Eels rookies put on a show against Turbo and lacklustre Sea Eagles

Tom Trbojevic missed a chance to make an Origin statement, while Mitch Moses’ replacement and an Eels rookie showed their class.

Fox League with Martin Gabor

3 min read

May 23, 2025 - 9:59PM

A statement performance from Dean Hawkins has steered the Eels to a dominant 30-10 win over the Sea Eagles.

Hawkins stepped in for NSW representative Mitchell Moses and starred with four try assists, while Joash Papalii celebrated his NRL debut with a try assist and try in the space of two minutes.

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Manly got on the board first through Lehi Hopoate, who went on to score a first-half double, but it was the Eels’ new-look backline that stole the show in the first 40 minutes.

Papalii was thrown into the action much earlier than expected after the Eels lost Will Penisini to a head knock 90 seconds into the game — and the 20-year-old shone.

The Eels scored two tries in two minutes to lock up the scores before getting a third just before half time.

Joash Papalii scores his first NRL try.

Hawkins had a hand in all three tries, while Papalii set up the first and scored the second.

The Eels picked up where they left off in the second half, with Isaiah Iongi and J’maine Hopgood scoring to extend their side’s lead.

Even with Tom Trbojevic in their side Manly couldn’t find the spark necessary to keep up with a spirited Eels outfit.

There’s no tougher job than stepping in to replace a superstar No. 7 but Hawkins passed the test with flying colours.

The Fox League panel challenged Hawkins pre-game given he was signed to the Eels for this exact reason – to steer ship when Moses was unavailable – and the 26-year-old delivered.

Tom Trbojevic failed to make much impact for the Sea Eagles. (Photo by Cameron Spencer/Getty Images)

He had a hand in all three of the Eels first-half tries with his kicking game, running game and passing game on show.

Hawkins put in a grubber under pressure in the lead-up to the Eels’ first try and then threw the final pass to set up their next two tries.

Champion halfback Cooper Cronk was particularly impressed with how Hawkins was able to put Jack Williams into a gap to score with the Fox League expert analyst calling it a “beautiful try assist” and added: “Dean Hawkins, give yourself a pat on the back.”

Hawkins had his fingerprints on everything in the second half too, adding another two try assists to his tally to take his final stats to four try assist and two linebreak assists as well as a forced dropout and 16 tackles with one miss.

“He was brought to the club for something like this and he has delivered for his team … he’s been absolutely terrific,” Cronk said.

Will Penisini suffered an early head knock for the Eels. (Photo by Cameron Spencer/Getty Images)

After the head knock to centre Penisini, Eels debutant Papalii was almost immediately thrust into the action against the Sea Eagles.

And the young gun, who arrived from the Bulldogs ahead of the 2025 season, well and truly proved he has what it takes to cut it in the NRL.

The 20-year-old impressed in the pre-season challenge, with many expecting him to feature in first grade earlier than Round 12.

However, he has taken his opportunity with both hands, setting up a Jordan Samrani try in impressive fashion before scoring one of his own.

“A moment to remember for this 20-year-old from Punchbowl … the joy belongs to this man. He has been compared in style to someone like Roger Tuivasa-Sheck,” commentator Dan Ginnane said.

“We haven’t seen his step yet, but we have seen his smile and that could light up CommBank Stadium.”

Papalii finished his side’s big win over Manly with 54 running metres and a try from nine carries, slotting onto the wing.

Tom Trbojevic, meanwhile, had chance to show NSW selectors they missed a trick by not picking him for the Origin opener, but instead it was a horror show for the Sea Eagles who looked lifeless without veteran halfback Daly Cherry-Evans.

Trbojevic played a part in both of Hopoate’s first-half tries and produced a strong tackle to deny a rampaging Luca Moretti, but he was well contained in attack and held to just one tackle bust.