Parramatta co-captain Tim Mannah has warned his teammates Friday’s stirring come-from-behind win over Manly will count for nothing unless they can beat Newcastle next weekend.

The rejuvenated Eels, wooden spooners for the past two seasons and without a finals appearance since 2009, have their destiny in their own hands and will finish in the top eight with victory over the Knights and Canberra in their last two games.

The 22-12 win over the NRL table-toppers who led 12-0 at halftime was one of the best performances from an Eels side in several years and Mannah said it was a huge result and he is daring to dream of the finals.

“I don’t like looking back too much but gee it feels nice to be where we are right now,” Mannah said.

“The normal cliche is that we are taking each game week by week, but the exciting thing is is that we control our own destiny and are in the mix.

“The last three years I think our season has been over by round 12 and to be in this position two games from the finals in really exciting.

“I always dare to dream, even if we are coming last or first – it’s good to have high standards.”

A Manly side rated as one as the best teams in the NRL were simply blown away in the second half by Brad Arthur’s men but the Knights are one of only two sides to beat them at Parramatta Stadium this season.

There will also be a huge crowd at Hunter Stadium for the club’s last home game of the season which is also the Knights’ popular old boys’ day – one that will be an emotional occasion given the career-ending injury to Alex McKinnon earlier this year.

Mannah believes the Eels have matured enough over the past month to hold their nerve but is expecting a huge test from Wayne Bennett’s side.

“We have a brand of footy this year that we can be proud of for once,” he said.

“We have matured as a team but the next two weeks are very important.

“It’s going to be a huge game at Newcastle and we have to prepare as hard and as well as we can for it.”