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It’s been a long time coming, but it appears the Parramatta juggernaut may have finally clicked.
Talked up as premiership fancies before a ball had been kicked in anger this season, the Eels have lurched from one dismal display to another to join struggling North Queensland as the competition’s biggest underachievers.
But while the Cowboys have their issues with a coaching change and player unrest stymieing any hope for success, Parramatta have just been plain poor.
That was until today, when they ran in eight tries to one to dismantle Wests Tigers 44-6 at ANZ Stadium, propelling them into the top eight for the first time since their lucky opening round win over the Bulldogs.
“We’re getting there, definitely,” Parramatta backrower Nathan Hindmarsh said.
“The start of the year we were equal favourites nearly to win the comp and we weren’t performing up to where we were supposed to be performing at.
“The same question got asked each week – what’s the matter? Where are you going wrong?
“We knew we had the players where we could get a few wins and get back on track, it was just a matter of time and I think we’re starting to turn the corner slightly.”
If indeed the Eels were turning the corner, the Tigers didn’t see them coming.
Down four first-choice props before the game kicked off, they lost makeshift front-rower Danny Galea four minutes in due to a ruptured Achilles tendon.
There wasn’t even anyone around Galea at the time of the incident, the Achilles simply going as he moved up with the defensive line.
From that point they were little chance, the Eels scoring four tries either side of the break with Brett Finch and Feleti Mateo leading the Parramatta backs on a merry dance against a Tigers side which had no go-forward.
Tigers coach Tim Sheens refused to allow his side’s undermanned pack to be an excuse, though he may get some relief ahead of Friday night’s trip to Brisbane with front rowers Todd Payten and Bryce Gibbs, lock Liam Fulton and giant winger Taniela Tuiaki some chance of returning from injury.
“We gave them the field position where size does matter,” Sheens said.
“We allowed their size to dominate us by compounding it with a lot of dropped ball and discipline errors in the first half.”
The Eels started strongly with Luke Burt scoring after 11 minutes on the back of a Finch kick before a dubious strip penalty in Taulima Tautai’s favour allowed prop Josh Cordoba to double the advantage three minutes later.
From there it was simply a parade.
“Hages (coach Michael Hagan) mentioned that we didn’t want to look at who they had in and out and more to the point of concentrating on our game plan,” Hindmarsh said.
“They were minus a few players but it was a well constructed game, we stuck to a game plan, we didn’t get over excited when we started scoring points … we managed to control that excitement and pretty much put our foot on the pedal.”
NRL ROUND 14 SNAPSHOT
THEY SAID IT: “We knew we had the players where we could get a few wins and get back on track, it was just a matter of time and I think we’re starting to turn the corner slightly.” – Parramatta’s Nathan Hindmarsh following today’s 44-6 win over Wests Tigers.
STAT THAT MATTERS: Five. That’s how many front rowers Wests Tigers had sitting on the sidelines five minutes into today’s game when Danny Galea went down with a ruptured Achilles tendon.
MAN OF THE ROUND: Parramatta’s Feleti Mateo. Another spectacular display as he toyed with the Tigers. What NSW selectors would give to have this guy available for selection.
MAGIC MOMENT: Canberra debutant Justin Carney scoring not once, but twice in his first half of NRL action. Not a bad effort for a bloke from from Trangie – population less than 500 – situated between Bourke and Dubbo in far-west NSW.
TALKING POINT: Has Braith Anasta done enough to resurrect his NSW career and win the Blues No.6 jumper for Origin III ahead of Greg Bird?
JUDICIARY WATCH: Brent Tate (Warriors) – high tackle on Cronulla’s Greg Bird.
KEY INJURIES: Sydney Roosters: Mitch Aubusson (ribs); Penrith: Luke Priddis (knee), Josh Bateman (pectoral muscle), Tony Puletua (rib cartilage), Michael Jennings (ankle); Canberra: Joel Monaghan (abdominal); Parramatta: Mark Riddell (back); Wests Tigers: Danny Galea (ruptured Achilles tendon), Ben Te’o (severe cramp), Corey Payne (shoulder); Brisbane: Joel Clinton (suspected broken collarbone).
UNDER PRESSURE: New Zealand Warriors coach Ivan Cleary. After finishing in the top four last season, more was expected from the Warriors in 2008. Their form at home is not great while away from home it’s abysmal. Cleary may be the one to pay the price if things don’t improve.
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