Sunday, August 22. We're back at Parramatta Stadium. Finally, a Sunday afternoon match, and the Stadium is sold out and the Eels fans, with hope in their hearts again, have turned out in force. In this match we see the return of the Parramatta offload. With the sun in the sky, the Eels go back to what they do best and, as they have done so many times in recent years, they carve up the Tigers to record an impressive 18 point win. Daniel Mortimer has his best game of the season, with Tahu creating havoc out wide given the space that has been created by constant offloading. Jarryd Hayne gets the balance right. He injects himself when he has to, but scores a great try from a traditional fullback support play. The Eels are now only two points behind the Tigers who are once again struggling to finish off their season.
Friday night again. August 27. It's a Souths home game at ANZ Stadium, but for all intents and purpose this is Parramatta home game, such is the army of Blue and Gold that has amassed. The 50,000 crowd is easily the biggest Sydney crowd of the season. Bunnies fans believe this match could see them make the eight, although they've been struggle without Sutton. Eels fans are believing again. It's a torrid opening to the match, but its in this match that the Hayne Plane really takes flight. He is awesome and cuts the Rabbits to pieces. We don't conceded a point in the second half, and in the post match press conference Daniel Anderson points to that as the most pleasing facet of the game.
And so it comes to this. Parramatta Stadium against the Warriors. The winner of this match is in the eight. The loser is done for the season. Once again, another sell-out. It's the brutality of the opening 20 minutes that will forever be remembered about this match and that Fuifui Moimoi bust that led to a 60 metre try finished by Joel Reddy. While the Warriors never gave up and it was as tense a match as you would ever want to see with the Eels never able to extend their advantage by more than eight points, they would prevail in the end by four and book another shot at a fairytale finals series. Yes, it will be back to Kogarah for a sudden death re-match, but who's to say we can't do it again. After the past four weeks, certainly not I....
TO BE CONTINUED
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:P
If 1Eyed Eel was a species being described in a David Attenborough documentary, they would say that "the 1Eyed Eel is distinctive in its inherent need to believe. Without belief, it loses all will and can be found huddled in dark spaces mumbling strange code-like phrases like KK.... 7.... Kicking game... Mateo....DA.... Bah...."
"The 1Eyed Eel is also well known for its appreciation of hooch, especially when aroused by the rhythm of drums or a triple-clap...."
Though if we do lose, ill be sure to repress what actually happened and ill re read this blog everyday during the off season in the attempt to lie to myself!
I'm with you though. I actually think the challenge of winning 4 games is very do-able providing we up the second phase play. Brisbane and souths with key injuries and the other games are at home. No excuses if we lose. Call me an optimist but I think we can do it!
I heard we are also fighting the Ben Smith charge.
There is still an inkling of hope and I'll hold onto it for one more week.
:-) :-) :-)
We have the talent to win, we have the players. Now we actually just need to go out and well... win. :-)
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