PARRAMATTA EELS 23 MANLY SEA EAGLES 14
TOM SMITH, CommBank Stadium, Sunday

JONAH PEZET returned to first grade in style, leading Parramatta to an upset win over Manly.

Playing his first NRL game in three months following a hamstring injury on Easter Monday, Pezet scored the match-sealing try then booted an 80th-minute field-goal to complete the Eels’ boil-over.

Halves partner Ronald Volkman also proved a constant menace in Mitchell Moses’ absence, while Isaiah Iongi churned through a power of work at fullback.

Veteran utility Dylan Walker – reported to be joining ex-Parramatta coach Brad Arthur at Leeds next year – also produced the pass of the year to release Kelma Tuilagi for a vital second-half four-pointer.

Heading into round 18, the Eels sat above only the Titans and Dragons on the NRL ladder, whereas the Sea Eagles are in the hunt for a top-four place.

But the Pezet-powered Parramatta notched their fifth win in a row against Manly at this venue.

The result also leaves the Eagles waiting another week for their 1000th premiership win.

While Parramatta managed without NSW playmaker Moses, Kieran Foran lost Haumole Olakau’atu and Toluta’u Koula to Blues camp, as well as stand-off Luke Brooks, who tore his ACL against the Storm in round 17.

Brooks’ injury opened the door for vaunted rookie Joey Walsh to add to his four first-grade appearances, while Clayton Faulalo (hamstring) and Reuben Garrick (concussion) also came in – although Faulalo failed to finish with another hamstring complaint.

An offside penalty handed Jamal Fogarty the first points of the afternoon off his boot.

But it took until the 26th minute for either team to find the whitewash. It was Volkman who eventually did so, stepping his way through big men Corey Waddell and Kobe Hetherington from close range.

Manly had plenty of possession but only broke through via Lehi Hopoate in the left corner shortly before the break.

And on the stroke of half-time, Fogarty added another penalty goal secure a slender lead at the break.

The highlight of the afternoon came two minutes after the restart, when Walker broke the Sea Eagles’ line then unleashed an audacious no-look offload to try-scorer Tuilagi.

But the visitors found themselves in front again once Tom Trbojevic beat Pezet to a high Fogarty kick and Walsh scooped up the crumbs.

The rest of the contest, though, was blue and gold.

First Volkman and Kitione Kautoga combined to gift stand-out fullback Iongi four points.

Then when Tom Trbojevic spilled a risky Walsh pass, Tuilagi fell inches short of a second.

Pezet grubber-kicked for himself then Tallyn Da Silva converted to stretch the Eels’ lead beyond one converted try.

And after the desperate Pezet and Iongi denied Ethan Bullemor a try that would’ve set up a grandstand finish, the prodigal playmaker dobbed a simple field-goal in the final minute.

GAMESTAR: Fullback Isaiah Iongi scored a try, saved one through Ethan Bullemor late, and tallied 231 impactful running metres in the Eels’ upset.

GAMEBREAKER: Playing his first NRL game in three months, Jonah Pezet nailed a drop-goal in the 80th minute to round out Parra’s impressive win.

MATCHFACTS

EELS
1 Isaiah Iongi
2 Brian Kelly
3 Jordan Samrani
4 Sean Russell
5 Josh Addo-Carr
6 Ronald Volkman
7 Jonah Pezet
10 Jack Williams
9 Tallyn Da Silva
15 Sam Tuivaiti
11 Kelma Tuilagi
12 Kitione Kautoga
13 Jack De Belin
Subs
14 Dylan Walker
16 Teancum Brown
17 Harrison Edwards
18 Joash Papalii (not used)
19 Charlie Guymer (not used)
22 Toni Mataele

Tries: Volkman (26), Tuilagi (43), Iongi (53), Pezet (71)
Goals: Pezet 2/3, Da Silva 1/1
Field-goals: Pezet (80)

SEA EAGLES
1 Tom Trbojevic
2 Jason Saab
3 Clayton Faulalo
4 Reuben Garrick
5 Lehi Hopoate
6 Joey Walsh
7 Jamal Fogarty
8 Taniela Paseka
9 Jake Simpkin
17 Simione Laiafi
11 Corey Waddell
12 Ben Trbojevic
13 Jake Trbojevic
Subs
10 Kobe Hetherington
14 Josh Feledy
15 Nathan Brown
16 Ethan Bullemor
18 Aaron Schoupp (not used)
19 Zaidas Muagututia (not used)

Tries: Hopoate (36), Walsh (45)
Goals: Fogarty 3/4

SCORING SEQUENCE: 0-2, 6-2, 6-6, 6-8; 10-8, 10-14, 16-14, 22-14, 23-14

Rugby Leaguer & League Express Men of the Match
Eels: Isaiah Iongi; Sea Eagles: Lehi Hopoate

Penalty count: 4-4
Half-time: 6-8
Referee: Grant Atkins
Attendance: 18,778