Jarryd Hayne belatedly kick-started Parramatta's NRL
premiership campaign with the Dally M medallist powering the
Eels to a stunning 24-20 comeback win over Manly at
Parramatta Stadium today.
Down 20-12 with just six minutes remaining, the Eels crossed
for two late tries with Hayne setting up the last for Eric
Grothe three minutes from time with a brilliant cut-out pass.
The Sea Eagles were again left to rue their inability to
close out games, having led 20-0 shortly after halftime when
Matt Cross scored the visitors' fourth try under the posts.
Manly also led West Tigers 20-4 in the opening round only to
be run down by the Tigers in the latter stages of the game.
Parramatta looked down for the count when former Eels Trent
Hodkinson, Tony Williams and Jamie Lyon scored first-half
tries, with the home side looking a long way from the team
predicted by many to win this year's title.
Things got worse when Cross picked a ball which had rebounded
off a Tim Mannah's foot following a Hodkinson kick, the Eels
finally getting on the board when Fuifui Moimoi charged over
from short range.
That's when Hayne took over, the Eels fullback taking pass
inside his own in-goal from 200-gamer Luke Burt before
beating five Manly defenders, the last of which left him
sprawling on the ground.
He passed off the ground for Daniel Mortimer who fed Timana
Tahu for his first try since his return to rugby league.
It looked like the Eels had left their run too late before a
controversial try to Joel Reddy in the 74th minute, with Kris
Keating's final pass to Reddy clearly travelling forward.
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