Beating Melbourne in Melbourne is not something Parramatta do regularly. Beating Melbourne isn't something that has happened very often either. And most assumed normal service would resume this weekend after the Eels managed two wins over their southern adversary last year.
The last time Parramatta beat the Storm at AAMI Park was July 8th 2017. Slade Griffin was Melbourne's hooker, Ryley Jacks and Brodie Croft were the halves. This was a heavily Origin affected Melbourne bereft of its stars.
They'd also managed a similar win over Melbourne in Melbourne back in 2015.
But a win over a Storm with a strong side in Melbourne? You have to go back to April 16th 2005.
The Eels beat a Melbourne Storm side with Billy Slater, Greg Inglis, Matt Orford, Cameron Smith and Cooper Cronk 26-14.
This win though was one that probably shouldn't have happened.
That despite all the talk about Melbourne's missing players, the Eels are playing a centre on the wing and are beginning to scratch around for more forwards because a couple seem to be injured every week, while the backup halfback lands in hospital with appendicitis.
On Saturday evening Parramatta only had 48% of the ball, they ran for 200 fewer metres, had two fewer line breaks, 12 fewer tackle breaks and 44 missed tackles.
From here I could go into a discussion about Brad Arthur's use of the bench given he only used five of his allotted eight.
Instead though, the focus here is on Ray Stone. Because his effort in the 81st minute just about epitomises what that Eels side was about throughout the match.
Whether it was Stone himself playing right centre, or Shaun Lane charging down Ryan Papenhuyzen's field goal attempt or Tom Opacic recovering that charge down, this was an Eels side desperate to win.
And surprisingly, more desperate than Melbourne.
Stone chased Moses' shot at field goal when no one else did. It's a just in case chase. Something you'd see Nathan Hindmarsh or Ray Price do. Just going after because you never know what could happen.
Rugby league is a funny game.
How many times do you see that shot just scrape through the upright, or just miss and hand the opponent a seven tackle set?
The ball cannoning off the upright turned Stone into an instant hero, and a hero who may have played his last game in the Blue and Gold.
While Parramatta still look clunky at times and still don't seem to really, truly be that premiership threat some peg them as, maybe that is a reflection on us more than the team.
That we've seen this story before and we aren't ready to truly believe that the drought could end.
I don't blame you. Turning from doubters to believers is a hard thing to do when you have nearly four decades of disappointment.
But that game was something different. It was like the side took the Cronulla match personally and set out to bury it.
As an Eels fan I've long become used to the hope slowly killing me across a season where yet again we fall short come September.
But maybe, just maybe, it ain't the hope that kills you, it's the lack of hope that sneaks up and gets you.
Perhaps we could all take a leaf out of Ray Stone's book and chase that ball because sometimes it falls your way.
Replies
I get the feeling that Parra are building into this season. The fact that they beat Melbourne whilst still not playing at their best, and knowing that they need to improve on that, could set the scene for a big season. The injuries are a major worry though. We have seen other clubs come undone by injuries and we really need to make sure that doesn't happen here.
All squads are going to have depth tested over and over, not just injuries, but because of COVID. What has been encouraging is for the first time in a very, very long time, when our first pick goes down there's someone there to fill in who shines. Stone, Opacic, Waqa, they all did what needed to be done to fill the void.
We are far from perfect, as are most teams this end of the season, but our squad looks capable and they have belief. We know we can beat Melbourne, we know we can beat Penrith. This year has some promise.
"Stone chased Moses' shot at field goal when no one else did. It a just in case chase. Something you'd see Nathan Hindmarsh or Ray Price do. Just going after because you never know what could happen."
And this kinda wraps up my biggest criticism of our players and team. Go back and re-watch Melbourne's first try , Reeds dangling off the ball runner with his pinkie , and check out what our players around him are doing . Our senior players aren't leading from the front. Unless your names Mitchell Moses , you should be ashamed of how that unfolded last night with one single player showing the urgency Stone did.
Nice write up Super. Gotta keep the faith!!
Plus another week in the 8
Nice work super.