Parramatta superstar Jarryd Hayne proved once again that no team relies more heavily on one player than the Eels as he powered them to their first win of the season with a 29-20 upset of NRL premiers Manly.
Limited to just a brief cameo back in round two due toa knee injury first suffered during the pre-season, Hayne scored a double and set up another as the Eels showed their first signs of life for 2012.
The same crowd which had last week booed their team off the paddock and threw coins onto the field in disgust were this week jumping on their feet - Chris Sandow kicking off early celebrations with a match-clinching field goal three minutes from time.
Manly's faltering premiership defence crashed to its third straight loss - a star-studded casualty ward that included pre-game withdrawal Jamie Lyon (elbow) seemingly growing as Kieran Foran limped off with a hamstring injury 12 minutes from time.
Hayne took just six minutes to make an impact as he reeled in a Ben Roberts kick to score next to the posts, but a 70 metre effort sparked by Steve Matai led to Manly levelling via Brett Stewart.
The Eels hit back as Matt Keating dived over from dummy half, before Hayne turned provider to set up Ken Sio for an 18-6 lead.
Hayne's only blemish on the night came as he slipped attempting to clean up a grubber top gift Anthony Watmough a try, though there was more than a touch of doubt about the try with video referee taking just one look to decide Hayne had not grounded the ball.
Showing the signs of a team that looked like it had forgotten the art of playing winning football, Roberts chanced his arm just after halftime with a long cut-out pass on his own 20 metre line that sailed over the sideline.
He was punished as Jorge Taufua scored his first NRL try and the Sea Eagles were down by only two points.
Signs the month-long losing streak had begun to take its toll were clearly evident as Chris Sandow unleashed on teammate Joseph Paulo after the Eels halfback was left exposed in defence as Jamie Buhrer trampled over him to give Manly the lead.
Roberts made amends for his earlier error to set up Hayne's second just after the hour mark and the Eels were again ahead 24-20, the Eels extending their lead to a converted try via a penalty in front of the sticks before Sandow's late field goal.
