The Parramatta Eels have punished the Brisbane Broncos to win a crucial Friday night match at ANZ stadium 28-16.
EELS FORWARDS TOO FIERCE
The Eels were always going to be tested through their forward pack when this clash came around, the likes of locks Nathan Brown and Josh McGuire were no doubt going to dictate how this match would turn out. The home side Parramatta came out all guns blazing and blew the Brisbane forwards out of the game having them be vulnerable come the back end of the match. Four forwards from the Eels side were able to run over 100metres giving their backs the ability to work their magic, Brown who has been pivotal in the Eels rise this season made 43 tackles with 17 runs for nearly 200 metres. They laid a welcome mat for the halves and assisted with offload after offload tiring their opposition with second phase football and running over them throughout the match. The Eels bench with Suaia Matagi, Kenny Edwards and Daniel Alvaro all provided big metres and made up for a large portion of tackles to contain the Broncos side.
MOSES PULLS BRONCOS APART
The Parramatta win was developed from the aggression and willingness of their forwards, but in addition to that the brilliance of Eels halfback Mitchell Moses brought a clinical polish to what was an impressive showing. The half was in the thick of the game throughout the match, off the back of a dominant forwards performace Moses was able to control and kicking to the line with pressure on him and having Brisbane work off their line. Mitchell after being down by 12 points early in the match took the visitors defence head on and with a smart little grubber found Tepai Moeroa to slide over for a converted try, soon after the confidence from the young half threw a no look pass over the top of the Broncos heads rushing up to find his winger Kirisome Auva’a for his first of the night. The halves were then able to combine with Moses working down the same sideline to catch the opposition defence sliding giving Auva’a his double with 5 minutes left in the match. Moses was confident in all facets producing a well manufactured game plan which lead his side to victory.
BRONCOS OWN WORST ENEMY
The Brisbane Broncos went into this clash having won 4 of their last 5 matches, the away side was off to an amazing start converting two tries in the opening 12 minutes. Having the lead and working their possession of the ball edge to edge they were then confronted by the effort and determination of the Eels pack, having not built the pressure through the middle the Parramatta side was able to take advantage of Brisbane being too zealous in attack. Both having high completion rates of over 80% each the Broncos were unable to maintain their errors and penalties in the match. Brisbane will want to improve with their impact in the middle so that sides do not get the better of them come finals and have their tackles connect as they finished up missing 40 come the end of the game.
TOP TEAMS PUT ON NOTICE
The top eight sides including the Brisbane Broncos have been put on notice as a spirited Parramatta Eels without their star player Clint Gutherson were able to muscle their way to a huge victory. The ramifications with the end result has shown that Eels are a genuine force if they are to make finals as well as heavyweight Broncos being vulnerable away from home. This win for the Parramatta side now has them sitting in 6th position, with three other sides on equal points. Being only a win outside the top four and potentially another team join them has set up for a thrilling final few rounds to determine who will battle each other come September.
SCOREBOARD
Parramatta Eels 28 Tries: Moeroa, Auva’a (2), French Goals: Norman 1/1 Moses 5/5
Brisbane Broncos 14
Tries: Gillett, Roberts
Goals: Kahu 3/3
