Breathtaking Sea Eagles continue phenomenal run in thrashing of Eels

Manly have continued their electric run of form in a 56-10 annihilation of Parramatta, in a mega boost to their premiership credentials.

The Sea Eagles have now won 13 of the 17 games they've played since grabbing their first win of the season in Round Five.

Reuben Garrick scored a hat-trick in the thrashing of the Eels but the chief destroyer was again superstar fullback Tom Trbojevic.

The Blues State of Origin centre finished with one try, four try assists, five tackle busts, two line-breaks, five line-break assists and 187 metres.

Manly winger Reuben Garrick has crossed for a hat-trick in the 73rd minute and is now tantalisingly close to stealing a club record.

Garrick has scored 26 of the Sea Eagles' 56 points and is now only trailing former Manly stars Ron Rowles and Matthew Ridge for most points in a match. Rowles and Ridge are equal on 30 points.

Manly have continued to pile misery on Parramatta in the second half, running in three converted tries to be leading 50-4 by the 70-minute mark.

The first came through speedster Jason Saab, the next two through bulldozing centre Moses Suli and the fourth through second-rower Haumole Olakau'atu.

The Sea Eagles have now racked up 50 points in a game in five of their 21 matches this season.

The Eels clawed back a try through centre Tom Opacic in the 39th minute, but the Sea Eagles have taken a huge lead into the half-time break.

Des Hasler's men are leading 26-4.

Manly are thrashing Parramatta 26-0 after 30 minutes and their most recent try is topping the highlights reel.

The Sea Eagles have run in an exceptional team four-pointer, which began inside their own 30m area and was capped by Dylan Walker crossing for a try.

"They're untouchable," said rugby league great Braith Anasta on Fox League's coverage.

Commentator Dan Ginnane added: "This is a sensational play."

Anasta: "This has been incredible."

Ginnane: "They are a threat on any play."

Anasta raved about Manly, who have already racked up eight line-breaks.

"From anywhere on the field, from the first second they received the footy, it has been a fascinating first half here from Manly," Anasta said.

"And yes, Parramatta are struggling, and yes, they're in some trouble, but talk about taking advantage of your opportunities and just playing the perfect 30 minutes."

Manly have got off to a rocketing start, running in two tries in the first 10 minutes.

Centre Brad Parker snared the first try when he pounced on a Daly Cherry-Evans grubber.

And winger Reuben Garrick grabbed the second on the back of an exceptional Tom Trbojevic cut-out ball.

Tonight's clash between the Eels and Sea Eagles is pitting a man reportedly striving for a million-dollar price tag against a man who's already reeling in the big bucks, in a mouthwatering battle of the fullbacks.

Parramatta captain Clint Gutherson, who's currently on $750,000 per year and will be a free agent at the end of this season, is reportedly wanting to be upgraded to a million dollars per year, but negotiations have stalled.

One man who knows what it's like to be on a million dollars a year is superstar Manly fullback Tom Trbojevic, who's tonight presenting Gutherson an almighty task.

Can Gutherson prove in this highly anticipated duel that he's worth a million-dollar price tag?

Sea Eagles

1. Tom Trbojevic 2. Jason Saab 3. Brad Parker 4. Morgan Harper 5. Reuben Garrick 6. Kieran Foran 7. Daly Cherry-Evans 17. Kurt De Luis 9. Lachlan Croker 10. Martin Taupau 11. Haumole Olakau'atu 12. Josh Schuster 13. Jake Trbojevic 8. Josh Aloiai 14. Dylan Walker 15. Karl Lawton 16. Curtis Sironen 18. Moses Suli

Eels

1. Clinton Gutherson 2. Maika Sivo 3. Tom Opacic 4. Waqa Blake 5. Michael Oldfield 6. Dylan Brown 7. Mitchell Moses 8. Isaiah Papali'i 9. Joey Lussick 10. Junior Paulo 11. Shaun Lane 12. Ryan Matterson 13. Nathan Brown 14. Will Smith 15. Bryce Cartwright 16. Marata Niukore 17. Makahesi Makatoa 18. Ray Stone

For just the second time this season the Wests Tigers have notched back-to-back wins to keep their finals hopes alive with a 24-16 win over the Cowboys.

Needing a win to sit just two points outside of the top eight, the Tigers opened tonight's match with back-to-back tries to race out to a quick lead.

While the Cowboys responded to cut the deficit to just six points at half-time, the Tigers then answered back with consecutive tries and from there they never really looked back despite a late fightback from North Queensland.

The Tigers have stepped up in the second half and once again have a 12-point lead.

A try to Kelma Tuilagi has given the Tigers a comfortable cushion with just over 20 minutes remaining.

Currently sitting in the 13th spot on the NRL ladder, a win today will see the Concord-based club sit just two premiership points outside of a spot in the top eight.

Plenty to play for if you're the Wests Tigers.

At the end of the first half, it's the Tigers who lead 12-6.

After the Cowboys were unable to score during a dominant opening 20 minutes, they eventually crossed over on the back of a wild sequence late in the half.