- Video
-
Club Roar
Captured a great grassroots sporting moment? We want to see it!Content Collections
The Roar Community
- Join
- Login
The Eels and Bulldogs met at ANZ Stadium on Thursday night and belted each other with wet lettuce leaves for 80 minutes.
In an uninspiring encounter, the Eels ran out 14-8 victors yet the winning margin was as much a result of a somewhat fortunate long range try to Mitchell Moses, as the Bulldogs inept display in attack.
Parramatta did nothing extraordinary. They completed a high percentage of sets (89 per cent) and kicked astutely to keep pressure on the blue and whites, eventually taking the ascendancy.
By the end of the contest, Parramatta had dominated in metres made from kicks whereas the Bulldogs’ last tackle options with both boot and hands were consistently poor and bordered on ridiculous at times.
Lachlan Lewis and Jeremy Marshall-King are young halves and must be given some slack, yet the risk-adverse approach the Bulldogs took into the game belies their position on the ladder and the will of their suffering fans.
Completing at 85 per cent is the stuff of dreams for coaches but when teams are sent onto the field with excessive restrictions and limitations in their game plan, completions rarely convert to points.
The Bulldogs slipped back into the overly choreographed attacking raids seen in the final days of the Des Hasler era, after having seemingly thrown off the shackles over the last few weeks.
Parramatta were guilty of a similar conservatism yet always looked more likely. Despite their lowly position, the Eels do have considerable weapons to spark their attack, the real mystery is Brad Arthur’s inability to fire those weapons accurately and more consistently.
Eels head coach Brad Arthur (AAP Image/Brendan Esposito)
Tries to Kaysar Pritchard and Mitchell Moses saw them home, along with two conversions and a penalty. A lone Kerrod Holland try from broken play was symbolic of Canterbury’s night. A night where they moved well and truly into wooden spoon contention.
Contrastingly, the Sharks turned up to Southern Cross Group Stadium with only attack on their minds. The Raiders were stunned right from the opening seconds when Dunamis Lui erred in the ruck, and it wasn’t until the 22nd minute the visitors would hit the scoreboard.
In between, the Sharks dominated possession, scored two tries and went close on two other occasions. It was a joy to watch despite the horrendously windy conditions in the Shire that made life near impossible for players under the high ball.
Andrew Fifita shimmied and danced his way through the line to open the scoring before Ricky Leutele finished off a short-side move where the Sharks ran in numbers and shifted the ball dextrously through the hands.
Valentine Holmes sniffed around the space created and eventually found a four pointer of his own after 35 minutes and Wade Graham crashed over in the throes of half-time despite four Raiders committing to the tackle. With Holmes’ try converted, the Sharks took a comfortable 22-6 lead into the break.
Valentine Holmes of the Sharks. (Photo by Tony Feder/Getty Images)
It was showbiz stuff from the Sharks; a splash of Neil Diamond, memories of the great Barry Manilow with a little Sir Ian McKellen class thrown in for good measure.
Joey Leilua must be a fan of the odd show tune or two and, after the break, decided to join in.
Playing potentially the best game I have seen him construct, he scored twice in the first ten minutes of the second half and miraculously, the Raiders were within four.
Enter Gerard Sutton. If you saw it, I sympathise. If you didn’t, let me make it as painless as possible. The Sharks shift to the right and a pass appears to brush the arm of an attacker – creating a potential knock on.
The touch judge raises the flag momentarily, Sutton puts the whistle to his mouth before allowing Siona Katoa to stroll through an uncommitted Raiders’ defence all reading the signals of the officials and waiting for the whistle.
The try is awarded and Sutton botches another game.
If that wasn’t enough, the best attacking raid the visitors subsequently built was halted by an appalling forward pass call against Leilua. If Ricky Stuart and Sutton ever happen to be at a barbeque together, I would love to be there for the fireworks.
[latest_videos_strip category=”league” name=”League”]
The Sharks held their 28-18 lead for much of the half until Jordan Rapana scored late to set up a frantic finish. Soon after, the Sharks ran the clock, claimed the victory and people like me got to write about the drama.
The 28-24 win sees the Sharks leap into the top four and makes the Raiders’ task of playing finals near impossible.
The late Friday game saw the Broncos put the cleaners through the Panthers, after a 32-0 first half effectively put the game out of reach for the visitors.
Penrith did manage a spirited second half, yet it meant little after the home side completely dominated the first period and reminded the competition of their credentials leading into the semi-finals.
With four wins from their last five and a 50-18 result added to that run, the Broncos are well and truly in the mix.