NRL 2020, Round 10 | Manly Sea Eagles hang on against Parramatta Eels despite strip controversy

The Parramatta Eels were the beneficiaries of a divisive call from the bunker but it hasn’t stopped a the traditional rivals from turning in another thriller.

Daly Cherry-Evans celebrates with his teammates.

The Manly Sea Eagles have shown they’re not done in 2020 without Tom Trbojevic, taking revenge for the controversial finish to their last match against the Eels.

The Sea Eagles came away with a 22-18 win over the ladder-leaders, coming away with what Fox League commentator Michael Ennis called an “absolute ambush” at halftime with a gutsy win at Brookvale Oval.

Kayo is your ticket to the 2020 NRL Telstra Premiership. Every game of every round Live & On-Demand with no-ad breaks during play. New to Kayo? Get your 14-day free trial & start streaming instantly >

The Sea Eagles blew the Eels off the park in the first half with four tries, to which the Eels only had one answer.

It was the perfect revenge for the Sea Eagles who staged an incredible comeback in their last start, only to be denied by a now infamous forward pass controversy.

A 22-4 lead at halftime was enough for the Sea Eagles to defend, although the Eels fought hard to get back in the game.

After 54 minutes, Eels centre Waqa Blake ran 90m to score a try but in a controversial moment, it appeared as though Blake had stolen the ball out of Martin Taupau’s hands but it was ruled that he was attempting to offload.

“We feel regular bad decisions, it’s really hard to understand,” Cherry-Evans said in protest to referee Ashley Klein.

A chorus of boos rung out across Lottoland as the decision came up with Braith Anasta joining in the criticism of the call.

“I think Waqa Blake took the ball out of his hands,” he said. “In the call, I said Taupau was trying to offload but still I think Waqa Blake took the ball out of his hands regardless of whether he was trying to offload or not.”

WATCH THE PLAY IN THE VIDEO PLAYER ABOVE

Waqa Blake steals the ball.

NSW fast bowler Trent Copeland was particularly blown away over the call, having a Twitter argument with Fox League NRL commentator Warren Smith.

Try?! 🙈 Honestly. That’s all given by the bunker because of the guess on field. Hands all over it. 🤦🏽‍♂️ #NRL

— Trent Copeland (@copes9) July 18, 2020

Just because it’s Marty Taupau and you know the penchant for an offload, doesn’t mean it was an offload. The ball at no stage left his hand. Until the second defender in the tackle (Blake) took it from him. Strip by the rule book.

— Trent Copeland (@copes9) July 18, 2020

Which is not an offload Warren. Sorry, at no stage is a defender allowed to initiate the taking of a ball from a player in possession. Marty could’ve been doing a dance upside down with the ball between his legs and a finger tip on it, still can’t be taken.

— Trent Copeland (@copes9) July 18, 2020

That was a strip.

— Wilson Smith (@wilson_smith93) July 18, 2020

How’s that not a strip 😂

— Ryan Papenhuyzen (@ryanpapenhuyzen) July 18, 2020

Post match, Sea Eagles coach Des Hasler said he disagreed with the call as well.

“Apparently they thought he was trying to offload it so what do you do,” he said. “I thought it was a strip.”

But the Eels did hit back again until the final 10 minutes with two late tries leaving the ladder-leaders four points short.

The Eels were slammed in the coverage as being asleep, “sloppy” and hadn’t got off the bus.

The Sea Eagles on the other hand flew out of the blocks.