LeagueNews.co | Jess Malloy
Andrew Johns' call for Manly players Tom Trbojevic and Haumole Olakau'atu to be included in the Blues' State of Origin team backfired after a disappointing performance in a 30-10 loss to Parramatta.
The Eels capitalized on Manly's struggles, moving off the bottom of the NRL ladder, while Manly's captain, Daly Cherry-Evans, was absent due to Origin duties, alongside Jake Trbojevic, who was out with a concussion.
Despite missing their own Origin stars, Mitchell Moses and Zac Lomax, Parramatta outperformed Manly, primarily through substitute halfback Dean Hawkins, who contributed to four Eels tries.
In stark contrast, Manly's lack of direction without Cherry-Evans was evident.
Halves Luke Brooks and Jake Arthur struggled to orchestrate play, frequently relying on ineffective high kicks that Parramatta's fullback, Isaiah Iongi, handled easily.
Fans expected Trbojevic to rise to the occasion in Cherry-Evans' absence, especially after reports indicated he had regained mobility after a recent leg injury.
However, he failed to justify his omission from the Origin team, showing limited influence during the game.
While he assisted in Lehi Hopoate's two tries, he often opted to pass instead of taking on the defense.
Olakau'atu, who was briefly with the extended NSW Origin squad, also fell flat against the Eels, with 14 runs for 140 meters but lacking any notable offloads or attacking contributions.
His inability to threaten from Manly's right edge left fans questioning his selection in the Origin squad.
Johns had highlighted both players as deserving of a spot in the NSW squad, controversially suggesting Trbojevic should play as a center instead of Bulldogs captain Stephen Crichton.
However, the match against the struggling Eels reinforced the belief that Blues coach Laurie Daley made the right decision in excluding them from his 17-man squad for the upcoming Origin opener at Suncorp Stadium.
Manly's defeat dropped them out of the top eight, raising concerns about their performance moving forward.