Eels Blogs

• September 7, 2017 10:15am
• by CURTIS WOODWARD
• Source: FOX SPORTS

SINCE the unlikely Wests Tigers premiership triumph of 2005 — rugby league has been infatuated by the fairy tale. The miracle run. The dream come true.

Since ‘05 we’ve had our fair share of underdog hot streaks but none have been able to repeat what the Tigers did.

The Rabbitohs had their fairy tale in 2014. Who will ever forget those scenes as their fearless English warhorse Sam Burgess cried like a baby when the final siren sounded?

The following year it was Johnathan Thurston’s field goal that handed North Queensland their maiden title in the greatest grand final we may ever see.

Last season it was the Sharks. Harold Holt and all that stuff.

But none of these teams were the underdog. All were powerhouses at the peak of their powers.

All due respect to the finals sides outside the top five, but they simply can’t win the premiership.

This is a race in five and the odd one out is Parramatta.

Let’s be serious — this is Melbourne’s title to lose. They are the irresistible force and the immovable object.

Their challengers — the usual suspects — have great credentials.

The Roosters have a fearsome forward pack and cunning halves in Mitchell Pearce and Luke Keary.

Brisbane are still dangerous but are missing Darius Boyd and Andrew McCullough while the fifth placed Sharks are hungry to defend their crown but haven’t quite been themselves.

Tribute flow for Smith

It may sound odd but Bellamy probably prefers to face any one of them rather than their opponents this weekend.

The Eels are the spanner in the works, a fly in the ointment, a John McClane for Hans Gruber.

Their unpredictability makes them a problem for the Storm.

Melbourne has been in this position many times before — as raging hot favourites ahead of the playoffs.

But we have also seen them fall over at the final hurdle before and that only happens when they’re faced with the unknown.

Give them the Roosters or Sharks and they’ll know exactly what they have to do.

Give them the awkward Eels and watch them squirm.

Who could surpass Smith?

He peers into the television screen, rewinding, scribbling on his notepad, nodding and mumbling to himself. Bellamy is doing his homework.

Semi Radradra streaks away effortlessly for a try. Corey Norman probing. Mitchell Moses playing with freedom. Nathan Brown bustling and creating.

Bellamy watches on. Here is a man that has seen it all before, yet even he would admit that you can’t defend those without fear of failure.

And yeah the Storm racked up 60-odd points against the hapless Rabbitohs the other week. Two nights earlier Parramatta put 52 on the Broncos at Suncorp.

Parramatta’s credentials don’t match up against the likes of the Roosters, Brisbane and Cronulla but that’s exactly why they are the only team that can stop the Storm winning the premiership.

Parramatta play footy like their lives depend on it. They also know they aren’t given a chance in hell of beating Melbourne this weekend.

And if a September miracle occurs on Saturday, those chances increase that the Storm and Eels could meet again in the decider at ANZ Stadium.

So much has to go right for Parramatta just to win this weekend but beware the fearless underdog.

The Storm should win on Saturday. They should win in week three and they should win the grand final.

Yet we all know a game of rugby league is won and lost between the ears of 34 players.

Adding to the circus this Saturday is the celebration surrounding Captain Cameron Smith and his momentous 356th NRL game. There’s also the Cooper Cronk farewell tour.

Storm eyes are the Storm — not the Eels. Parramatta has a chance to snatch lighting from Melbourne’s bottle.

Believe it or not — they are the Storm’s biggest problem. But Melbourne should win.

They should.