'World class' moment inspires 'special' Manly comeback

Daly Cherry-Evans has led an entertaining comeback victory over the Eels, producing a “world class” moment in the process that left two league legends stunned.

The captain was at his vibrant best in the second-half, creating three linebreak assists and scoring a try as the Sea Eagles overcame a half-time deficit against Parramatta.

Down by eight points at the break, the momentum shifted after the break as Cherry-Evans made his mark, producing a glorious pass to eventually set up Tom Trbojevic.

“This is absolute world class,” Phil Gould said on Nine.

Daly Cherry-Evans celebrates during Manly’s win over the Eels.

“Go back to the pass from side-on. He throws it before the gap is even there.”

Andrew Johns was also full of praise for the 35-year-old and his classy ball-playing.

“That pass from Cherry-Evans has made my weekend,” Andrew Johns said.

“That is special … as good as it gets.”

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Earlier in the night, Haumole Olakau’atu found himself in hot water and could draw attention from the match review committee after a dangerous tackle on Shaun Lane, which saw the Manly enforcer sin-binned.

Olakau’atu wasn’t the only player to be placed on report, with Ryan Matterson also placed on report after replays showed his massive hit on Luke Brooks landed high.

At the time, Nine’s Phil Gould described it as a “brilliant” tackle – but the Bunker didn’t see it in the same manner, with Matterson’s shoulder connecting with Brooks’ jaw.

“He got me a good one, it was a bit high but I didn’t lie down … he is a big boy,” the Manly playmaker told Nine after full-time.

“He made it tough for me in the first-half.”

Ryan Matterson was placed on report for a high tackle on Luke Brooks.

Maika Sivo bagged a first-half double in his return to first grade as the Eels dominated large portions of the opening 40 minutes at Brookvale Oval.

Before the break, Bailey Simonsson polished off a crisp backline play to score untouched in the corner for the visitors, with the hosts on the ropes at Brookvale Oval.

Will Penisini’s 57th-minute sin-bin for a professional foul would prove costly for the Eels, but there was a glimmer of hope nine minutes later as Sivo completed his hat-trick.

However, the efforts from the Fijian powerhouse were in vain, after a brain snap moments later saw him binned, allowing Manly to cruise home to victory.

Speaking to Nine after the match, Dylan Brown acknowledged the “ill-discipline” from the blue and gold outfit haunted them in another second-half collapse.

“A few errors didn’t go our way and there were a few ill-disciplined things,” he said.

“The two yellow cards didn’t help. You can’t make excuses, but it makes it a bit hard when you’ve only got 12 players on the field.

“That’s our own fault and you’ve got to size up.”

The loss will only place further pressure on coach Brad Arthur, with the Eels now slipping to 3-5 across the opening eight rounds of the season.