Eels Blogs

The 2019 Parramatta Eels are already in a much better position than last season after claiming a second successive win to start the year, thumping the Canterbury Bulldogs 36-16 at ANZ Stadium.

In comparison, the Eels started their nightmare 2018 wooden spoon season with six straight losses.

Long-suffering Parramatta fans, who last lifted the premiership trophy in 1986, the 33-year wait could be a step closer to being over.

Since the NRL was formed in 1998 after the Super League war, the Eels have started the season with two wins just four times — in 1998, 1999, 2017 and 2019.

In the three times before this season, the Eels finished in the top four at the end of the regular season, making the preliminary final in 1998 and 1999 and week two of the finals in 2017.

The side has finished in the top four just two other times, in 2001 and 2005 where they started with a win followed by a loss in each season.

In fact, in their premiership winning days, the Eels started with at least three wins to start the season in every year except 1982, where the side lost their first game before winning six straight.

It’s enough to give Eels fans hope of returning to the NRL penthouse, especially after the performance against the Bulldogs but there is a long way to go.

A much-improved Canterbury ran out to a 10-0 lead on the back of more than 70 per cent of possession in the first 15 minutes before the Eels hit back.

Inspired by new recruit Blake Ferguson, the Eels scored 30 unanswered points.

Fox League commentator Braith Anasta praised the former Rooster.

“None better than Blake Ferguson, what a recruit, what a buy for the Parramatta Eels,” he said. “He has been so good the first two rounds of the season. An intercept, two tries, one try assists, he ran for 272m on the wing, he has been incredible the first two weeks and no doubt he is one of the reasons why Parramatta are undefeated after two rounds.”

Ferguson scored first, running onto a ball from Clint Gutherson, before young hooker Reid Mahoney took a run from dummy half and passed for Gutherson to score his first of the game and to take a lead into the break.

The first 20 minutes of the second half was a nightmare for the Bulldogs.

The Eels were quick to continue in the second half with Gutherson scoring his second after pushing wide for Ferguson to hook up with the Parramatta captain.

But it just got worse for the Bulldogs with two straight intercepts blowing the score out to 30-10.

“Oh no, this is a nightmare for the Bulldogs?” Voss said.

“What is going on here? They’ve won lotto twice in one day.”

First up, Ferguson ended a promising Bulldogs attacking raid, running the length of the field with no Bulldogs in sight.

Then new recruit Shaun Lane streaked away to score from halfway after snapping up an offload.

Channel 9 reported David Middleton can’t recall two back-to-back tries from intercepts.

The Bulldogs eventually hit back through Dylan Napa in the 63rd minute but it was too little too late as Eels rookie Dylan Brown finished off the match with the first try of his career, linking with Jaemon Salmon to score under the posts.

Bulldogs coach Dean Pay was pleased with the start of the game but highlighted putting together an 80 minute game as something his side need to work on.

“We’ve got the youngest squad in the competition, we are a young team, we’re learning how to handle difficult situations. That’s where we need to be patient with these younger players and get better at handling these situations.”

The opening rounds have seen a comtrast in form between the local rivals, leaving Bulldogs fans concerned about the season ahead.

Parramatta next play the Roosters, while the Bulldogs face the unbeaten Wests Tigers.