Kearney: Players are listening to me

Stephen Kearney says he hasn't begun to question his ability as an NRL coach and has faith his message is getting through to his players despite Parramatta serving up another woeful performance in their 40-24 loss to Manly at Brookvale Oval on Sunday.

The Eels were blown away in a blistering first half by the Sea Eagles as David Williams crossed four times in the first 40 minutes to set up a 34-0 lead at the break.

Brett Stewart's second try early in the second half made it 40-0 before the home side took their foot off the gas to allow the Eels cut the margin with four tries.

But the late flurry of points can't hide the fact the Eels are easily the worst side in the competition and will almost certainly finish with the wooden spoon for the first time in 40 years.

The terrible display will only intensify the pressure on Kearney, with the Eels winning just nine of 40 games since he took the job.

Asked whether he is beginning to question himself as coach and if his message is getting through to the players after another abject display, a defiant Kearney said: "I don't look at it like that.

"The first six sets we had were fundamental errors.

"I'm not going to say 'oh s..t, the guys aren't listening' and start questioning whether they're listening to me.

"That's not an issue."

The Eels were without star full-back Jarryd Hayne and lost hooker Matt Keating to an injury in the warm-up, but Kearney said there was no excuse for his side's shocking first-half effort.

"It was an ordinary day and it could have been really ordinary if the lads didn't show some fight in the second half," the Eels boss said.

"From the first three sets, there were two play-the-ball errors and a dropped ball.

"I thought we were competing with them early but you just can't give them cheap possession and we found ourselves in a big hole after that."

Asked what he said to his side at the break, Kearney declared: "I didn't need to say a great deal.

"We were embarrassed.

"It was just an attitude adjustment in the second half. They allowed us to come into the game but we had to take the opportunity and I thought the lads fought hard."

While there are plenty of problems at the Eels, the Sea Eagles are looking more ominous every week, despite their second-half fadeout.

Manly coach Geoff Toovey was disappointed with the way his side finished the match but said the brilliant opening 40 minutes shows they are serious about defending their title.

"Rightly or wrongly, our players individually made some poor decisions and took the wrong option," he said.

"I was disappointed for our fans really.

"But I thought for periods of the game, we were outstanding - particularly in the first half. We just went to sleep in the second half.

"I'm not saying it's acceptable, but I am saying that we're a good team and showed plenty of good football today."

Manly co-captain Jamie Lyon added: "Half-time was the worst thing for us.

"There was just too many errors and we were sloppy (in the second half).

"We'll try and look at the positive of the first half."

Toovey confirmed Stewart suffered a minor hamstring strain in crossing for his second try but was hopeful his No.1 would be right to face Newcastle next Saturday night.