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.
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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.
nearkurnell
Guest
come on Taree, do you really think Rapana didn't deserve the bin? The ref was yelling at him but there was no way he was letting go till he had defenders back on the line - It was the most blatant of professional fouls and absolutely deserved a stint on the sideline. You make it sound as if the Raiders didn't get a call go their way all night - they had plenty fall their way, including a few forward passes that led directly to points. Ricky's probably thankful for the controversy as it takes attention from the loss and his inability to get the team to fire over the last couple of seasons. They've got some talent but don't have the attitude to win close games and while Ricky's in charge will never threaten the serious contenders...
Marc
Guest
Raiders do get their share of dodgy calls against them but the poor ol Warriors get caned big time. This from a neutral fan.The press conferences would be interesting if Ricky were the Warriors coach.
Mumbles
Guest
Look it was aclose game TV would be happy the papers will be full of controversy so the NRL is on TV and in newspaers so situation normal
Penno
Guest
A billion dollar game??? Being run and ruined by two cent clowns. Refereeing absolutely atrocious, deciding which club wins, no need for the teams to take the field just organise the wins and losses In the sheds, save a lot of time. No good admitting someone got it wrong, they're paid NOT to get it wrong and the aids they have at their disposal, are they stupid?????
Rob
Guest
This unfortunately is the result of what happens when the people running the game have greyed the rules. Not only have they allowed players to promote the ball forward through the act of passing by looking at hands instead of the simple act on watching the football. Don’t worry about the garbage of hand position. Simply watch that the ball hasn’t been promoted forwards from a players hand. This also applies in a knock on. If hasn’t gone forward let the play go if it does it’s an error. Get to your feet before placing the ball or you don’t get a penalty for f:$&.ng up the play the ball. Use your foot and if you pretend you lose the ball.
RM
Guest
Oates scored that try in the 69th minute of the game, not the 79th and Sharks were not in front even when he scored it.
Renegade
Roar Guru
yes because ramien didn’t touch the ball.... the bigger issue was the touchie putting his flag up for no reason - without that action, there’s nothing to talk about today.
Lee Oliver
Roar Rookie
@Taree Raider, from your comments I can assume: 1) you didn't watch the first half of a game that Cronulla DOMINATED 2) you didn't see Cronulla lose to Brisbane a few weeks ago with a last-minute try to Corey Oates from a blatant forward pass.
Mumbles
Guest
It was nowhere near touch and the TJ put his flag up and then down so the players should have been aware enough to play on so they should play to the whistle (always been the golden rule - the ball is alive until the whistle blows), As I said Raiders got the rub of the green to get back into the game but then it went the other way. It was a close game and so Channel Nine would be happy
Ian
Guest
Not when they put their flag up, they don't. Sure, they'll ignore advice from the touch judges and other hand signals maybe, but not the raising of a flag. That is always an indicator that the ball has gone into touch and the referee is always supposed to take the touch judge's decision on matters of touch. The fact that it didn't go near touch is an error by the touch judge, then compounded by the ref ignoring it and the bunker not even considering it. There were 3 errors in the decision. Only one of them needed to be correct and the try would not have been incorrectly awarded
souvalis
Roar Rookie
Can you cite me the reference for that in the rule book ?
Cadfael
Roar Guru
The evidencer was that the touchie raised his flag. Rerferee shouyld have blown his whistle then and there. He started to but tyhen changed his mind.
Cadfael
Roar Guru
The flag went up, scrum Canberra. Sadly, this was nothingh more than a very poor piece of refereeing. The Bunker needed to rule on the first decision which was the touchies flag going up.
Cadfael
Roar Guru
Flag goe3s up, players stop. Like they do with the referee's whistle.
Emcie
Roar Guru
I'm not too concerned with the broncos to be honest. Bennett's always been more focused on the long game then immediate results. The Broncs will generally be a bit scrappy for the start of the season just picking up points where they can, they'll be a bit hit an miss during origin, they'll have a bad loss or two right after the origin period, they'll look like things are starting to click for a bit and if they're safely in the 8 they'll drop off a bit for the last couple games as training ramps up for finals. Bennett's a master at building for finals so I'm not too worried about the improvements they need to make. Though I would say that if a team can rack up 50 points against another top 8 side without being ruthless and being fairly conservative in the second half things probably aren't that bad. There's not much point going all out when your best players have niggling injuries and the two points are already in the bag, you don't get bonus points for scoring over 50
Snoop Bloggy blog
Roar Rookie
I agree mate. There’s some teams that can’t win a trick with officials and some teams who can’t lose one.
Snoop Bloggy blog
Roar Rookie
Officials shouldn’t and I always thought couldn’t reverse an in play call. When was the last time an onfield ref overruled his touchy when balls in play? Stu’s Comment above sheds a lot of light on this.
johnvere
Guest
The first Raiders try in the second half was a dubious penalty and a ridiculous tap play on that shouldn’t have been be allowed. Leillua scored off a forward pass. The final try the Raiders had a forward wandering around in the defensive line interfering with defenders for about five seconds while Williams et al probed for a hole. The only legit try they scored after half time actually was the one that was disallowed and itself came from a bit of crazy good fortune where the ball bounced up from a boot into a Raiders hands. But I agree the officiating is an utter mess. Everyone north of that blonde female touchie should be sacked.
Stuart Thomas
Expert
Now that is an idea I like!
Stuart Thomas
Expert
C grade organised crime comedy! Gold.