Sea Eagles eclipse Eels

An incredible four tries to Manly winger David Williams has ensured Parramatta's miserable season continued on Sunday afternoon, with the Sea Eagles cruising to a 40-24 win at a packed Brookvale Oval.

Playing his first game in seven weeks due to a hamstring injury, Williams crossed in the third, 15th, 26th and 40th minutes as the Sea Eagles built up a 34-0 lead by half-time.

Manly increased their lead straight after the break before taking their foot off the gas for the rest of the match but they still went on to register a comfortable victory in front of more than 16,000 fans.

While Williams' performance was astonishing, the Sea Eagles had plenty of stars with Brett Stewart scoring twice and co-captain Jamie Lyon setting up two tries and kicking six from seven with the boot.

Young winger Jorge Taufua, Daly Cherry-Evans, Anthony Watmough and prop Brent Kite, in his 250th NRL game, were also impressive as the premiers moved into the top four.

It was yet another horror show for the last-placed Eels, who made a host of fundamental errors throughout a pitiful 80 minutes, although they did show some pride by winning the second half 24-6.

But it will only mask what was a shocking performance by a side that looks destined to finish with the wooden spoon this season.

Besieged Eels coach Stephen Kearney had been assured earlier this season that he would remain in charge until at least the end of 2012 but the drubbing will only intensify calls for his sacking.

The only downside for Manly was a hamstring injury to Stewart, which forced the full-back from the field early in the second half, while winger Taufua suffered a corked hip.

Parramatta's day started terribly with hooker Matt Keating injuring his back in the warm-up and having to pull out of the game.

And it only got worse from there with Williams starting the procession inside three minutes thanks to a brilliant piece of play from Jamie Lyon.

The Sea Eagles co-captain leapt highest to tap back Kieran Foran's cross-field kick, with Williams alert enough to fall on the loose ball and score out wide.

Lyon slotted the tricky conversion to make it 6-0.

Eels skipper Nathan Hindmarsh was doing his best to inspire his team-mates - and was even involved in a scuffle with Manly's Steve Matai soon after - but it was the only fight the visitors showed all afternoon.

Three minutes later Williams had his second when he finished off a brilliant backline move that involved Jason King, Kite, Cherry-Evans, Stewart and Lyon.

Stewart got his own try on 22 minutes before unselfishly setting up Williams for his hat-trick four minutes later, before further four-pointers to Cherry-Evans and Williams blew the score out to 34-0 at the break.

The procession continued six minutes into the second half when Stewart raced 35 metres to complete his brace before the Eels finally got on the board eight minutes later through full-back Jake Mullaney.

The youngster, making his NRL debut in place of the injured Jarryd Hayne, showed some fancy footwork in beating five defenders to get over the line.

Ken Sio grabbed a late double for the visitors but it was a mere consolation on a bad day for the Eels.

Manly Sea Eagles 40

Tries: Williams 4, Stewart 2, Cherry-Evans

Goals: Lyon 6

Parramatta Eels 24

Tries: Sio 2, Mullaney, Burt

Goals: Burt 4

Crowd: 16,065 at Brookvale Oval