Parramatta’s flying start to the NRL season has hit a hurdle with club captain Tim Mannah to sit out three NRL matches with a fractured shoulder blade.

Prop Mannah suffered the injury early in the Eels’ gritty Easter Monday win over Wests Tigers at ANZ Stadium and didn’t return to the round four fixture.

In better news for the fifth-placed Eels, who boast a 3-1 start to the season and the competition’s premier defensive record, interchange forward Danny Wicks has been cleared of a fractured eye socket after a heavy clash with a teammate against Wests.

Wicks is expected to be fit for Sunday’s round five fixture against Penrith at Pirtek Stadium.