The Parramatta Eels Under 16s have made it back-to-back Premierships taking out the 2013 Grand Final 24 to 16.
As is typical with coach Chris Hutchinson's sides, theEels produced a highly professional, disciplined performance to overwhelm the previously un-defeated South Sydney team.
Both sides scored early tries, but a key portion of the match saw the Eels valiantly defend their line for a number of consecutive sets. When finally given the ball, the Eels made the Bunnies pay for their inability to score and official man-of-the-match Anthony Layoun regathered a chip kick, and beat the Souths cover defence to put Parramatta back in front.
As the match slipped into the back-end of the first-half, big blonde interchange prop Cameron King came onto the field and immediately made an impact with a smart off-load off his first touch. Another off-load not long later put the Eels away down the right-hand side and they would take an 14 to 6 lead into half-time.
It didn't take long for them to extend the lead when King hit the ball up hard close to the opposition tryline and he was too strong for the Souths defence and the Eels lead extended to 18 to six.
However, the Bunnies staged a fightback mid-way through the second-half and scored tries in quick succession to leave themselves just two points behind at 18 to 16 with ten minutes left-to-play. However, it was King again, closing off the match scoring with another rampaging run despite the attention of three or four Souths defenders.
As was the case with last year's victory, it was a tremendously strong team performance. Captain and hooker Joey Tramontana provided great stability and direction from dummy half. The Eel's talented halves pairing Troy Dargain and Michael Doolan many not have produced the the moments of individual brilliance they have demonstrated throughout the season, but they came up with some strong kicks to keep Souths under pressure and generally guided the team around well. Layoun was a danger every time he touched the ball. Meanwhile, the forwards more than matched up against the highly-rated Souths pack, with King obviously having a match-winning impact off the bench.
Replies
Chris Hutchinson should be promoted to NYC coach next year
Big jump from Harold Mats to NYC, what about moving the SG Ball coach up? He did quite well, he got a team that wasn't expected to make the top 4 into the semi-finals
There's no difference between Matts and SG Ball from a junior coaching perspective. And he was previously assistant coach for SG Ball. His Harold Matthews sides have been the only good news for this club for two years now.
Maybe he should follow this group of players up into NYC? That way he knows what they've gone through and what each player is capable of and whatnot? This group has some outstanding talent in the spine, in the forwards and in the backs; hopefully we can keep a lot of them.
agree that not much diff b/t Matts and Ball. coaching NYC is very diff as in recent years Parra has had some of the better NYC guys playing either NRL or at Wenty. If we keep the nuclues of this side together they will be a force to reckon with....and Hutch should get a shot at that.
Hutch is a very good coach and I think we may surprise Souths. Anything can happen in a GF.....pressure can get to young heads and they can do crazy things!!
EELS
1. Anthony Layoun
2. Brody Malietoa
3. Mark Griffiths (vc)
4. Ethan Fagaloa–Time
5. Sione Katoa
6. Michael Doolan
7. Troy Dargan
8. Jarron Costelloe
9. Joey Tramontana ©
10. Ben Vaituutuu
11. Simon Fonua
12. Vinnie Tikeri
13. Denzal Tonise
14. Matthew Price
15. Will Reardon
16. James Tasipale
17. Cameron King
18. Nathan Cooper
19. Josh Suli–Ruka
20. Langi Silu–Ruka
21. Joe Ratuvakacereivalu
22. Richard Latu
23. Zac Campton
24. Michael Markus
25. Jayden Stokes
COACH: Chris Hutchinson
SOUTHS
1. Keeden Kelly
2. Johnathan Tufuga
3. Reimis Smith
4. Siosifa Talakai
5. Dylan O’Connor
6. Robert Siteine
7. Jaiden Brown
8. Tristan Alvarado
9. John Neil
10. Gabriel Hamlin
11. Jack Hawkins
12. Cameron Murray
13. Nat Butcher (c)
14. Ryan Larrosa
15. Jake Gallagher
16. Joseph Mitrevski
17. Brody Fitzgerald
18. Josh Natoli
19. Blade Perri
20. James Ferguson
21. Emre Guler
22. Jarrod Cullen
COACH: Chris O’Connell
By the way, I'm going to say it now but blackbook our halfback Troy Dargan.
Troy Dargan and Mick Doolan have been great halves for the Harold Mats team this year, both seem to work well with one another throw in Austrlian Merit pairing Anothony Layoun and Joey Tramontana and that's a spine that could be very effective for the Eels in a decades time.
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