Eels Blogs

Parramatta put behind them one of the most traumatic and emotional weeks from recent memory behind them, when they defeated the NRL’s defending premiers 29 to 20 at an electric Parramatta Stadium.

Last week, the Eels were booed from the field. This week, they were championed as heroes. As the players embarked on a rare lap of appreciation following the match, it was as cathartic a Rugby League experience as I’ve seen. Through that gesture, the players both apologised for their performance from the week prior and said their thank yous for the un-dying support. There were 13,000 plus supporters there tonight - a bigger crowd than which showed up at last week’s local derby and that in itself was significant. But this win gave the fans the chance to show that all was forgotten and forgiven, for they provided an unusually charged atmosphere fueled by the contrasting feelings of hope and fear - and a little bit of Manly-Warringah hatred thrown in for good measure.

The crowd were certainly given early reason to find their voice as the Eels dominated the opening exchanges. Manly dropped ball and the Eels looked infinitely sharper with their triangulation of playmakers back on board. Indeed, it took just six minutes for two of those three to combine for immediate results - Ben Roberts chipping for Jarryd Hayne, who leapt highest, touched down and fist-pumped in the air in delight.

Manly equalised not long after, when the Eels were again exposed on their right-side. A compressed defence allowed for an overlap and Matai’s step was too good for a covering Ryan Morgan, before the Manly centre cleverly chipped for the ever-present Brett Stewart.

However, the beauty of Parramatta’s three playmaker structure is that it really is a constant attacking threat. He may be the fullback, but Hayne is still the guy who is going to end the season with the highest tally of assists. Which leaves Sandow and Roberts to do what they do and best - and that is to run. Try number two for the Eels was set-up when Sandow ran at the line only to be dragged down just short An overly eager marker defence, presented Matt Keating with an opportunity to open up the line with a dummy and he dived over simple as you like for a deserving try. The often-maligned Eels rake, was quite splendid out there tonight and finished the night with 114 metres to go with his four points.

Joseph Paulo has been a very nice addition to the 2012 Eels side and his ability to off-load gives Parramatta extra penetration in the middle, which in turn provides space out wide. It was a relatively simply backline play - Paulo, to Sandow, onto Hayne to deliver the final pass for Sio. Expect to see the ball, go through exactly those pairs of hands for the same result, plenty more times before this season is over. Sandow made it three from three with the sideline conversion to leave the Eels ahead 18 points to six. Unfortunately, Manly reduced the deficit just before half-time when Jarryd Hayne failed to clean up an awkward grubbed and Anthony Watmough cleaned up the dregs to score. Dale Cherry-Evans missed a very makable kick which left Manly still needing two tries as they trailed 18 to ten.

Scoring first would have almost sealed it for Parramatta, but this is a side that does not want for high drama. Once again, it was the right-side that was exposed with defenders over-committing and it was Jorge Taufua, who learned his trade in Parramatta’s junior grades diving over out wide. That’s been a constant and unfortunate refrain for the Eels this year, former Parramatta juniors having a cake-walk down the Eels right and it repeated itself not long after, when Jamie Buhrer crashed through a weak Chris Sandow tackle to touch down and put Manly in front for the first time in the game, albeit by just two points.

Close enough, if good enough. And tonight the Eels were. Ben Roberts is a different player with Jarryd Hayne in the side. Gaps seem to open up in front of him, where otherwise they don’t. And in a play that was quite similar to the try he put on against the Warriors, Roberts split Manly down the blind-side before finding Jarryd Hayne on his inside, and the Eels custodian raced away to put Parramatta back in front. A penalty, a field goal and another penalty later and Parramatta had done it, prevailing 29 to 20 when all of the doubters would have had them written off as heading towards an inevitable fall at the final hurdle.

Parramatta showed if they can keep Sandow, Roberts and Hayne together they will test any side. The combinations can still develop plenty, but their respective skills and the structure that coach Steven Kearney has them playing to, shows immense promise. So too was the kicking game tonight. All three of those players have big boots and the Eels were for the first time this year, able to play the majority of the game in opposition territory. It’s not the stuff you watch in the highlights reel, but this win was built off the back of that kicking game and also some tremendous work by the forwards. Hindmarsh was, as ever, inspirational - a heavy hit on the kick chase bringing the crowd to its feet and lifting his teammates. Fuifui Moimoi took full advantage of the additional freedom he was granted tonight - allowed to roam wide as a starting second-rower and he terrorised the Manly defence and Dale Cherry-Evans in particular. And Tim Mannah led the way up front, bullocking his way to 142 metres in a show of real leadership.

The reality check for Parramatta is that Manly weren’t very good. They missed Tony Williams terribly and his dominance on the fringes as well as Jamie Lyon who was a late withdrawal, and dropped far more ball than you’d expect of the premiers. Yet, they’re still a team stacked with quality of players and they’re tough, uncompromising style of play is never easy to combat. However, the Eels played hard, competed for the full eighty minutes and displayed enough class to get home in a game that they so desperately needed to win after last week’s debacle.

All of which goes to show that in Rugby League, one week may as well be a lifetime.