Parramatta delivered a dominant performance to defeat Manly 44-10 in Round 18 of The Knock-On Effect NSW Cup at Kellyville on Sunday night, ending their four-game losing streak.
The Eels wasted little time making their intentions clear, with winger Devonte Vaivela crossing in the sixth minute to open the scoring after a sustained period of pressure down the right edge. Apa Twidle was unable to convert from wide, leaving the score at 4-0.
Parramatta continued to dominate the middle of the field, and their relentless pressure paid dividends again when prop Ryda Talagi barged over from close range in the 11th minute to extend the lead to 8-0. Twidle slotted the conversion on that occasion to push the margin out to 10 points.
Vaivela then grabbed his second just minutes later, finishing off a slick shift through the hands, as Parramatta ran in three tries in the first 17 minutes to leave Manly shellshocked.
The Eels continued to pile on the misery when Zack Visconti crossed in the final quarter of the first half, before Charlie Guymer struck with 45 seconds remaining on the clock to give Parramatta a 26-0 half-time lead after Joash Papalii converted the last-gasp try from next to the posts.
The second half brought more of the same, with Jezaiah Funa-Iuta pressing over from close range against the upright to make it 32-0. Vaivela then completed his hat-trick midway through the second half, taking the score to 38-0. Papalii, who finished with five conversions from six attempts, converted both tries.
Manly finally broke through when Blake Wilson finished off a sweeping passage of play with 18 minutes remaining, ending the threat of a shut-out as Tex Hoy added the extra’s. Parramatta prop, Max Tupou furthered the Eels lead within the 64th minute before Manly dug deep to find a late consolation from Hoy's chip kick, which found winger Navren Willett in the corner, rounding out the scoring at 44-10.
Talking Points
- Devonte Vaivela was the standout performer, crossing for three tries and completing a hat-trick that came across both halves.
- Ryley Smith and Lorenzo Talataina were superb all evening. Smith produced a telling 40/20 in the closing stages of the first half and finished with two try assists, while Talataina was involved in virtually every attacking movement and finished the game with two try assists, two line break assists, and one line break..
- Joash Papalii made a significant impact both in the back field and as the side's goal kicker, finishing with five from six conversions after taking over the duties mid-first half.
Key Moment
Charlie Guymer's try in the final 45 seconds of the first half was the killer blow. Manly had withstood several waves of Parramatta attack in the closing stages of the half, but Smith's dummy sent the defence the wrong way and Guymer crashed over to give the Eels a 26-0 advantage at the break – a margin Manly could never realistically recover from.
What's Next?
Parramatta face the Roosters at Wentworth Park next Sunday, with a chance to build on this victory. Manly, meanwhile, return to North Sydney Oval to take on the Bears, where they will look to arrest their now 14-game losing streak in what promises to be a fiery local derby.
