Although Parramatta and Canterbury-Bankstown enjoy a traditional rivalry, their clashes have felt more pointed and personal than normal in 2016.
After finishing fifth on the NRL ladder in 2015, the Dogs have made a concerted effort to break into the top 4.
After finishing 12th, the Eels have made a similar effort to break into the top 8, although the rise of Semi Radradra and the arrival of Michael Jennings and Kieran Foran has propelled them higher than anybody could have hoped.
Canterbury-Bankstown’s reconfiguration in 2016 has also improved more successful than anybody could have predicted, with Moses Mbye quickly graduating into a worthy halves partner for Josh Reynolds and Will Hopoate doing wonders at fullback.
Both teams must sense that this is their moment to shine, especially since both teams have managed to strike a better balance between veterans and young guns – and old hats and newer acquisitions – than virtually any other outfit in the competition.
In the last couple of weeks, however, Parra’s dreams have been put on hold in quite a brutal fashion.
Not only were they forced to contemplating having competition points docked in the wake of their magnificent victory over the Raiders in Round 6 and their almost equally impressive victory at Brookvale in Round 7, but the recent departure of Kieran Foran has left the team with a bit of an identity crisis.
After all, Foran symbolised the new and improved Pirtek outfit. While he has been quieter at Parra than at Manly, his calm, steely demeanour has lent a new kind of resilience to the Blue and Gold.
As if that weren’t enough, the woes continued into last night’s match at ANZ Stadium, with Tim Mannah off in the first twenty minutes, Michael Gordon off at half time and Nathan Peats putting in a fairly muted game after copping a hit to the sternum.
When they faced up against the Dogs in Round 3, it genuinely felt as if the finals were – distantly – at stake.
At this stage, however, it is going to take a minor miracle for the Eels to reach those last few weeks.
Last night, then, they were fighting for pride, fighting to prove that they still held the keys to Western Sydney despite their standing in the actual competition.
The result was arguably their greatest victory of the year so far.
There’s winning when you’re at the top of the ladder, there’s winning when you’re at the bottom of the ladder and then there’s winning when you’re about to be shunted from the top of the ladder to the bottom of the ladder.
Seeing the Eels grind it out against the Dogs was like seeing the club take a deep breath and plunge into their footy despite whatever the future might hold.
Given how much the team had been reconfigured – Brad Takairangi replacing Foran in the halves, Beau Scott replacing Tepai Moeroa in the middle – it felt as if Parra were fighting for unity all night.
That they managed to achieve it without being able to depend on their fullback, their halfback or either of their club captains was a tribute to the renewed Parra culture under Brad Arthur.
It didn’t hurt either that Takairangi put in a terrific performance, with the former centre scoring the first try of the night as well as putting in a nice cross-field kick to Vai Toutai for the last four points as well.
Still, the Dogs put up a fierce battle.
By the end it felt like a throwback to the great Bulldogs-Eels grudge matches of the 80s, especially in the wake of 80s Week at Leichhardt Oval a fortnight ago.
Nevertheless, while the Dogs can regroup from here, the Eels are going to face more of an uphill battle.
Even if they sink down the ladder, they can’t afford to play like a cellar-dwelling team.
After years of disappointments and frustrations, they’ve finally got a winning team, as well as arguably the best winger in the competition.
The challenge now is to play like a winning team even if they end up having no chance of winning.
For any other outfit, that might be a pretty demoralising and demotivating prospect.
But the Blue and Gold have reserves of strength that other footy clubs can only dream about. Let’s hope that they draw on it in the coming rounds to impress us all with the winning season that could have been.
Wow
Guest
Ignoring the ladder my team rating from what I've seen so far are 1 Cowboys 2 Eels 3 Broncs 4 Sharks. The winner can only come from these 4 teams. If the Eels lose points it's a 3 horse race and origin selections will decide the top 2. Looking at the Broncos roster now and Roosters from the previous 3 years it has to be the biggest indication the salary cap doesn't work. The players don't want it but the only fair way is for players tax returns to be reviewed. You will never stop clubs giving players cash or paying for things but it stops huge lump sums being paid. This is the only way to provide transparency and is as close to even as possible. This is the only way the Raiders, Titans, Knights will ever make the top 4 let alone win a comp. hopefully the Eels are the last side to cop the brunt of the obviously biased system. Haslers management of there roster is some of the worst I've seen in the NRL's history. The Bulldogs need to get another fb, hb, hk and 2nd rower. Tony Willian's should be moved on along with Hopoate, Reynolds and Lichaa. He let Hodkinson go in favour of Reynolds which doesn't make sense when looking at who suits Mbye better. Lichaa was kept over Cook is another mistake and his recruitment of Williams and Hopoate were poor value for money. Hooker is an urgent need and Peter Wallace and Segeyaro are both at Penrith, off contract and playing for the one position. Buy either and if it's Wallace start looking for young gun hookers. Half back is harder but Luke Brooks (now resigned) would have excelled behind the dogs pack and with Mbye. Sam Willian's from the Raiders would be fairly cheap and top value for money. Then get a gun fb. With Coote just resigning all the best fb's seem settled. Hopoate is a decent player but a better fb could run riot behind the dogs pack. Valentine Holmes is being over looked for barba at the Sharks and would likely jump at the chance to play fb. The bloke will be a star as soon as he gets a proper chance. Williams is a waste of space and with Gillett off contract I can't under why Des wasn't desperate to get him. With Graham being a damaging prop and clever ball player Gillett would be the perfect injection of speed, power and line running and it's exactly what the dogs are missing. The players let go cost more than my recruitment suggestions and Des is paying overs for too many players. If he doesn't make some serious personnel changes it should be him who goes.
Les Boyd's Elbow
Guest
Can't be too careful I guess.
MAX
Guest
Great idea LBE. Just in case we got lost.
Les Boyd's Elbow
Guest
You are indeed an ideas man. Yes, I couldn't agree more. Fortunately I shouldn't have to worry about such a thing for a while but engaging in the Roar does add flavour to the rugby league experience. Would you have invited Bob Cooper as well?
Gus Paella
Guest
Are we not talking about the Reynolds dive and then playing on? He went down like a bag of spuds, James Graham reacted like Reynolds had been shot and he is not taken off by the Bulldogs until after his next run. Nothing to see here?
Martha
Guest
Hasler complains about the easy penalties given to parra to get back in the game. It follow the usual FTA TV pattern. Like thursady night when the Tiges got well in front and then the refs gave Souths 5 straight minor penalties to allow Souths back into the game. Its farcical...
turbodewd
Guest
the Parra D is outstanding. Radradra is a stud.
MAX
Guest
Thank you Les Boyd's Elbow, that is most appreciated. You know LBE if I was the CEO of the game I would have invited Les to head the judiciary. My idea of understanding justice. To me, every game of Rugby League is a spiritual experience and combined with the Roar I use it as aid to combat the possibility of dementure. I would recommend this combo to everyone especially the older brigade, rather than wither in the back paddock. The English language is such a joy and one day I will understand grammar.
Joe
Roar Rookie
Great game last night in particular by Parramatta. Very courageous stuff hanging in there when at one stage they had only 1 on the bench. Corey Norman was the difference and Takairangi at half was a very good decision by the coach. He is one of my favourite players, has got very good instincts and knew he would go ok once he was selected to play in the halves. The whole team really put in to win that one especially towards the end. Dogs need better kicking halves or Mybe needs to learn that skill pronto. That was the difference in the end.
Les Boyd's Elbow
Guest
I've really been enjoying your posts of late MAX. They add a unique flavour to most threads. Dogs held off by the Rats of Parramatta. If the Dogs are hopelessly out of form, you sir certainly are not. Absolutely slaying it atm.
Les Boyd's Elbow
Guest
Agree Bexdog. T-Rex has gone extinct. Time of the dinosaurs is over buddy. That's the way she goes.
MAX
Guest
Last night at Homebush it may well have been Montgomery v Rommel. Early ascendency threatening a walkover, repelled by a band of recruits with courage, sustained stamina and the will to win. At battle end the TV camera panned to Des. His lips were drawn into a thin line by the taste of an extremely bitter lemon. Brad Arthur had shown him the value of a smart thinking game plan over an assortment of hard work drives fizzling to zero on the scoreboard in the final 40'. Congrats to Parra. You may be presented with bad news next week, but I sure hope you keep delivering like last night. Pleased to see Clinton Gutherson have a good one, with more to come. Jolly decent of Semi to contribute one run when needed. There will be no miracles at Belmore in 2016.
The eye
Guest
They were beaten in the halves..packs were pretty even,when on paper they had no right to be..but the Eels 6 and 7 were smarter,more probing,just all round better..this team has been under performing for 2 years and its time Des becomes accountable..
Red Dog
Guest
The dogs are a mediocre team and as the season progresses they will be found out . I expect them to be on the cusp of the eight come finals time but that's about it.
bexdog
Guest
Our short kicking game is killing us. We should have put that game away before half time. There's only so far you can go with two five-eighths. I like the qualities both halves bring to this team but they don't compliment each other. This is what is holding us back. Our forward pack is better than our 2004 pack but they're doing more tackling than they need to do because we NEVER get repeat sets. we barely even tackle the opposition inside their 20 after a kick. Also, Tony Williams, your time is up buddy. Des is better off with me in this side. Eastwood on the left edge was awesome until Williams came on.