The Parramatta Eels put in an inspired effort but it wasn't enough to topple the Johnathan Thurston led Cowboys. The Eels however were a different team to the one that was trounced by the Panthers.
Parramatta were the first to score when Matt Bowen didn't deal with a long kick and Ryan Morgan dived on the loose ball to notch yet another 4-pointer. But through ill-discipline from the Eels the Cowboys gained plenty of useful field position.
Parramatta defended gallantly, repelling continuous sets until they were finally broken when the ball was shifted wide and Ashley Graham touched down unmarked. Thurston missed the conversion and the score stood at 4-all.
But Parramatta were their own worst enemies and continually invited the Cowboys into their half on the back of mistakes and penalties. But the blue and gold wall stood firm, shutting down the best the Cowboys had to offer. They stood tall until just before half-time when again they were caught out when the ball was spread wide. This time Antonio Winterstein touched down. The half time score stood at 8-4.
Parramatta co-captain Jarryd Hayne silenced the doubters who said he couldn't defend after holding up both Gavin Cooper and then James Tamou. Not only that but nearly every kick put into the in-goal was met by Hayne who dealt with it.
The second-half started with Parramatta gaining the early ascendancy. Their early pressure paid off when Fuifui Moimoi crashed over from short range. The bollocking prop was given just reward for the constant pressure he was applying in both attack and defence.
But once again ill-discipline crept into the Eels' game. The Cowboys continued to hammer the Parramatta line but were continuously turned away. That was until the 68th minute when Brent Tate scampered from the back of the scrum and scored untouched. The resulting conversion meant the score stood at 14-10.
With the minutes ticking away Hayne began to inflict damage, firstly beating 3 defenders before accelerating up the touch line, only for the final pass to go to ground. Then, in the final seconds of the game the Eels went to their right-hand side, Hayne took the ball and hit Vai Toutai perfectly, only for the young winger, just centimetres above the ground, to lose control of the ball and preventing Chris Sandow from lining up a conversion from the sideline.
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Heart breaking loss but at least we fought for 80 mins. About 2cm was the difference in the end with a bit of colourful refereeing thrown in AGAIN.
Agree hayne was a standout last night. Anyone who thinks hayne is the biggest problem in this team are off their heads.
Hayne had one of his best defensive games. The forwards were good. But afterwards couldn't help thinking how much loko would be better off in the forwards. Kid is devastating when he runs direct, in the centres he is slow defensively and can't seem to pass to his outside man with line in sight. He has a forwards mentality, that is instead of passing to the open man he always tries to run over the top. Could of scored or come close a couple of times with the a try wanting. But enough of loko, alot of it has been spoken before in this forum.
Also our discipline and how would you desribe it, other than mental blackouts kills us. What i mean by that are that try tate scored from the scrum, before that the benji try from the tap. Also week in and week out we are giving up way to many penalties ( although last night i thought the refs were a little to quick in penalising us).
Apart from that a better performance that the crap served up last week. Too many jekyll and hyde performances.....gonna be a long year again....
What a ridiculous title.
We were Kilometres away from a win.
Most disgusting display of discipline once again.
This team will continue to struggle until Mr Stuart starts wielding the axe on those players who are constantly committing silly errors and giving away stupid penalties.
Excellent appraisal of Loko's inability to pass and give his winger some sort of a chance agung.
I believe he displays the attributes of the 'block headed' forward you mention.
He had a very effective offload sometime back, where has it gone?
Agree The Enquirer. Ricky should start with Matt Keatting, it is beyond my comprehension why this guy gets pick week after week, and has been happening for a few years now, Did he buy the spot or something!!!!
Loko is playing great footy in attack but his defence is awful and he desperately needs to start passing the ball. You might aswell not put a winger outside him at the moment coz he just refuses to pass it. He bombed a certain try and and another big chance in the 1st half. He gave Brent tate a lesson twice with his in and away and fend and then didnt pass to finish it off.
Don't go there Clive lol
Both wingers are guilty of NOT being home in defence when the opposition spreads the ball wide.
Sio keeps coming so far infield to "shut down the play" I thought he had actually taken over the other wingers spot.
STAY ON YOUR WING YOU BLOODY IDIOTS !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Don't know if you will pick it up in replays but Tautai was actually pushing Morgs infield when one try was scored.
He had his hand on Morgs shoulder and was pushing him infield - couldn't believe what I was seeing.
From memory it created a 2 man overlap for the Cows.