Parramatta all but ended Manly’s season with an emphatic 36-20 win at a sold-out Brookvale Oval on Friday night.
The win included a try of the season contender and moved the Eels above the Broncos into fifth on the ladder with four rounds remaining.
MATCH CENTRE: Sea Eagles v Eels, stats, video, squads
The Eels came out of the blocks with winger Maika Sivo scoring two tries in the opening eight minutes to stun a home crowd.
Sivo crossed untouched for both tries and with Mitchell Moses sidelined, the kicking duties fell to Clint Gutherson, who missed the conversions.
But Manly scored 14 unanswered points as the teams went into the break all locked at 14-14.
The Sea Eagles hit back against the run of play when Daly Cherry-Evans kicked a kick for Toluatau Koula to fly over the pack to score in the 20th minute.
Manly then kicked a penalty to equalise, before Jason Saab finished sensationally in the corner and Reuben Garrick converted to make it 14-8.
“What an incredible turnaround after all the pressure the Eels put on them,” Greg Alexander told Fox League.
Parramatta center Tom Opacic finished off a well-worked team try in the 33rd minute to close the scoring.
Manly struck first in the second half when Christian Tuipulotu crossed in the corner.
Garrick kicked a penalty in front of the posts in the 54th minute to make it 20-14 before Eels winger Waqa Blake scored an incredible try.
Blake used every inch available to produce one of the best finishes of the season over Morgan Harper.
“That’s an amazing try, he brought the ball way over his head, he got smashed by Morgan Harper, but he still gets the ball in the corner,” Alexander said.
“It’s a blade of grass from touch to goal,” Voss replied.
Eels skipper Clint Gutherson scored from long range after Shaun Lane broke the line and offloaded to his skipper who ran away.
“Shaun Lane has had 10 try assists this year, it’s been a very effective year for him down that left flank,” Alexander said.
Eels center Will Penisini scored after pouncing on a clever Jakob Arthur plow before Dylan Brown sealed the deal in the 71st minute.
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PREDICTION OF THE MATCH
Manly must win their remaining five games to clinch a finals place and regain a star-studded run against the Eels.
Jason Saab, Christian Tuipulotu, Tolutau Koula, Haumole Olakau’atu and Toafofoa Sipley return after pulling out last week amid the Pride shirt controversy.
Marty Taupau starts for Toafofoa Sipley who comes on the bench alongside Ethan Bullmor.
Parramatta get their best win of the season, beating Penrith 34-10, but without Mitchell Moses (finger) they will start as slight outsiders.
Jakob Arthur replaces Moses in the middle of the team sheet, but Fox Sports understands Clint Gutherson has been training in the halves with Dylan Brown.