2021 NRL Round 11, Eels 6 Sea Eagles 28 – Report

Andrew Pelechaty reviews the game of the round between Parramatta and Manly-Warringah. Here’s how the game went.

SCOREBOARD

Player of the Year Points

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3 pts – Reuben Garrick (Manly Warringah Sea Eagles)
2 pts – Tom Trbojevic (Manly Warringah Sea Eagles)
1 pt – Brad Parker (Manly Warringah Sea Eagles)

MATCH REPORT

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1st Half

Along with South Sydney v Eastern Suburbs/Sydney City/Sydney Roosters, the Manly vs Parramatta rivalry is one of Australian rugby league’s most celebrated. With the Eels sitting in the top four, and Manly charging into the eight after a slow start, this promised to be another epic battle.

This hotly anticipated clash took on extra significance with the passing of Manly Warringah legend and long time Kangaroos coach Bob Fulton this morning, with Manly players wearing black armbands today, and a minute’s silence before the game.

Parramatta had the first big chance after six minutes when the Eels Captains Challenged a knock-on ruling, with Brad Parker knocking on and Parramatta winning the Challenge and getting the scrum feed in prime attacking position, but they couldn’t capitalise with Maika Sivo failing to take a cross-field kick.

Manly scored off the next set, with Parker on the end of a slick right-to-left movement. Rueben Garrick converted to give Manly a 6-0 lead.

Parramatta hit back five minutes later after Clint Gutherson scored as the Eels went down the left. Mitchell Moses converted to tied the game up 6-6. Hopefully this was an indication of the tit-for-tat contest to follow.

There was a high tackle by Blake in the 23rd minute, but for once it was just put on report and not sin binned? Were the referees finally starting to show some common sense?

Manly benefitted from the penalty when former Titan/Warrior Karl Lawton scored his first try for Manly. Garrick kicked his 12th goal in row to give Manly a 12-6 lead.

Minutes later, Lawton was the first sin bin of the day for high contact on Nathan Brown. Could Parramatta capitalise against the 12-man Sea Eagles? Not yet, as Manly got a penalty on the next set. later, Daly Cherry-Evans was put on report for a high shot.

After so much controversy in the past fortnight, this high quality contest – with an almost semi-final intensity – was just what the NRL needed.

Garrick and Parker combined again for Manly right on half-time, with Garrick breaking down the left and putting in a lovely kick which floored the Parramatta defence, allowing Parker to score his second try, once the Bunker checked that Parker’s pick up was clean. Garrick missed the conversion to give Manly a 16-6 half-time lead.

HALF-TIME: Parramatta Eels 6 Manly Warringah Sea Eagles 16

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2nd Half

Manly extended their lead when Garrick scored in the left corner. He converted his try to give Manly a 22-6 lead.

While there was no addition to the scoreboard, there was more sin bin drama, with Reagan Campbell-Gillard (57th minute) and Jake Trbojevic (59th) binned within two minutes of each other, while Blake was sin binned in the 72nd minute.

Manly secured a huge victory (both to honour Fulton and for their top eight chances) with Tommy Turbo scored as Manly went down the left again.

The win – Manly’s sixth out of their last seven games – shot them up to sixth, while Parramatta dropped to third.

FULL-TIME: Parramatta Eels 6 Manly Warringah Sea Eagles 28

Injuries

to be advised

Match Review Committee

Toafofoa Sipley (Sea Eagles) – Grade 1 Dangerous Contact Neck/Head – Early Plea $1150 fine, Guilty at Judiciary $1500 fine.
Karl Lawton (Sea Eagles) – Grade 1 High Tackle Careless – Early Plea $1150 fine, Guilty at Judiciary $1500 fine.
Reagan Campbell-Gillard (Eels) – Grade 2 High Tackle Careless – Early Plea 1 match ban, Guilty at Judiciary 2 match ban.
Waqa Blake (Eels) – Grade 1 High Tackle Careless – Early Plea $1500 fine, Guilty at Judiciary $2250 fine.
Waqa Blake (Eels) – Grade 1 High Tackle Careless – Early Plea $1700 fine, Guilty at Judiciary $2250 fine.

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