Sometimes pride means much more than points. With nothing to play for after a season from hell, Parramatta Eels showed their true motivation after sealing a hard-fought one-point win over Manly to effectively end the Sea Eagles' finals hopes.Â
It was a fixture many had circled at the start of the year as a season-defining clash, potentially even one that could influence the minor premiership. The well-documented capitulation of the Eels' season and Manly's own struggles rendered it more akin to a dead rubber. But the two teams whose hopes of a top-eight finish remain mathematical fought with the vigour that the original bill had promised.Â
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Manly's finals hopes extinguished by Eels
A pair of second-half penalty goals for Michael Gordon condemned the Sea Eagles to a 10-9 defeat at the hands of Parramatta.
Playing without a host of stars, the Eels were out to prove a point and few nights have been louder than this at recent Parramatta games. When Michael Gordon sealed the 10-9 win with a late penalty goal, fans celebrated as if they had won a spot in the top four.Â
In a week where they were slapped with another major insult with their favourite son, Jarryd Hayne, turning them down for the Gold Coast Titans, they were desperate for something to celebrate.Â
Parramatta's fiery intent began immediately, with Brad Takairangi forcing an error from the first tackle of the match. Tensions simmered to boiling point form the resulting set when Darcy Lussick ​clashed with Beau Scott, sparking a small brawl as two penalties and three errors highlighted a tense opening.Â
It was a moment of brilliance from Bevan French that brought the most out of the increasingly hostile crowd as the Eels winger put in a short kick for himself to score the opening try of the match.Â
The youngster made an equally important contribution immediately after when rushing off his line to intercept what would have been a certain try, given he had two Manly players to his outside and was just 10 metres out from his line.Â
Just as Parramatta looked to have kept Manly scoreless by the break, Api Koroisau wrestled his way through three tacklers, twisting his body to plant the ball on the line to draw level. The hosts couldn't believe they were walking down the tunnel trailing after Daly Cherry-Evans had struck a field goal on the stroke of the siren to clinch a 7-6 lead.Â
That slender Manly lead failed to stop the Eels onslaught after the restart with only the bunker to thank for holding that advantage after Clint Gutherson looked to have scored his first try. However, a poorly timed decoy run from Michael Jennings was ruled to have caused an obstruction.Â
A high tackle from Josh Starling on Tepai Moeroa gave Michael Gordon a chance to put the Eels back in front with a penalty goal, only to be cancelled out minutes later by one for Manly converted by Dylan Walker.Â
It sparked a tense, erroneous and gritty final stanza, one that Manly ultimately failed to win. A careless foul off the ball gave the veteran Gordon a chance to seal the win from 30 metres, with the fullback giving the fans a respite from the season from hell.Â
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