Parramatta playmaker Mitchell Moses has piled more pressure on Canterbury after orchestrating a 20-4 NRL victory at ANZ Stadium on Thursday night.
While the score never blew out in wet and wild conditions, the Bulldogs were wasteful in attack and at times embarrassing in defence as the Eels notched their sixth straight win.
Brad Arthur’s side provisionally moved into the top four and are on the march with four regular rounds left, fuelling belief they can be a force in the finals.
Moses set up two tries and turned in a masterful kicking game having discovered career-best form since his mid-season move from Wests Tigers.
In driving rain, the Eels forced nine goal-line drop-outs to two, strangling the Bulldogs out of the game.
Daniel Alvaro’s opening try set the tempo for the match as he carried James Graham and Aiden Tolman over the line.
The game was summed up when the Bulldogs finally got inside Parramatta’s 20m zone for the first time in the 24th minute, only to drop the ball on the next play.
In the next set of six tackles, Parramatta made their way upfield with Mitchell Moses punching through to send Bevan French over.
Moses at times toyed with the Bulldogs defence, running 20m across field before firing a spiral pass for Semi Radradra’s try which made it 16-0 at the break.
They were unlucky not to extend their lead after Corey Norman ran 60m to score only to be called back because of a knock-on.
Replays showed he didn’t get a hand to the ball.
The game was marred in the second half when Eels prop Frank Pritchard suggested to the referee he had been bitten by David Klemmer,.
Pritchard did not make a formal allegation and later told reporters it was a joke between former teammates.
Canterbury’s third loss in a row will only fuel speculation about coach Des Hasler’s future.
Hasler rolled the dice by shifting centre Chase Stanley to halfback and dropping hooker Michael Lichaa.
Arthur has been reluctant to talk up Parramatta’s top-eight hopes but concedes his side was well poised to go deep into the finals.
“If we can continue to improve every week and stick to our plan like we did tonight with our discipline and not get carried away, we can make some real noise,” he said.
Hasler said it was a cop out to suggest speculation about his job security had contributed to the loss.
“You don’t have to be a football whiz to work out that we made it very easy for them in the first half,” Hasler said.
Grunta
Guest
He has been very consistent which is why the eels have won six in a row and 8/10 since he arrived at Parra. He played a top four team in the Broncos last week and was the best on the field. I'm not sure what footy you've been watching but it's definitely not been Eels games it seems.
Chuznut
Guest
The other up and comer to keep an eye out for is Nathan Cleary for the Panthers, although he's only 19yo, so he's probably still a few years away. That being said, now that Moylan's made the permanent switch to 5/8, he's looking like he could be the long term 5/8 for NSW, so their club partnership might help Clearly get a call up to SOO sooner rather than later.
Chuznut
Guest
On his day, he's a great player, with a great kicking, passing and running game, but his two biggest issues are his defence and his consistency. He's been one of, if not the worst defenders in the league for a few years, although over the last 6 weeks, his improvement has been massive. I read a stat the other day saying that in his first 10 games this year he averaged 5 missed tackles a game, but in the last 6 weeks he's dropped that down to only 2.2 missed tackles a game. If he finishes this year off as strongly as he's been playing lately, and can continue that form into the start of next season, I'd have no qualms with him being considered for SOO next year, but I guess only time will tell on whether he can keep this up or not.
Andrew
Guest
Touches Norman: 35 Moses: 35 Line breaks Norman: 0 Moses: 1 Try Assists Norman: 0 Moses: 2 (and they were top notch) Tackles (misses) Norman: 5 (2) Moses: 13 (0) Forced Drop outs. Norman: 3 Moses: 5 Kicks (Kick Metres) Norman: 8 (205) Moses: 16 (366) Throw in three try assists last week, and both have kicked match winning field goals in recent weeks. Both are playing outstanding right now, but not sure how anyone can objectively say Norman was "far more influential" last night based on the above numbers. In my opinion there is way more lyrical waxing over Norman than Moses.
M.O.C.
Roar Guru
Is it just me or is Moses the 'Emperor's new/current cloths'? The commentators seem to love him at present but I fail to see anything other than an honest player doing his best - which to me, seems no better but no worse than any other middle-of-the road half at present. Norman was far more influential in last nights game than Moses.
The Barry
Roar Guru
He could develop that consistency. He definitely doesn't have it at the moment. Who else? That's the big question.
The Barry
Roar Guru
Spot on mate.
Andrew
Guest
I have to say when the word was around the last few days that Hasler was moving Stanley into the halves and lee back into the side, I thought, 'well, you can't blame him for trying something'. But 65 minutes before kick off he had to be standing there, looking out the window at the rain and thinking, we can't go into this game with just Reynolds doing the general play kicking. He is a number 2 kicker, not a number 1 kicker. And we are going to need a great kicking game and an organiser to direct us into good positions on the field to get good kicks at the end of our sets. I know he isn't a superstar but Frawley on some level can do that. Instead Frawley sat on the bench for 80 minutes and the Eels had two halves who hit the ground with their kicks almost every time and created about 8 line drop outs. To not adjust your plan and bring in the true half back in those conditions either before the game or even during it should be the last straw.
Oingo Boingo
Guest
The question is ,,,, Which "Moses"was more inspirational in the Eels win ?
jameswm
Roar Guru
Is there anyone else? Or could Moses develop that consistency?
The Barry
Roar Guru
Haslers comments are becoming contemptuous. Is this bloke trying to get the sack and get a big payout? You don't have to be a football whiz to work out this team is clueless in attack, poorly selected, poorly coached, are regressing in terms of skill set, play with no attacking shape or structure, cant put on set plays, can't score points, have poor discipline, can't get the fundamentals right and are playing with limited heart and passion. What are you doing about it coach? You are supposed to be a football whiz?
The Barry
Roar Guru
To my mind he's nowhere near consistent enough. He was good last night but it was against a very poor Bulldogs team and it was about as far from Origin intensity as you could get. I think those tough and intense games are where Moses struggles the most. Eels have a pretty soft run home but it will be interesting to see how he goes in tougher semi final football.
jameswm
Roar Guru
So - I really only follow League for Origin. As I see it, the biggest NSW problem over the past 10 years has been Qld's halves (and to a lesser extent fullback) are way ahead. Pearce, Reybnolds and others lately have been tried and found not up to it. So I have a question - is Mitchell Moses an option? He's 23 now, and heading into his prime. I'd be prepared to back him if he is 1 or 2 years short, and let him grow into it. It'd be nice to have some quality automatic selections there. I don't watch club footy, but is Moses that good - consistently? Does he have aa kicking game, and a running game, and does he put people into gaps and take the right options consistently? Does he force repeat sets/goal line drop outs often?