Round 8
Sea Eagles 23 d. Eels 22

2006 NRL Telstra Premiership Index [Table] [Draw] [Player Stats] [Club Headlines]

Location: Aus_NZ > National > First Grade Competition: NRL Telstra Premiership

Manly win SCG classic
Sun April 30, 2006
Manly and Parramatta played out a classic Grand Final in 1976 where the Sea Eagles won that clash 13-10 and today they came out close winners 23-22 in one of the very best games of the modern style football.

Parramatta in 1976 were in their first Grand Final taking on Manly who won titles in 1972-73 and were runners up in 1951, 1957, 1959, 1968 and 1970. The Eels were in there with a great chance and were denied when Neville Glover dropped the pass from John Moran with the line wide open. Glover however was a fine winger who played 119 first grade games for the club, was named as Eric Grothe's winger partner in Parramatta's Greatest Team and represented Australia in two Tests in 1978.

The Eels today had many golden opportunities to win the match but surrended leads of 16-0 and 22-12 to miss out when Matt Orford landed a drop goal in the final three minutes to seal Manly victory.

Brett Delaney scored Parramatta's first try when he was the spot from a well-timed Tim Smith after five minutes. Delaney converted his own try to give the Eels a 6-0 lead.

Parramatta extended their lead in the 26th minute when Delaney landed a penalty goal and went further ahead when Matt Petersen lept above the pack to catch a perfectly placed bomb to push the Eels well clear. Delaney converted the try and added his second penalty goal soon after for a 16-0 lead.

Manly scored two tries in the final three minutes of the first half to Brett Stewart and Chris Hicks to close the gap to 16-12 with Matt Orford converting both tries and put the Sea Eagles right back into the match after being out of it for the opening 35 minutes.

Glenn Morrison extended Parramatta's lead eight minutes after the break when he was in position outwide to score after the Eels got great field position following a break from Dean Widders. Morrison cashed in on a great offload from Timana Tahu where he attracted three Manly defenders. Delaney added the extras with Parrmatta leading 22-12.

Steven Bell continued his great season and confirmed himself as one of the buys of the season with yet another try to get Manly back into the match in the 52nd minute. Orford failed to convert but the Sea Eagles were within a converted try.

Brent Kite showed the form that won him State of Origin selection in 2004, seeing him rewarded with a big Manly contract for 2005 when he scored a very powerful and determined try in the 57th minute to level the scores following Orford's conversion.

The final 20 minutes was gripping stuff and was yet another Sydney Cricket Ground classic. Parramatta had their first opportunity to slot a drop goal but Tim Smith wasn't in a good position. Manly worked themselves into position where Orford slotted a one-pointer to the delight of the Manly supporters, which dominated the 19,000-strong crowd.

Parramatta got one last chance when Steve Menzies dropped the ball in good position. Smith had an opportunity in the final minute to send the match into Golden Point but his drop goal attempt went wide of the posts.

Both sides played exceptional football and despite the Eels slow start to the season they showed enough they will be there when the Finals are around and have extremely strong depth to their advantage.

The Sydney Cricket Ground is the most famous of all Rugby League venues in Australia but sadly very little football is played at the grand old venue these days. The SCG hosted the Grand Finals from 1913 until 1987 where the rectangular Sydney Football Stadium was build.

Manly won the last Grand Final to be staged at the Sydney Cricket Ground in 1987 when Paul Vautin led the Sea Eagles to an 18-8 victory against Canberra in front of 50,000 supporters and today Manly won a match of no where near the same importance as the 1976 or 1987 deciders but one that has shaped them as genuine title contenders for 2006.

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