Parramatta have held off a brave second half comeback from Penrith to score a thrilling 26-20 derby win at Pepper Stadium on Friday night.
The Panthers were staring at a 14-0 hole when playmaker Jamie Soward joined Matt Moylan on the sideline after a late hit from Pauli Pauli midway through the second half that saw the Eels forward placed on report.
Moylan limped off in just the 10th minute with a suspected ruptured ankle.
But, led by makeshift five-eighth Bryce Cartwright, the hosts crossed three times in eight minutes to level the game with a quarter of it to go.
However the Eels regained their lead as quickly as they lost it through Semi Radradra, who touched down on a miracle grubber from Brad Takairangi in the 61st and then finished a left-side sweep in the 64th.
Yet the Panthers refused to yield and set up a grandstand finish when Dallin Watene-Zelezniak took advantage of an Isaah Yeo offload in the 70th minute.
But, in front of a strong crowd of 17,821, the Eels held on to finally end their losing streak at five games.
It was a horror start for the Panthers, who were left stunned at 12-0 when they watched their star fullback go down.
First Will Hopoate’s quick hands allowed Ryan Morgan to open the scoring in the fourth minute, before Semi Radradra helped the Eels go 100 metres to put Reece Robinson over in the next set.
The sight of Moylan limping off just three minutes later completed the nightmare opening.
From there the hosts spent the rest of the half fending off raid upon raid on their tryline, and on the rare occasion they got into an attacking set, Hopoate saved a certain Waqa Blake try with a one-on-one steal.
By the end of the half the Eels, who had missed their past six shots at goal, took a 14-0 lead into the break on Sandow’s 29th minute penalty.
Penrith got the early try they needed in the second half when Yeo finished off a James Segeyaro break in the 50th minute.
Soward was felled by Pauli in the build-up.
Stepping into the pivot role, Cartwright continued the momentum after dummying twice and producing a neat corner pass for David Simmons three minutes later.
The Panthers youngster completed the comeback in the 58th when the Eels were caught short-handed before fighting back to score a sorely-needed victory.
Eels coach Brad Arthur said the win was a reward for the hard work the team had put in over the last few weeks without receiving much success.
“That’s been a while coming,” Arthur said post-game.
“If you include tonight, our last five performances they’ve really played tough and tried really hard and been courageous, but we’ve just been down on luck at times.
“We did that a bit again tonight. Some of our discipline got them back into the game.
“It’s a credit to the boys because our last four weeks they’ve stuck to our processes and gone about what they needed to do.
“I’m just glad for them that we got through the other side of it tonight.”
Panthers coach Ivan Cleary said he had expected the Eels to start fast and while he was pleased with his team’s comeback, bemoaned the two points they let slip.
“We always knew they’d start fast. They always do, Chrissy [Sandow] had a lot to play for,” Cleary said.
“He took control, we were a little bit inaccurate in both attack and defence in that period and they got their tails up.
“We had to work really hard to [fight back], and we did. There were a couple of errors and we couldn’t defend those errors.
“Then we were trying to fight from behind again.
“A lot of effort and a lot of quality in our attitude, but the two points is gone.”
Moylan left the ground in a moon boot, while Soward also walked away with his arm in a sling.
The club will sweat on scans for both players to assess the damage.
“It’s a significant injury. Whether it’s fractured or not I don’t know,” Cleary said of Moylan’s ankle.
“[Soward] went off, he had a bit of help to come back on… he’s done his AC joint in his shoulder I think. We’ll have to see how bad.”
Dufeyz
Guest
Eels were by far the better team on the night, however the ref didn't want to blow the whistle. I was at the game, both sides were constantly offside, and the Eels wrestle was gross. Of course, it was penalised a few times but they arent going to blow a penalty on every set are they? I haven't seen the hit on Sandow, can't comment on that. However it is a late shot on Soward. He should have been put in the bin, with no suspension. Its foul play, targeting Penrith's playmaker to put him out of the game. The next day at the local games, some massive kid did the same thing that Pauli Pauli did to someone half his size. (under 10's). It needs to stop. Kids watch these blokes and think this stuff is ok. Legal tackles are awesome. If we want 17 props on the field so be it, its just that the game will become very boring to watch.
Bup
Guest
Segeyaro and Cartwright both put on shoulder charges that weren't picked up. It's ok though it's only Parra. The whipping boys.that tackle you refer to was just as late as Paulis. Johns is a muppet.
Parrafan
Guest
Go back and watch the late hit Segeyaro put on Sandow. Was much later than Pauli's hit and all shoulder. But the commentators go "aw great whack there, get that in to you". John's has addled his mind and not from too many head knocks.
a
Guest
Eels and Panthers have had some great clashes through out the years
The eye
Guest
You get Peachy Kite Mansour Whare and hopefully Moylan back by the end of the year ...on the back of Cartwright,what a phenomenon,theyll be there again.. Parra deserved it last night..even on 1 leg Radrada is king winger in the NRL..loved Peatsy showing Segy he wasnt going to take any rubbish off him..
Bup
Guest
Trial by media. Good luck missing a suspension Pauli. The commentary last night was as bias as I've ever heard. They've done their best to influence the MRC with the diatribe they dished up last night. Maybe you shouldn't commentate on games where you have a vested interest. Sounded like they backed the panthers. The eels have to put up with terrible refereeing week in week out. Checcin did his best to get the panthers back in the game with 5 straight penaltys. I'm still scratching my head at Juniors 9 week suspension and Hodges doesn't incur a penalty for an identical tackle. It's become a national past time to lay the boot into the eels and the fans are sick of it. A team with as large a support base as parra may just start boycotting certain publications and news agencies if the vitriol continues. A lot of media types with a distinct agenda in regards to the eels and we've had enough.
Jay
Guest
He can get both operated now his hand now his ankle