel on Mar 16, 2023 21:34:07 GMT 10
Sea Eagles v Eels: Schuster ready to go; Arthur sticks solid
Here we go again, Manly and Parra.
One of the game's great rivalries reached a peak in the early 80s when the Sea Eagles and Eels met in consecutive grand finals and has been going strong ever since.
Speaking of grand finals, that's where Parramatta were just five months ago but they have started the new season 0-2 and face a tough road trip to 4 Pines Park to face a rejuvenated Manly.
Under new coach Anthony Seibold, the Sea Eagles won the Pre-Season Challenge and carried that form into Round 1, where the return of Tom Trbojevic sparked a 31-6 win.
With skipper Daly Cherry-Evans in majestic form and 'Turbo' quickly finding his feet after a long lay-off, Manly lived up to the hype in a five-try romp.
The Eels won both clashes between the sides last year, including a 36-20 victory at 4 Pines Park in Round 21, but the Sea Eagles were hitting the skids at that stage of the season as opposed to hitting their straps now.
Team News
Sea Eagles: No changes in the one-hour prior to kick-off team update, other than Karl Lawton moving up to be the replacement player. Five-eighth Josh Schuster (calf) returns in the only change to the side that beat the Bulldogs in Round 1. Hooker Lachlan Croker suffered a head knock in the season opener, but with the benefit of the bye in Round 2, he is good to go. Earlier in the week, Cooper Johns, Morgan Harper and Ben Condon dropped off the reserves list.
Eels: Winger Maika Sivo was charged with Dangerous Contact, but he is free to play after receiving a fine. Coach Brad Arthur is sticking firm with the 17-man squad that went down to the Sharks. The Eels are otherwise unchanged from last week's defeat with Jake Arthur named as 18th Man once again. Ofahiki Ogden drops out of the squad in the one-hour-prior to kick-off team update. Back-rower Ryan Matterson is one more week away from completing his suspension.
Stat Attack
Sea Eagles fullback Reuben Garrick has scored 98 points in eight games against the Eels.
Eels halfback Mitchell Moses has never won at 4 Pines Park (four games, four losses).
The Sea Eagles are chasing back-to-back wins for the first time since last July.
Manly centre Brad Parker plays his 100th NRL game this week. He debuted in Round 19, 2016 against the Warriors.
Eels prop Junior Paulo has made 159 post-contact metres across the opening two rounds, second highest in the NRL behind Payne Haas (169).
NRL
|
|
|
|
Post by Electric Eel on Mar 16, 2023 21:37:46 GMT 10
Manly hold out Parramatta in topsy-turvy match
Doubles to Tom Trbojevic and Haumole Olakau'atu helped Manly hold off Parramatta to kick off Round 3 with a 34-30 win and keep their undefeated start to the season intact.
In a seesawing match where the lead changed multiple times, Olakau'atu was able to seal the victory in the 77 minute after plucking an Eels offload out of the air to cross under the posts from 20 metres out.
The try came against the run of play, with the Eels in midst of mounting a tremendous comeback and meant a 78th minute try to Maika Sivo - his second of the night - was merely a consolation.
Played at 4 Pines Park to kick off Multicultural Round, the Sea Eagles started the game well, with Reuben Garrick opening the scoring in the seventh minute. Star fullback Tom Trbojevic then scored the first of his two tries in a high-scoring match, before his side seemed to switch off mentally and fell away in defence, allowing Parramatta to run in two quick tries for the visitors to go into the halftime break trailing 14-10 after a poor showing to start the game.
The first half was a game of two halves within itself, with Manly utterly dominating the first 20 minutes, before errors crept into the game and the Eels returned serve.
The second half was much the same template, with the Sea Eagles playing well in the first half despite letting Eels captain Gutherson cross for his second try in the 43rd minute.
The home side scored three tries to seemingly be in control of the match, before the Eels again fought back to set up an epic ending to the match.
Parramatta captain Gutherson tried his best to lift his team with his two tries halting the momentum that was building against his side, while Sea Eagles five-eighth Josh Schuster impressed with three try assists.
The result sees the Sea Eagles remain at the top of the ladder for now and leaves the Eels still chasing their first win.
Match snapshot
The Sea Eagles claimed back-to-back wins for the first time since last July after posting a Round 1 win and getting two points for the bye last weekend
Sea Eagles fullback Reuben Garrick entered the game with 98 points in eight games against the Eels and quickly added to his tally, crossing for the first try of the night.
Overall in the win - he scored a try, four conversions and a penalty goal for a total of 14 points.
Eels halfback Mitchell Moses had never won at 4 Pines Park and now has played five games for five losses at the venue.
Manly centre Brad Parker played in his 100th NRL game and celebrated with a try.
Eels forward Matt Doorey was forced from the field at 4 Pines Park on Thursday night after suffering a recurrence of a knee injury.
Fellow forward Jack Murchie failed his HIA after coming off in the 62nd minute
Four players scored doubles in the match, with Clint Gutherson and Maiko Sivo for the Eels and Haumole Olakau'atu and Tom Trbojevic for the Sea Eagles crossing for two tries each.
Kelma Tuilagi was put on report for a dangerous tackle
Play of the Game
In his 100th game, Manly forward Brad Parker scored a remarkable - but somewhat messy - try to celebrate the milestone. After Daly Cherry-Evans set up the opportunity with a 40/20 attempt that was thrown back into the field by Bailey Simonsson, the Manly chasers, including Parker, were able to get to the ball first to score the try.
What They Said
"We came with effort and we have got plenty of fight and resolve. We've been out there right at the death for three games, but we need more than just fighting up with effort each week, we need to execute our plan and that's probably more individually at the moment.
"We have scored some good footy tries the last few weeks, but the tries scored against us have been too easy." - Brad Arthur, Parramatta Eels coach.
"It's frustrating ... it's a cheap try, it's hurt us the past few weeks." - Clint Gutherson, Parramatta Eels captain.
What's Next
Next Thursday night, it will be a grand final rematch for the Eels who host Penrith Panthers in what should be a blockbuster clash at Commbank Stadium.
The Sea Eagles will head to Accor Stadium on Saturday night to take on the Rabbitohs.
NRL
|
|
|
|
Post by Electric Eel on Apr 7, 2023 20:11:20 GMT 10
|
|
1981 1982 1983 1986 