Parramatta pain to serve them well in twelve months

 
Alan Nicolea Roar Guru

By Alan Nicolea, 5 Oct 2009 Alan Nicolea is a Roar Guru

Tagged:
 , , , , , , ,

12 Have your say

Related coverage



The Parramatta Eels will look back on their 23-16 Grand Final loss to the Melbourne Storm on Sunday and hopefully see it as an opportunity to build on a character defining performance that almost allowed them to end their fairytale season with what would have been a remarkable premiership victory.

Daniel Anderson’s men nearly pulled off one of the more remarkable Grand Final comebacks when rampaging prop Fui Fui Moi Moi scored a bulldozing try in the corner late in the second half, in a period where the Storm had their 16 point margin significantly cut in the space of a couple of minutes.

Indeed just minutes earlier, Eels centre Joel Reddy scored a terrific try after catching and grounding a Jeff Robson cross field bomb despite the desperate attention of the incoming Storm defence.

At that point, the scoreline still read 22-12 with Melbourne still seemingly in command of the game with under ten minutes remaining.

From the ensuing kick off however, the Eels managed to play out a supreme set of six which led to Moi Moi scoring a remarkable try based purely on adrenaline and emotion.

It was a period of play that truly summed up how Parramatta managed to revive a season on life support, and end up winning eleven of their next twelve games to make the Grand Final from eighth position, leaving top two sides the Bulldogs and the Dragons in their wake.

Indeed it was the moment that had brought the 82,000 strong crowd to life during an afternoon where Eels fans were bordering on the edge of supreme frustration.

In the opening forty minutes of the contest, the Storm were playing with the cohesion and experience that comes with four straight Grand Final appearances.

Key Melbourne players Cameron Smith, Cooper Cronk and Brett Finch ran the show superbly in the first half, playing all over the top of opposition halves Jeff Robson and Daniel Mortimer.

It only took Finch just five minutes to let former coach Daniel Anderson know what he had shipped to Melbourne, producing a precise short ball that saw Ryan Hoffman bust through the Eels defensive line and score the opening try.

Finch’s partner in crime Cooper Cronk was then next in line to showcase all his class, fooling the Parramatta defence with a neat dummy that saw the Test halfback make a break downfield.

Eagerly awaiting support, Cronk offloaded a neat ball to Kiwi forward Adam Blair to suddenly put the Storm ten nil up midway through the first half.

Craig Bellamy’s men now found themselves with one foot on Parramatta’s throat, and it would take a demanding effort from the Eels to wrestle themselves out of a difficult situation.

To the Eels credit, the attitude and resolve that has developed over the last three months was there for all to see, despite a lacklustre first half that saw them execute poorly on the majority of fifth tackle options.

Despite scoring an early try in the second half, a mixture of Storm brilliance, and Parramatta’s early season woes, threatened to kill off the Grand Final as a spectacle.

Just minutes after Eels winger Eric Grothe scored a try to put his side within four of the Storm, Parramatta make a costly mistake coming out of their own half to gift Melbourne possession.

Seconds later, Cronk puts up a bomb that was eventually swooped on by Maroons flyer Greg Inglis, to score a try under the posts.

While Inglis’ ability to sniff out a try scoring opportunity is second to none, the lack of enthusiasm for any Eels player to defuse a very dangerous situation was below NRL standard.

It was a moment that cast Parramatta’s fairytale season into a void which saw the Storm click into gear, and score a wonderful try, made possible by the clinical passing and support play of Cronk, Blair and Billy Slater.

At 22-6, it looked as if Melbourne would rival their emphatic 2007 premiership victory when they easily accounted for the Sea Eagles.

Instead, all the physical and mental belief that had been garnered throughout the second half of season 2009 sprung the Eels into life, as they forced Melbourne on to the back foot with some enterprising and powerful play with the football.

Key Eels players Moi Moi, Mateo and Grothe played out of their skins to lay the foundations for what was to become an enthralling finish to the premiership decider.

In the twinkling of an eye, Melbourne’s apparent dominance quickly turned into a fight for survival as Parramatta came within inches of possibly taking the Grand Final to golden point.

After the Storm gallantly survived a set of six on their own line thanks to an error from fullback Billy Slater, Melbourne were awarded one of the more controversial penalties in Grand Final history, when Moi Moi was alleged to have stripped the ball out of Slater’s hands near the halfway mark of the field.

Replays however suggest Slater lost control of the football by himself, and a scrum feed should have been awarded to the Eels with just under five minutes remaining.

However, Parramatta got the rough edge of a decision that ultimately allowed Greg Inglis to kick a field goal that garnered the Storm their second premiership in three seasons.

As the Eels come to grips with this defeat, they should rest soundly knowing they fought to the death against an opponent that has dominated the last four NRL seasons thanks to a tough and uncompromising attitude within the Melbourne team that takes no prisoners.

Despite being on the wrong end of the ledger this time, one truly believes the Eels have now developed the perfect blend of toughness and creativity in their game that may see them hold aloft the premiership trophy in twelve months time.

Enjoy sports? Enjoy a bargain? All Sports Online has your favourite sporting brands at up to 70% off. Online only, premium quality sporting goods and merchandise at discounted prices. Get a deal now.

Get a daily rugby league email

Our daily emails are only sent if there is content for the sport. You can subscribe to multiple daily emails; or get the daily Roar email with all our content in it.

We value privacy. More.