A Bevan French hattrick has secured the Eels a win to end their tumultuous season on a high, running away against the Warriors to win by 22.
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Final Score:
Parramtta Eels – 40
New Zealand Warriors – 18
After a tumultuous year of footy, the Parramatta Eels will be looking to end the season on a high as they face fellow non-finalists the New Zealand Warriors. Join The Roar for live scores and coverage from 4pm (AEST).
Both sides are out of the finals race coming after largely differing seasons, but with the same result.
The Warriors who sit in tenth have been on the cusp of the top eight all year, but faltered when it counts and suffered from the dreaded curse of inconsistency.
On the other hand, the Eels (14th) have enough wins to be in September footy, but a litany of off field troubles has sunk a campaign that began so brightly.
The Warriors have lost three games on the trot coming into this one, while Parramatta bounced back from a loss to the Cowboys in Round 24 with a confidence building win against the Dragons last week.
Mt Smart Stadium hasn’t been a happy hunting ground for the Eels in the past as they make the trip across the ditch for today’s game. They’ve won just five times from 16 games at the venue.
Adding to that, they’ve also lost six straight away games heading into this fixture.
Interestingly, the Eels have the worst attack in the competition, averaging just 11 points per game despite having 12 wins to their name.
But they also have the second best defence in the competition, sitting just behind the Storm with 13 points per game.
The Warriors are right up the other end of the spectrum though, letting in nearly twice as many points a game with the third worst against figures on the ladder.
Team News
Despite some injury worries with his quad, Shaun Johnson has been named to play this afternoon by coach Andrew McFadden.
Elsewhere across the park for the Warriors, try-scoring machine Manu Vatuvei has succumbed to a chest injury and will miss the final game of the year.
Solomone Kata will also miss out, copping a suspension for a dangerous throw on Jordan Rankin during last week’s loss. James Gavet is the final omission for the Warriors, being dropped.
Bunty Afoa has been brought in for Gavet, while Jonathan Wright and Ken Maumalo also make their way into an extended squad alongside Nathaniel Roache.
For the Eels, coach Brad Arthur has made just one alteration to his side, bringing David Gower onto the bench as he also takes an extended squad into game day.
Prediction
Both sides are difficult to pick because you never know what kind of team will turn up on the day.
The Warriors will be bitter about the back end to the season that saw their finals hopes dashed, and they’ll be hungry to put on a big performance at home to finish the year.
The Eels have always had a rough time in New Zealand, and that pain will continue today in a fairly entertaining affair.
Warriors by 10.
Connor Bennett
Editor
The Roar's NRL MVP votes: 3 - Bevan French 2 - Simon Mannering 1 - Clint Gutherson
Connor Bennett
Editor
A lot of talk about "what if?" for the Eels, who would have been playing finals footy if not for the points deduction earlier in the season. Unfortunately for the fans, the club paid the price for the mistakes they made and it's on to next season, which can only get better from here. For the Warriors, they showed plenty of brilliance throughout the year, but much like tonight, they were so up and down that it was impossible for them to get a roll on and charge for that finals position.
Connor Bennett
Editor
Connor Bennett
Editor
FULLTIME The end of two very different seasons for the Eels and Warriors, but it's Parramatta who take the final spoils, running home 40-18 winners in a very open, free-flowing game of footy. Soaking wet conditions in Auckland made it difficult for both sides to get a handle on the game, and the ball, in the early goings. Warriors scored the opening two tries of the game in the first two minutes before the Eels bounced back and ran in seven of the final eight tries. NZ Warriors – 18 Parramatta Eels – 40
Connor Bennett
Editor
80' A penalty ten metres out for the Warriors and they'll get the last charge at the line. They try to bundle over through the middle, but there's not a lot of urgency about it and the Eels defence are happy to lay all over the tackles to wind the seconds down. Siren sounds and that's the game. NZ Warriors – 18 Parramatta Eels – 40
Connor Bennett
Editor
79' Short kickoff and the Warriors retain!! The rain is absolutely hammering the players now in the dying minutes. Gordon tries to intercept on the left edge but plays it out and gives the Warriors the scrum ten metres out. NZ Warriors – 18 Parramatta Eels – 40
Connor Bennett
Editor
78' How about that. Semi Radradra at the kicking tee, and he's converted beautifully straight through the sticks from the left sideline... and in the pouring rain as well as the storm comes over the stadium once again. NZ Warriors – 18 Parramatta Eels – 40
Scott
Guest
Go semi trailer
Connor Bennett
Editor
77' TRY EELS!! Insult to injury for the Warriors as Michael Jennings crosses the white paint a few plays after the Warriors were denied. French double pumps in centre field, throws a bit of a dolly across the grass but Jennings does well to pick it up on the left edge. He starts flat-footed, but that acceleration is brutal and he smokes the sliding defence that were very slow to react and move across. NZ Warriors – 18 Parramatta Eels – 38
Stu
Guest
So De Gois can affect a tackle while being in front of the kicker then go on and score a try after Gutherson knocks it on but Roaches is ruled out. NRL your stuffed
Connor Bennett
Editor
76' Try Warriors!! Vatuvei breaks away with a bustling run, just splitting the defence with a massive hit up. He gets into back play, draws and passes to Roache who streaks away to the line. Hang on... BUNKER is being called. NO TRY!! Roache has been called offside on the whole play and the four-pointer is denied. NZ Warriors – 18 Parramatta Eels – 34
Joe
Roar Rookie
Jonathan Wright...useless as usual. Surely he won't be in any first grade team next year.
Connor Bennett
Editor
74' The Warriors again peppering the line. They have numbers out on the left on the last tackle... Johnson created the numbers and they had the overlap, but Wright drops it. Beautiful lead up, but Wright just overran it a touch and he was caught trying to reach behind him for it, and he just couldn't reel it in. NZ Warriors – 18 Parramatta Eels – 34
Connor Bennett
Editor
73' Mannering nearly in for a hat trick!! Desperation defence from the Eels.... Intercept from Scott!! Luke goes very flat, very close to the line and Beau Scott barely had to move a step to get in the way of that one and make the grab. Radradra now with a bit of space, and the chip and chase goes through, but the big man is knocked down on his way through, allowing the back three to retrieve the ball for the home side with ease. NZ Warriors – 18 Parramatta Eels – 34
Connor Bennett
Editor
72' Strip against Robson and the Warriors have a big chance at the line here just 20 metres out. Can they make a late charge for the win? NZ Warriors – 18 Parramatta Eels – 34
Connor Bennett
Editor
71' A bit messy in front of the try line but Parra. Gutherson kicks early in the tackle for the right wing but it was far too deep and the Warriors finally get a break, and a chance to take the ball up into the enemy half. NZ Warriors – 18 Parramatta Eels – 34
Connor Bennett
Editor
70' How about that. Isaac Luke goes for the cheeky short line drop out, but none of his team mates gave chase and Takairangi just falls on it about 15 metres out. I don't think anyone knew Luke was going to do it. NZ Warriors – 18 Parramatta Eels – 34
Connor Bennett
Editor
69' Hasn't been a try since 46th minute. Parramatta force yet another line drop out!! The count for the game is seven to zero. NZ Warriors – 18 Parramatta Eels – 34
Connor Bennett
Editor
68' Very well placed kick there from Robson on halfway behind the line and Jennings gives chase. Warriors had no one back, but the scrambling defence manages to knock the ball out over the back to save the try. Another line drop out coming up though. NZ Warriors – 18 Parramatta Eels – 34
Connor Bennett
Editor
67' NZ pushing up over halfway as time continues to run out. They need to score sooner rather than later. The Eels defence has been solid since after the opening ten minutes of the game. NZ Warriors – 18 Parramatta Eels – 34