The Parramatta Eels have registered their fifth win of the season after defeating fellow cellar-dwellers the St George-Illawarra Dragons 26-22. An inspired performance from Fuifui Moimoi helped drag the Pink and Blues over the line in a tough affair.
The Eels had a big re-shuffle after Jarryd Hayne was unable to recover from his knee injury. With Hayne pulling out, Sio went to fullback, Mullaney to the bench, Maitua to the centres and O'Hanlon joined the pack.
A dummy and run for the Dragons' Mitch Rein opened the scoring for the match with Tyson Frizzell then barging over from close range to give the Red V a 12 point lead.
Fuifui Moimoi then provided the surprise of the night when he latched onto a Luke Kelly bomb and crashed over the line. The Eels then went to their left flank with Matt Keating delivering a beautifully weighted pass to the flying Semi Radradra. Paulo's sideline conversion drew them level with the Dragons.
Then Luke Kelly continued his impressive performance, taking the ball to the line before popping the ball to a rampaging Moimoi who bagged his second. The steam train was winding back the clock and it was inspiring his teammates.
The Eels led 16-12 at half-time but the Dragons responded quickly after half-time. Shifting the ball quickly to their right side, Daniel Vidot touched down in the corner.
Ben Roberts reached into his pocket and this time pulled out a diamond with a flick-pass landing in the hands of a flying Semi Radradra. Semi left Nightingale for dead and the Eels once again had the lead.
Kelly then pumped the ball before delivering yet another terrific pass, this time to Sio who slid over from close range. But the Dragons would not concede defeat easily.
Nathan Fein hit a running Stockwell from dummy-half that had Stockwell crashing over. The score stood at 26-22 with just six minutes remaining. A last ditch kick ran dead and with it the Dragons' chances.
The Eels running out 26-22 in their Members week encounter. The cheers could be heard from miles around with impressive performances from Fuifui, Sio, Kelly and Joseph Paulo having Eels fans looking positively at next season.
Replies
My question is..why isn't Fui pushed to the centres for tackles 4 and 5 more often??? Surely he has a greater chance scoring on the huff with the opposition being composed of centers and a winger.
Anyway, we are definitely going to do better next year but if the board want to turn Parra into a winning team we must play all our games at Parra Stadium (OK we've got the NT deal and all but f@ck the ANZ. We get belted again and again).
Lol at the pink and blues. That was even worse than our pathetic away jerseys. Whois getting paid to come up with these terrible jerseys.
Anyway yeh Fui would have to be close to our player of the year. His slow play the balls were bothering me earlier in year. But they have improved hugely as season went on.