Our Eels have shattered a 77-year-old record for the club with a first-half masterclass scoring 42 points in one 1st half of football. The never-before-done feat secures this Eels team a place in our history books. It is now the highest-ever first-half scoring record in our 77-year history.
That's an enormous feat for this team that only a few short weeks ago was staring down the barrel of a bottom 8 season. Since the BA-Barrett partnership, the team have improved each and every week, taken injuries and suspensions to key players in their stride produced depth players across the park and are now mounting a real challenge to the competition.
With 5 wins on the trot and the longest winning streak this year, fans are allowed to start dreaming once again.
Our boys have now amassed 440 points in attack this season, propelling us to the number 1 position in points scored. Yep, that's right our attack is now rated as one of the best in the competition at round 17. Our differential of +132 is second only to two-time premiers, Penrith.
A lot can be said for the way our spine with so many changes has been able to steer the ship into this position. Our own King has stepped up to the leadership role, just in the nick of time, Cartwright has been reincarnated and knows his role like the back of his hand this year. Young Hopgood has come from the clouds to be in everyones game day top player awards. As we move up the ladder our boys are putting other teams on notice that last year's grand finalists are beginning to find their straps and intend on being in the mix come September.
A lot will ride on what happens on June 28th, the day Eels fans can call D-Day - in 4 days' time. It's then, Dylan Brown will enter The Downing Centre Local Court. What occurs during this plea/mention appearance could very well determine how far our Eels can go in September. Daejearn Asi has played well for a rookie and will fill in admirably but Dylan Brown he is not.
There are a few outcomes from this appearance, however, only 2 could see Dylan donning the Blue and Gold again this year.
The first is if the charges are downgraded and or reduced and a guilty plea is entered - The magistrate gives him his tap on the knuckles a conviction and a Community Corrections Order / fine etc.
The second is that all charges are withdrawn and Dylan is free to go. If any other outcome occurs then Dylan will be lost to us for 2023 and possibly depending on scenario half of 2024 whilst he awaits a full hearing court date, to judge his guilt or innocence.
I've come across a good article written by News.com which I will share below.
Parramatta Eels shatter records in 77-year first in Dolphins demolition job
Parramatta shattered all sorts of records on Saturday in a scintillating demolition of the NRL’s newcomers that made history
The Parramatta Eels made club history with a dominant 48-20 thrashing of the Dolphins on Saturday afternoon.
The Eels scored seven tries in a scintillating first half performance at Sunshine Coast Stadium to lead 42-4 at halftime.
The first half points-fest broke Parramatta’s record for the highest tally in an opening 40 minutes in the club’s 77-year history.
Will Penisini scored a double, while Andrew Davey, J’maine Hopgood, Clint Gutherson, Bailey Simonsson and Sean Russell also crossed for tries.
Remarkably, Maika Sivo — the NRL’s leading try scorer so far this season — was the only Eels back not to cross for a four-pointer in the first half.
“The Dolphins are in more trouble than Putin at the moment,” Andrew Voss said in commentary on Fox League.
“This is staggeringly good from Parramatta.”
Parrammata only added one try in the second half through Gutherson, while the Dolphins claimed three consolation tries, but the damage was done.
The wheels are starting to fall off the NRL newcomers but the Dolphins flyer Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow scored two runaway tries in the second half to ensure the scoreboard didn’t resemble a total bloodbath.
The scintillating first half set up Parramatta’s fifth consecutive win, which sees the Eels
“We just played tough,” Eels halfback Mitchell Moses told Fox League after the final siren.
“Our second half could have been better … I thought we were pretty good apart from that.
“We wanted to put together an 80-minute performance, but we didn’t.”
Eels winger Sivo was put on report for high contact on Felise Kaufusi, and he might have a case to answer with the NRL Judiciary
Mitchell Moses backed up from his State of Origin appearance by putting on a clinic against the Dolphins, passing 1000 career points during the victory.
The Eels halfback picked a perfect 8/8 conversions to score 16 points himself without scoring a try.
The victory was Parramatta’s fifth consecutive win and sees the Eels leap up into fifth on the NRL ladder, level on 20 points with the Rabbitohs, Sharks and Raiders.
Replies
Great post, Bluey. D-Day indeed.
Asi is great, and no doubt we can be competitive in finals with him there, but for me, we can't win a Grand Final without DB in this side. Just my opinion, of course.
Just feel a Souths / Panthers on GF day would be a bridge too far without him?
It just makes his situation all the more frustrating.
What we saw from Dylan Brown leading up to his gropefest was some fine form . However it's form we didn't see for quite some time . DB in that form is obviously a massive postirive for the team , But what if Asi keeps improving ? How do you change the winning formula to put in a bloke that broke the teams pact to lie low over the bye ? Not good for team moral really is it ?? We could just as easily go backwards .
If Asi keeps getting better then Browns a #14 for mine for the short term . It won't hurt Brown to have to earn his spot back that's for sure. . the kid obviously takes it for granted . I guess 20k a week will do that .
Yep they are good points wiz, and I see where your coming from with Dylan hurting us by doing the wrong thing. ASI is improving but I fear his experience level will not be enough to take us all the way this year.
But did he really break a pact? That same night most of the players Moses, Gutho Brown and so on were at a bar in Darling Harbour, Brown was the only dope who continued on to the Sheaf.
I dont know what happened that night re pacts etc, but it was reported that Dylan was at his cousins birthday at the time. I dont know if thats true or not either. The club also came out with a statement saying no players were under any restrictions re going out or consuming alcohol whilst on the bye weekend.
I tried to find where this "Pact" was reported. It appears that it has only been reported by the one and only Mr Ray Hadley on his morning radio show. Other minor outlets have appeared to then re-report this. So is this true or not.
I have to admit the scenes the following Monday on tv, with Dylan at training with the rest of team looked very friendly.
Bluey, "The Pact" quipp came from Mitch Moses. It was from the Triple MMM's Saturday Scrum (Sat morning, June 3rd) where Mitch & Aaron Woods spoke with host Tony Squires. A good listen, btw.
Around the 1:10 mark Mitch says:
At 3:20 Mitch also talks about Dylan. How he doesn't plan too far ahead and can just "rock up" and "boom" (the irony). Mitch also talks about setting up things for both byes (R14 & R18)
You can find Mitch on the radio quite often. I wouldn't be surprised if he ends up in the media a bit, post-career. Not sure he will, but it wouldn't surprise.
Even if the charges are downgraded, with some plea bargain, the NRL might still suspend him for longer. Any misappropriate behaviour against women lives in a highly charged political landscape. It's touchy.
Thanks mate, I was struggling to find anything except for Hadleys take. 👍
Yeah but only Dyldo Brown did the 5 Touch
That'd still to be proven lol
-
1
-
2
-
3
-
4
-
5
of 9 Next