It was wet and wild, but the Parramatta Eels have stamped their claims as a genuine contender in 2021 with a gutsy victory over defending premiers the Melbourne Storm to open Round 2 on Thursday night.
When Maika Sivo somehow managed to grab a long-range bomb out of the air and run away to score, it just about summed up Parramatta’s performance in one motion. They simply never turned over, never made a bad decision and even when it all lined up against them, kept working to fight through.
It was a far cry from the Eels we have known in tough situations over the past couple of years.
The Round 2 opener would have been giving Parramatta fans nightmares coming into it.
A wet night, early in the season against Craig Bellamy’s Storm. It’s a game that they, and a vast majority of other teams, whether at the top or bottom end of the ladder, would have rolled over in and been beaten badly.
Parramatta couldn’t even argue that isn’t the case, having been rolled plenty by Melbourne in the past few years, including a 36-24 loss in Week 1 of the finals last year and a 64-10 loss during Magic Round in 2019.
Focusing on that finals loss last year though, and the obvious difference from that match to the one where Parramatta came away with two competition points last night was the attitude and grit with which they played through the 80 minutes.
Instead of going for Hail Mary plays and looking for any and all opportunities to throw the footy around, they made a conscious decision to play a more conservative style of footy.
Sure, it was Bankwest Stadium, but deciding their forwards could match it with Melbourne’s and going into the match with that sort of attitude on a night where puddles were forming even at a ground where drainage is excellent shows the attitude and confidence Brad Arthur has managed to build in his side during the off-season.
And sure, it wasn’t pretty, nor was it dominant, but the Eels won, and they won looking like a team who can match it with the top sides through the middle third. That, at the end of the day, is all that counts.
Particularly with the new rules, the battle of the middle third is the biggest one on the park this season. Metre gainage, territory and possession. That is what the new NRL is all about, and the Eels matched it with one of the best.
Melbourne may point to the fact they are only two games removed from the Cameron Smith era and are still missing Harry Grant – and yes it should certainly be pointed out when discussing the plight of the Storm – it shouldn’t matter a great deal for the men in blue and gold.
The Storm are still a fearsome team to face at the worst of times, and the conditions suited the men in purple down to the ground last night.
The fact the Eels got into the battle, hung around in a low-scoring, tight game at six-all for a long time, didn’t make rash decisions and waited for their opportunities speaks volumes about the team.
Not only the work of Brad Arthur either, but the ever-growing maturity of Mitchell Moses and Clint Gutherson as leaders, while Reed Mahoney in the middle third seems to have gone to another level.
Alongside Moses, Dylan Brown seems to be playing a lot less sideways footy, which only helps the directness of their excellent forward pack, and in turn the time and space Moses has to run the kicking game.
His start to the season, particularly defensively, has been phenomenal. Statistics are one thing, but the difference he is making through turning up for every tackle, through making them soundly and allowing his teammates to get set for the next play is working wonders for Parramatta.
But maybe the biggest change in their style of play last night was the way in which they reduced offloads, didn’t throw silly passes and held their kicking game to exceptionally high standards for the most part. Ball control was absolutely everything, and the blue and gold completed 37 of 42 sets, which is absolutely phenomenal in those conditions.
Junior Paulo and Nathan Brown have gone to another level too, with Paulo bursting onto a ball to score the second try last night.
None of this is to say the Storm were poor either, and a trip back down to Earth after blitzing the Rabbitohs in the first 20 minutes last week may have been exactly what they needed. They have plenty to work on without their former skipper, but are still right in the hunt to be competitive.
This really had to be the year for the Eels. They have been banging on the door for a few, and while most expected them to be in the second bracket of teams, those calculations may have to be rapidly changed after last night.
The questions surrounding their ability to play away from Bankwest Stadium still stand and won’t be going anywhere anytime soon, but the attitude they showed last night was the best an Eels team has shown since their great turnaround from the bottom of the table.
This is a club who have the ability to go places, and now, just might have the temperament alongside it.
Noosa Duck
Roar Rookie
Do not know about contenders yet but if last night was any indicator and they remain consistent then they do have a chance. However I must say that it was one of the best wet weather games I have seen in many a long year. I di actually pick the Eels in my tipping. :stoked:
Geoff Parkes
Expert
The standard for the season appears to have been set, Kanggas. That's worth two weeks, apparently. Ramien's blindside hit was worth three weeks. It is patently obvious that the NRL isn't serious about trying to reduce concussion. That's an incredibly dumb and harmful strategy.
The Sporacle
Roar Rookie
I have a feeling he won't fight it and you know what I've had 24 hrs to think before I judge, that deserves 4 weeks with a early guilty plea. :thumbup:
Kanggas2
Roar Rookie
Agree Addo Carr stuffed it up on that occasion
Nat
Roar Guru
Agree about Niukore. Have to say I wasn't upset to see him miss last week. He moves well, aggressive and a big body.
The Barry
Roar Guru
That’s a really good point Albo We’ve seen backrowers defending in the centres end in tears but with Olam you know he’s going to only go one way and need someone tough in front of him Niukore is one of my favourite players going around at the moment. A handy replacement for one of my previous faves Manu Ma’u
Muzz
Guest
Great game. The Eels have improved and should be in the mix. Their loyal fans deserve some success. We may need a help hotline for Storm fans who expect to win most games. Those days may be over.
Joe
Roar Rookie
On the handling you wonder whether the new balls had anything to do with it.
mushi
Roar Guru
Someone needs a detox, meditation and earthing kk
andrew
Roar Rookie
I thought Addo Carr bombed a certain try in the 1st half Nat. He had a couple of unmarked players outside him after running past Ferguson but elected to kick, which was brilliantly caught by Gutherson at close range.
andrew
Roar Rookie
Eels the new Dragons jjk,well what can I say. I tell you what, I didn't like those away jerseys Parra wore last week against the Broncos. Looked like hi-viz vests they were wearing over t shirts.
KenW
Roar Rookie
A round 2 win against the premiers doesn't hurt their credentials but I'm not ready to put Parra up near the top line yet either for a couple of reasons. Firstly, it's round 2. Every win is 2 points, and the more the better for position on the table. Ultimately though, once you're in the final series, who you beat in March means little. Secondly, this Storm isn't that Storm. I think this is the Storm we'll see this year. They're still a good team, and will likely sit in the Top 4 all year, they have the players to absolutely carve up an opposition on their day. But there's the rub, with Cam Smith at the helm they had a relentless consistency that meant almost every day was 'their day'. Now I think the results might jump around a bit more.
Bronc12
Guest
Oh pipe down bud. Every year parra fans say the same in the first 6 rounds. U beat my rubbish broncos first game and won a game in the slippery wet conditions that can be a lottery. Keep your enthusiasm and confidence for finals cause that’s when the eels need it the most as shown in previous years by failing at last couple of hurdles.
Kanggas2
Roar Rookie
If the nrl is serious about trying to reduce concussion, then kaufusi should have got sent straight off , and receive an 8-10 week suspension.. .. that elbow reminded me of the les Boyd era of the ugly 80s
Nat
Roar Guru
I just heard on radio: 2weeks for early plea or 3 if he fights it.
Ja ja klazo
Guest
Friend was on the field when Grant came on..he moved to a 13 type role. Knockers of friend clearly only watch what happens when teams have the ball. He's been the lynchpin of one of the best defensive systems in the game for the better part of a decade. He organises the middle third better than anyone in the NRL.
Red Rob
Roar Rookie
Yeah I’m on the Harry bandwagon, too. Friends time has passed Yeah he’s in the “Friends-zone” now …
Josso
Guest
Gutho, having tracked around to knock the ball from Munster, doesn't think "job done", he gets up runs to the other side of the field and tries to do the same when Olam scores. He just doesn't stop.
The Sporacle
Roar Rookie
Hard to tell, fair bit of bias but it didn't look good. 3 to 4 should be right but I'm figuring 2 will be what's handed out
kk
Roar Pro
Strewth it's getting worse. Try Panthers and Parra.