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Warriors 17
Eels 13
Well, in the end that was an incredible game of footy from Pirtek Stadium in Parramatta as the Shaun Johnson inspired New Zealand Warriors have recorded a golden point victory over the Parramatta Eels. The match winning play was a try to second rower Bodene Thompson after he got the ball about 20 meters out and just went for the line crashing over with a video referee decision that could have gone either way.
That followed an enthralling 80 minutes of regular time where you never felt you could turn away from the game.
During the first half the Warriors were dominant without being brilliant against a very ordinary Eels outfit. The Warriors, however lost both Ryan Hoffman (concussion) and Thomas Leulali (knee) within the first 20 minutes of the first half and this really threw them around in the second half in terms of fatigue.
The Eels were sloppy at best dropping the ball and completing less than 50% of their sets to the half time break. This created plenty of pressure and a pair of tries to Shaun Johnson and Solomone Kata. It wasn’t through a lack of trying though from the Eels as they were throwing the ball around a lot and trying to find a way over the line.
At halftime the score line read New Zealand Warriors 12 lead Parramatta Eels 0.
As the second half got underway it was evident that there had been a shift in momentum. The Warriors looked tired and barely touched the ball in the first 20 minutes, although when they did seemed to be dropping it at every opportunity.
This led to three tries over a 20 minute period as Anthony Watmough, Semi Radradra and Ryan Morgan all managed to crash over. Luke Kelly missing all his goals meant the game was all squared up.
Following the third of these tries to Morgan, the Warriors were able to slowly start competing with the Eels again and both teams had a couple of chances.
The Eels worked it up to their try line in about the 75th minute before the ball was lost and the Warriors went the length of the field against a struggling Eels defence. The Warriors shaped up to go to Shaun Johnson before Chad Townsend got in the way and decided to slot a field goal for himself.
Following that the Warriors had a shockingly poor set and the Eels were back on the attack. On the last tackle of what looked like the penultimate set the ball touched just about everyone before it got knocked on by the Warriors and the Eels were able to reset. This allowed Luke Kelly to calmly slot over a field goal.
With no more scores we were off to golden point.
Both teams had a crack at the posts with a field goal early in extra time before the Eels blew a golden opportunity. Takairangi off the back of an offload went left and held it for way to long before trying to pass to Radradra.
The Warriors got right on the attack and passed to Johnson who got rushed and decided to run it on the third. As they shaped up to come back into the middle Thompson got the ball and ended up going all the way to the line. it was sent upstairs, but riled a try and the Warriors had won the game with just 18 seconds left in the first half of extra time.
Shaun Johnson was brilliant for the Warriors whilst Lolohea again played incredibly well. Luke Kelly and Corey Norman were the Eel’s best on ground.
In the end though a 4 point win for the Warriors in golden point.
The Parramatta Eels will host the New Zealand Warriors in Round 10, in a desperate clash for both teams. Join The Roar from 2:45pm (AEST) for all the action.
The Eels are having an ordinary season so far. After winning a few and losing a few to start it off, they have lost four of their last five games to be left 15th on the NRL ladder and badly needing a win.
Meanwhile, the Warriors are eighth on the ladder with four wins and five losses, however there are seven teams with the same record.
Before the Warriors beat the Cronulla Sharks last weekend in a nail biter, they had lost two in a row, so will be chasing a convincing win against the Eels to get their season going.
In team news the Eels have dropped a bombshell by putting half Chris Sandow back to New South Wales Cup to play for Wentworthville. Luke Kelly replaces him, while David Gower and Joseph Paulo are the other two victims of their poor form. Into the team are the returning Tepai Moeroa, who slots into the second row, while Pauli Pauli has been named on the bench.
The Warriors are without Konrad Hurrell just after he had returned to first grade due to suspension. Replacing him in the centres will be Dominique Peyroux, while Sione Lousi comes onto the bench, pushing Raymond Faitala-Mariner back to the bench.
The key battle of this game is shaping up in the back row: the Eels’ Manu Ma’u, Tepai Moeroa and Anthony Watmough against the Warriors’ Bodene Thompson, Ryan Hoffman and captain Simon Mannering.
Moeroa is making his return to the Eels side after a strong performance for the Junior Kangaroos, Ma’u has been in awesome form, and we all know just how good Watmough can be. Meanwhile, Thompson, Hoffman and Mannering have all been in splendid form and must be shut down if the Eels want to win this one, as they provide the go forward required for Shaun Johnson’s game to thrive.
Last time these two teams clashed was earlier in 2015, when the Warriors more than got the better of the Eels, however at Pirtek Stadium the Eels hold a massive advantage winning 11 from 15 games.
Prediction
The Warriors should get the better of the Eels and notch up a win away from home.
Warriors by 8.
Join The Roar from 2:45pm (AEST) for our live coverage of this clash, and be sure to leave your comments below.