Match Report: Eels denied as Storm take GF

A controversial refereeing decision has cost Parramatta the chance of completing an incredible comeback and left the Melbourne Storm to win the 2009 NRL Grand Final 23 to 16. The Eels hard on the comeback, looked like they would be offered the opportunity to launch a final attack when Billy Slater lost the ball in a tackle however referee Tony Archer ruled that Moimoi had hold of an ankle. That decision enabled Melbourne to set up a field goal and put the match beyond doubt. That decision aside, however, the Eels cost themselves with soft defence. Ryan Hoffman brushed off Jeff Robson like he wasn't there and then Tim Mannah was fended off by a bloke half his size when Cooper Cronk busted through to set up a try for Adam Blair. Those two missed one-on-one tackles put the Eels behind the eight-ball from the word go but they kept holding on and by the end of the first half were looking threatening despite being down 10 to nil. What we really needed was to come out and score the first try and we did when Feleti Mateo ran hard onto a ball to set up a break, the ball finally going across to Eric Grothe who beat four defenders to get the ball down and make it 10 to six. However, unlike their previous matches when the Eels were able to mount a comeback we were just never able to mount back-to-back tries. Just five minutes after putting ourselves back into the match, we let Melbourne skip away again when no Eel contested a well-placed bomb and Greg Inglis steamed onto the ball caught it and put it down without a hand laid on him That made it 16 to six and it was always going to be tough from there, but made immeasurably tougher when Melbourne scored again - Adam Blair setting up Billy Slater for the match-winning four pointer. Down 22 to six, the Eels really went into full-drive attack and as soon as they did, they looked all over the better side. Immediate pressure saw Joel Reddy leap high to collect a Jeff Robson kick and touch down before Fuifui Moimoi set up a grandstand finish when he took three of four defenders over the line with him to put the game within reach at 22 to 16. However, with five minutes remaining Tony Archer made that call. Instead of the Eels getting a chance to mount an attack, having the Storm on the rack, Melbourne were given a penalty and Greg Inglis slotted the winning field goal. The fairy tale was not to be. Eric Grothe was phenomenal for the Eels. Fuifui Moimoi was awesome and Feleti Mateo stepped up into Jarryd Hayne's role as the Eels man most likely to spark our attack. However, it was really just those couple of soft defensive moments that let the side down and made this mountain one that was too hard to climb. The Eels will be back. We always looked like 2010 would be our year. 2009 was the year where we exceeded all expectations and lifted ourselves from pretenders to contenders. All Eels fans will be proud of the boys, even if they just couldn't get over that final hurdle.

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Replies

Djl October 4, 2009 at 7:27pm

yer we were robbed i wont be suprised if someone murders the referee, that said i am shattered so close :( this was our chance but storm were just way to good
graeme October 4, 2009 at 7:31pm

good on you parra u guys played well .one eyed u would be able to do this better than me from where u are me being in qld i reckon we should all get a petition going to get rid of tony archer i have touched on this site for a few weeks now saying tony archer is anti against us it just showed it again the worst call ever slater lost that ball fair and square ill be the first one to put my hand up to sigh we could send it of to the nrl board and the referees assoc cheers
GOlling October 4, 2009 at 7:32pm

MoiMoi Was Man of Match !
Mike Lee October 4, 2009 at 7:43pm

Slater is a confidence player. If Archer got it right, that would have been his second consecutive stuff-up.
Not saying we would have won if the correct call was made, but we would have at least had the ball in
a good position with the momentum on our side.

What really sux is that we were penalised for a blatant Storm error. It would have been bad enough if the
ref didn't spot the knock-on and just let Billy play the ball. But we had six points scored against us.
Do doubt Archer is feeling like an utter nob right now. Still no justice for the Eels.
- graeme > Mike Lee October 4, 2009 at 7:45pm
  
  only way to sort archer out is doing a petition to have him dropped his been making bad calls for last few weeks specially where parra are concerned his not feeling like a nob his feeling happy he got paid and can go home and sleep hope he has night mares of the the calls he made
Eelheart October 4, 2009 at 7:59pm

May be Archer had money on the Storm, there is not other explanation. the bastard cost us the game.
Go my beloved EELS
Johno October 4, 2009 at 8:01pm

Yeah I have to agree completely. DOn't forget to add that we should have got a penalty in our set before it when Tolman laid around in the ruck. I am completely convinced we would have got to at least golden point.

Maybe the refs box got a call that goes something like...."To eat more into the AFL heartland, Storm must preveil here".

The bottom line though is, we were defensively over-awed in the first half. Also, why oh why did Inglis even get a chance to catch that bomb in the 2nd half? That should have been covered by our guys!
- Sanbo > Johno October 4, 2009 at 8:23pm
  
  That try was the one which ultimately led to our demise.....Joel Reddy would never have allowed that to happen had he beem out there...
Dan_Ref October 4, 2009 at 8:17pm

devo!
Sanbo October 4, 2009 at 8:22pm

the Eels had one more try in them........That decision was an absolute shocker!
But Hey!....

Thats Footy

Looking forward to next year and extremely proud of the History we made this year.
Very proud of the Boys

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Match Report: Eels denied as Storm take GF

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