The fractured jaw he suffered when he was tackled by Manly's Anthony Watmough on Sunday has put a temporary end to his NRL career.

Parramatta's 34-10 loss to the Sea Eagles would have doubled the pain.

Keating can find solace in the following, however.

A month ago, when the Brett Finch saga was playing out, the speculation was about who might be Finch's replacement at halfback.

Keating was then just a former Eels under-20 five-eighth jotted down as a future first-grade back who had become a permanent NRL starter-replacement, but as a hooker with darting feet.

Coach Daniel Anderson plumped for him as halfback and Keating quickly found his feet.

How quickly was shown by how much Parramatta missed him when Keating left after 15 minutes on Sunday, quickly followed by concussed captain Nathan Cayless.

The perky, pesty Keating's absence saw the Eels become a team of silent individuals, their hopes quickly silenced by a resurgent Manly.

While Keating and Cayless had been there, Parramatta had been it, though Manly had showed signs of being pacier, more organised and more dangerous, as befits defending premiers.

``We were outclassed,'' was coach Anderson's summation of the eventual result.

Though Parramatta had no luck with injuries or the bounce of the ball, and kind bounces might have provided several more tries, it was a statement of fact.

Those tries would have come from individual moments rather than structured, cohesive attack.

Anderson also noted that a Manly regaining confidence looked like a team who could program a try when needed against a brittle defence. Another statement of fact.

Parramatta fans could console themselves that the Eels had a go, and fans can't ask for much more.

The rabid fan could say it was a moral Eels victory, since the unfaithful Jamie Lyon cut his former team to shreds, two-try winger David Williams is a Parramatta junior and another Eels junior, Tony Williams, was on the other wing.

Most of all they could claim fullback Jarryd Hayne was man of the match in a badly beaten team and has surely earned a NSW State of Origin place.

He next gets the chance to add to his claim against South Sydney at ANZ Stadium this Friday night.

Parramatta are now on six points and must win to keep finals hopes alive.