The Newcastle Knights became the latest team to feel Parramatta’s late season wrath, going down 40-8 against a side that is currently being led by the most damaging frontrower in the NRL.
When Eels captain Nathan Cayless succumbed to a hamstring injury in the first half which kept him out for the remainder of the contest, the home side will have no doubt struggled to fill his workaholic void earlier this season.
But over the past month, the form of Kiwi prop Fui Fui Moi Moi has experienced an evolution that currently sees him as the NRL’s most destructive front rower.
Moi Moi, along with fullback Jarryd Hayne, has been the main reason why the Eels are on a four match winning streak that has no signs of slowing down in the last four weeks of the competition.
Although the press have rightfully labelled Hayne as Parramatta’s messiah, Moi Moi’s recent contribution to the Eels cause has been nothing short of outstanding.
From the opening minute of Sunday’s game against the Knights, every one of Moi Moi’s charges managed to severely dent a Newcastle defence that was clearly void of any confidence and belief.
Regardless of the lacklustre efforts of their opposition, Eels coach Daniel Anderson would have been delighted to witness Moi Moi play a quality sixty minutes that saw him make 14 hit-ups for 133 metres in what was a man of the match performance.
Indeed, Moi Moi was rightfully rewarded for his efforts in the second half, scoring a try under the posts, courtesy of the supreme ball playing skills of none other than team-mate Jarryd Hayne.
Two of the Eels most in-form players combined to rub salt into a massive Newcastle wound that will not heal in-time for the finals.
Parramatta’s early season woes however seem to be all stitched up, and its largely thanks to Moi Moi’s form revival.
Every time he has fired up for the Eels this season, the majority of Parramatta’s players follow with immense enthusiasm.
The recent rise in confidence of players such as Nathan Hindmarsh, James Mortimer, Eric Grothe and Krisnan Inu can all be attributed to Moi Moi’s presence upfront.
Inu in particular played his best game of the season against Newcastle, scoring a try, not to mention setting up Luke Burt’s four pointer late in the second half with a neat offload.
His several big hits in defence in the first half allowed Inu to show coach Daniel Anderson that he too has fire in a belly that had no spark whatsoever earlier this season.
But after watching Fui Fui Moi Moi’s performances over the past four weeks, Inu along with the rest of the Eels playing roster have managed to fuel a 2009 season that may just see them reach the finals and go deep into September.
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