 The Sea Eagles were then knocked out in their first play-off match by minor premiers, the Parramatta Eels.Manly-Warringah made an unexpected bright start to the 2005 season, at one stage leading the competition outright after round seven.However their season was marred early by the dismissal of John Hopoate who was given a 17-match ban for striking Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks forward Keith Galloway in the round two match.