Better by half: How Arthur and Brown aced their character test

Playing just the 14th game of his career and fourth with Dylan Brown in the Parramatta halves, Jake Arthur showed he's made of the right stuff in Friday's 36-20 win over the Sea Eagles.

Coming up against experienced Manly duo Daly Cherry-Evans and Kieran Foran, who won a premiership together when Arthur was nine years old, the Parra pair stayed composed in a pressure cooker atmosphere at 4 Pines Park to keep the Eels well and truly in the top-four race.

After Manly winger Christian Tuipulotu broke a 14-14 deadlock with a try in the 45th minute it was Arthur's two try assists and Brown's try that swung the game in the Eels' favour and had coach Brad Arthur singing their praises post-match.

"Regardless of what happened tonight I know Jake’s character and I knew he would handle it," the coach said.

"I’m proud of him regardless, he’s my son, that’s just his character, he doesn’t let things bother him.

"Jake is just a young bloke learning his trade. He’s behind two very good halves so he understands what his role is in the team.

"I'm very grateful to the rest of the squad that they made it possible for him to do his job.

"Dylan stepped up tonight which allowed Jake a bit more freedom and a bit more time to get himself into the game."

Regardless of what happened tonight I know Jake’s character and I knew he would handle it

Eels coach Brad Arthur on son Jake

Arthur's first try assist came in the 56th minute when he lofted a perfectly timed pass over the outstretched hand of Manly winger Jason Saab to his own wingman Waqa Blake, who produced a remarkable putdown for a try in his 150th career game.

After skipper Clint Gutherson streaked away for a solo try in the 62nd minute, Arthur laid on a four-pointer for Will Penisini with a classy grubber kick as the Eels took control.

Brown's eighth try of the season put the finishing touches on the win as the Eels proved they can get the job done with their main man Moses, who is likely to miss another week with a finger injury.

"I said to Dylan after the game that's the best he has stepped up without Mitch [Moses] there. He stepped up as the senior playmaker and let Jake work himself into the game without too much pressure," coach Arthur said.

"The priority was moving on from last week’s win [over Penrith]. We’ve been here [to 4 Pines Park] quite a few times and been embarrassed. Even if the result went against us, I was happy with our fight.

"We stayed in the fight, we just persisted. I thought our control was really good and our discipline was good.

"I'm happy for the team, we stuck at it in Waqa’s 150th. We made a really effort around competing and being physical to reflect the kind of player he is.

"Our focus now is a really good Souths team next week. We made the mistake last year of worrying about the top four and we won't be doing that again, that's not our priority.

"We’ve struggled with them [the Rabbtohs]. They shift the ball well. Manly did that as well tonight and really tested us but we made a few adjustments at half-time.

"Jake and Will Peinisi had a lot of footy coming at them on the right edge and we will have the same next week."