A MINUTES AGO: Andrew Webster DROPS A SHOCKING NOTICE ON SOCIAL MEDIA TO…..
The Parramatta Eels have recorded a shock 30-20 win over the New Zealand Warriors at Go Media Stadium.
What a night from the Eels, who responded to a week from hell with arguably their greatest performance of the season to beat the Warriors.
It could’ve gone very differently for them. Much of the game’s opening period was dominated by the home side, who had the lion’s share of field position and possession but were unable to breach a resilient Eels defensive line.
For their efforts the Eels broke the deadlock in the 17th minute, scoring through winger Jake Tago, who finished off a skilful and purposeful back line spread that had shades of the Eels at their finals chasing best.
Not long after, Joey Lussick burrowed over and the Eels were not only up by 12 but also entirely in control of the contest, with their defensive excellence a key factor for this.
However, Roger Tuivasa-Sheck, selected on the wing for tonight’s contest, would cross for the Warriors just before the half hour mark, to give the home side a glimmer of hope that they could claw their way back into the game.
There was an air of controversy to the RTS try, with Parramatta feeling Dylan Brown was impeded by Kurt Capewell in the build up. Nothing was to come from it other than a Warriors four pointer.
Daejarn Asi would extend the Eels lead in the 35th minute after a poor Shaun Johnson short drop out found Clint Gutherson, who floated infield and found a barnstorming Asi, who streaked away to score.
That try, and a shanked Johnson penalty goal attempt right on half time, meant the Eels entered the break with a 14 point lead, and the wind firmly in their sails.
In the second half it was much of the same, with Parramatta attacking and defending with purpose and the Warriors having no answer for their visitor’s performance.
Much like the first half, points would be hard to come by until the midway point, when Blaize Talagi raced onto a Brown pass to score untouched.
“This is some night for the Parramatta Eels,” Fox League’s Dan Ginnane exclaimed after the Talagi try.
And wasn’t it just for the Eels, who will be disappointed a player of Talagi’s talents won’t be donning the blue and gold next season.
Five minutes later, Brown again asserted himself in the contest.
This time he attacked the right hand side of the field, showing and going in behind the Warriors defence before finding his captain Gutherson on support through the middle.
Fox League’s Dan Ginnane described the performance as being “as inspired as the Parramatta Eels have been in 2024.”
Gutherson’s would be Parramatta’s last try of the night, with the Warriors finding two late tries through Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad, Marata Niukore and Dallin Watene-Zelezniak that proved to be little more than consolation tries.
Parramatta’s performance shocked the rugby league world, many of whom expected them to roll over against a Warriors side fighting for their season in front of a buoyant sold out crowd.
New head coach Jason Ryles should take a lot of confidence from this performance, particularly with the way the Eels defended for much of the contest.
For New Zealand, they will rue a missed opportunity to push their finals claim. They were flat for large portions of this contest, unable to trouble a resolute Eels defence until right at the death, with two of their tries coming in the game’s dying moments against 12 men.
