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Parramatta have stunned Melbourne to return to the NRL’s top four and deny the Storm’s shot at becoming the first team in history to win 20 straight games.
On the night most tipped Melbourne to become the first in history to register 20 straight wins, it turned into a nightmare with their first loss in Queensland since 2017.
Star winger Josh Addo-Carr finished the night on the sideline with a hamstring injury, Harry Grant, Brandon Smith and Jesse Bromwich all found themselves on report.
Each of the trio could face bans, with Bromwich in the most trouble for a crusher tackle on Isaiah Papali’i in the first half.
Grant could find himself in strife for making dangerous contact on Dylan Brown’s legs in a tackle, while Smith collected Marata Niukore high.
It left the Storm stuck on 19 straight wins, equal with the Eastern Suburbs side of 1975 for the greatest streak of all time.
But it wasn’t all good news for the Eels, with Clint Gutherson limping off the field late with a leg injury and Nathan Brown on report for a high shot.
Parramatta were hopeful Gutherson’s injury was nothing serious.
Still, the win momentarily moved them into fourth and in with a shot at a second chance in the finals if they beat Penrith next week and Manly drop one of their last two games.
The Eels played with far better intent than they have in the past five weeks, while their defence was also significantly improved from when they lost four straight.
Gutherson and Mitch Moses in particular stood up, after the duo’s poor form coincided with the team’s slump and prompted questions over their leadership.
Moses kicked superbly with one exception in the first half, and set up the Eels’ first Blake Ferguson with a perfect lofted cut-out ball.
In a sea-sawing match, Melbourne went level through Reimis Smith before they took a 10-6 lead when Isaac Lumelume scored.
But Gutherson ensured the Eels would go to halftime level when he put Haze Dunster over on the left wing.
Gutherson also gifted Ferguson his second on return after the break, getting on the outside of the defence before allowing his winger to go over.
Joey Lussick too scored one late after some nice Brown work in the lead up, capping Parramatta’s best night in months.
Papali’i was brilliant with 170 metres, as was Junior Paulo while Nathan Brown was significantly improved.
Meanwhile, the win also opens up the race for the minor premiership, after the Storm appeared to have it wrapped up.
Penrith will draw level with Melbourne on 42 points if they beat Wests Tigers on Sunday, and while the Storm have a superior for-and-against both teams could rest players next week.
© AAP
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