Eels were once again unlucky in their pursuit for their first competition points after being beaten by six at home against the Penrith Panthers.
MATCH DETAILS
Still win-less, the Parramatta Eels hosted the Penrith Panthers at ANZ Stadium on Sunday afternoon for their second meeting this season. Penrith went out to a ten point lead by the half time break with Josh Mansour scoring while Tim Mannah was in the sin bin for a professional foul. Robert Jennings crossed early in the second half and despite having the better of second half possession, Parramatta couldn’t come up with the match winning play. The match was a low-scoring affair, with both sides displaying their defensive strength and where improvements need to be made in attack. The match was an entertaining way to close out round five of the 2018 season.
FOUR POINTERS
It Was a Close One
It was a close, and low scoring game, with both teams only scoring one try a piece – it was penalty goals that got the Penrith Panthers the six-point victory. Both sides demonstrated strength in defence, particularly the visiting Panthers. Statistically, the two teams were relatively even, however the attack was lacking from the Eels, which proved costly.
Promising Eels
Despite it being a loss, the Parramatta Eels looked promising when up against the Panthers for the second time this season. Their attacking performance still needs some work, however there is no doubt they are improving, and are due for a win soon. It was an impressive effort for the side, and Parramatta look as though they are close to a win.
Strong Penrith Defence
The defensive effort from the Penrith Panthers was extremely convincing against the Eels on Sunday afternoon. The Panthers have had a strong season opening, and the defence they put on display against the Eels was commendable. The defence on their line was strong, and the only try scored by Parramatta was due to a small miscommunication between to Penrith players.
Too Many Errors
While it was an entertaining game, and mistakes are inevitable in any NRL game, the error count was quite high from both the Eels and the Panthers. Each team made thirteen errors, which can have, and did have an impact on the attacking momentum in both sides. Both Parramatta and Penrith still have room to improve, and this area is one aspect of their attack that must be worked on to gain stronger momentum when carrying the ball.
WHAT THEY ARE SAYING
“We’ve got to stay in the fight…it’s becoming pretty desperate now.” – Brad Arthur
“Pretty damn ugly, but I thought we defended well especially in that second half” – Isaah Yeo
THE RESULT
Parramatta Eels 6
Tries: George Jennings
Goals: Mitchell Moses
Penrith Panthers 12
Tries: Josh Mansour
Goals: James Maloney 4/4
https://nothingbutleague.com/2017/10/14/cameron-king-re-signs-with-parramatta-eels-for-2018/
