Team List

 

1. Anthony Layoun

2. Greg Leleisiuao

3. Tuimavave Afualo

4. Dane Aukafolau

5. John Fonua

6. Dean Matterson

7. Kamren Cryer

8. Sean Keppie

9. Denzal Tonise

10. Tangi Hokai

11. Filia Utoikamanu

12. Salesi Faingaa

13. Ray Stone

Interchange

14. Reed Mahoney

15. Mitch Butfield

16. Frank Salu

17. Oregon Kaufusi

18. Dom Murphy

19. Noel Aukafolau

20. Haze Dunster

21. Beni Valu

22. Austin Dias

23. Sam McGregor

 

Late Mail

Beni Valu comes onto the bench in place of Frank Salu.

 

First Half

 

Parramatta to receive the ball in the first half.

Salesi Faingaa crashes into the kick chase on the first. Greg Leleisiuao takes the second carry and tries to offload to support but loses the ball. Costly early error.

Penrith are happy to chance their arm from their opening tackle. Plenty of second phase play. The error from Leleisiuao will cost the Eels full freight here as a late offload from prop to prop sees the Penrith #8 crash over next to the posts. Layoun couldn’t hold up the prop forward at the last line. Parramatta will need to shut down these late offloads.

 

Try scored by the Penrith Panthers. Conversion successful.

Penrith lead 6-0

3min gone

 

Massive contact between attacker and defender there. Good footy. Penrith play down their left. Stone and Faingaa make a strong tackle up the middle and Penrith will kick early. Fonua traps the ball with his foot and then runs into the teeth of the kick chase. Dane Aukafolau and Filia Utoikamanu have carries before a lovely ball from Anthony Layoun puts Aukafolau into space. He strides down the sidleine before the chasers catch up to him before he passes back to Layoun who is tackled.

The Eels run it down their right edge on the last after he beats a shooter from marker. He gets the ball to Tui Afualo who has Leleisiuao outside him in a 1-on-1 but opts to run it himself but he is taken by the defence.

Brittleness on the right edge in reply. The Eels are caught two men short when the Panthers shift wide early. Afualo tries to jam in and stop the play but the pass beats him and the Panthers are away down the sideline. Layoun has a straightforward attempt to bring him down at the last line after correctly shepherding him towards the sideline but a poor attempted tackle lets the Penrith flanker step past him on the side and score next to the posts. That was weak stuff.

 

Try scored by the Penrith Panthers. Conversion successful.

Panthers lead 12-0

8min gone

 

Good metres for Penrith in this set. They cross halfway on the fourth tackle and kick it early from there but the kick is a shocker. It sails out on the full and the Eels catch a big break. Parramatta ball on halfway.

Stone takes the first run. Tangi Hokai follows. Matterson plays two wide to Sean Keppie down the right. Hokai is back for a second run this set. Parramatta play left, nice set play between Aukafolau and Layoun but Penrith defend it well. A penalty comes for a second effort in the tackle on Layoun though Utoikamanu and Keppie first up. Keppie barely short of the line. Hokai steams into the line. The Eels spin the ball left from there where Layoun dummies and goes himself. He drives his way over the goal line and tries to plant the ball down despite the attention of several defenders but he loses it. 20m restart.

A late penalty in the following set for the Panthers as Tonise attempts a tackle after failing to make the 10m mark. Penrith with the running here. A second penalty follows now, stalling in the ruck.

Sloppy play from the Panthers after that glut of possession. They throw a long, loopy cutout down their right that takes their winger into touch. Pressure eases off momentarily for the Eels.

Faingaa and Afualo the early ruck options this set. Leleisiuao the third runner before Faingaa has a good second carry this set. Hokai brings p the last as he rolls over half way and Matterson sends a bomb up from there. Easily defused at the back and Panthers have possession once more.

Better start to this set in defence for the Eels but a touch on the pass from dummy half on the third draws a 6-again call. That hurts.

Penrith will play from right to left this set. Initially the Eels show good edge defence on the right as Afualo and Matterson combine to kill the first movement down that side. The Panthers look to be playing to their right on the next play but they dummy and come back to the same edge where we are caught short. Leleisiuao can’t stop the 2-on-1 and Daniel Brown crosses for his second of the day.

 

Try scored by the Penrith Panthers. Conversion successful.

Penrith lead 18-0

17min gone

 

Massive shot from Denzal Tonise there. It results in an error as the Panthers fight for a quick play the ball from the dominant tackle where they subsequently lose it.

Afualo and Leleisiuao the first options this set. Stone is turned inside towards the posts. Identical play for Tonise now but Penrith mark up nicely. The dual plays at the sticks were to set up the next play as Kamren Cryer plays flat at the line with a gorgeous cutout pass to Aukafolau who runs a nice angle and strolls through the gap to score. Parramatta needed that.

 

Try scored by Dane Aukafolau. Conversion successful by Kamren Cryer.

Eels trail 6-18

21min gone

 

Leleisiuao on the kickoff return. Faingaa is fired up for the second carry but a penalty blows up for offside defenders.

Big touch finder from Reed Mahoney.

Tonise carts the ball up on the first and from there the Eels execute a clever set play. Matterson runs down the left before turning his partner Cryer back to the right. Cryer finds Ray Stone flying through the middle of the ruck and the rampaging lock forward hits the backfield where he then steps the fullback to score!

 

Try scored by Ray Stone. Conversion successful by Kamren Cryer.

Eels trail 12-18

24min gone

 

Ooph. Error from the Eels in this set. Keppie tried to force an offload shy of halfway there and the Panthers get possession. A penalty follows when the Eels are caught offside at marker. Potentially a turning point in the first half now.

Penrith work from the posts to their left edge. Good line speed turns them away. They go right and then back to the left where they look to have possibly scored via one of their props but the referee rules him short. Fortunate call for mine.

It matters little though. Our right edge is caught short once more and the Penrith winger Brown has a first half hat trick. That was simple hands catching us short. Big issues down that side.

 

Try scored by the Penrith Panthers. Conversion successful.

Penrith lead 24-12

28min gone

 

Mahoney with the first up tackle this set. Tonise and Stone with big impact on the second. Penrith play down their left on the third but are stopped in the front line for once. From there they go right for two tackles to bring up the last. They end up running it on the last when some kick pressure forces their halfback to run it towards the right. They eventually get a kick away via their winger but Layoun dives on it in the field of play.

Tough set for the Eels and it gets a whole lot tougher. Mahoney tries to snipe a 40/20 from dummy half as he steps out of dummy half but he drives it low and hard – too low. It catches a deflection off the a defender, not played at, and then takes a perfect bounce for the Panthers to allow their centre to scoop it up on the first bounce and race away to score under the posts. Comically perfect fortune for Penrith on this particular occasion.

 

Try scored by the Penrith Panthers. Conversion successful.

Penrith lead 30-12

32min gone

 

Now a 40/20 attempt from dummy half for the Panthers but Fonua is well positioned to clean it up. Leleisiuao carts in up on the second. Afualo has a brutal carry on the third. He skittles a defender and then draws a penalty. Great run. Parramatta need to make something of this chance now.

 

Faingaa with the first run. Matterson runs to the line on the second and offloads to Mahoney who is pulled down 2m short of the line. Tonise plays to Cryer who finds Utoikamanu on a line to the edge. He barely says in the field of play. Oregon Kaufusi tries to crash his way over but is held out before a neat kick from Mahoney forces a line drop out. Heads up play as the team was set up for a backline movement.

Stone skips and then steams his way into the line. Tonise has a good run and late offload to Mahoney who feeds the ball to Kaufusi. From there the Eels gun the ball down the right. Matterson sends a long pass to Leleisuiao who shows both deftness and power to fend off Brown and dance down the sideline and score! Parramatta are still in this.

 

Try scored by Greg Leleisiuao. Conversion unsuccessful by Kamren Cryer.

Eels trail 16-30

38min gone

 

Penalty on the first tackle as Stone is taken high. A chance for more points before half time perhaps?

Afualo batters his way into the line. Faingaa does much the same on the seocnd. Stone plays wide to his halves down the left as the ball ends up with Aukafolau who is well tackled. Kaufusi takes the ball back to the ruck. Great tackle on Faingaa as he steamed into a gap on the right. That was a massive effort by the Penrith half on a much bigger man.

It amounts to little though as the dynamic duo of Mahoney and Tonise combine to get the Eels right back into it! Mahoney sums up play nicely from the ruck and fires a pass in front of a decoy to find Tonise flying towards the sticks!

 

Try scored by Denzal Tonise. Conversion successful by Kamren Cryer.

 

Half Time

Parramatta Eels 22 trail Penrith Panther 30

 

Second Half

 

Eels kicking off via Johnny Fonua.

 

Matterson and Tonise make the first tackle of the half. Eels are put on the backfoot early this set with some quick carries up the middle. The Panthers end up deep in Parramatta’s half on the last where they run it down their left and pick up a 6-again after Leleisiuao’s hand catches a short kick in behind. The Eels rally to make the tackle but a penalty comes when Stone is pinged for hands around the head.

Penrith play down their right with a short pass to their edge backrower. He is taken by three defenders in a good tackle. A fast play the ball on the next tackle leaves the Eels stranded on their backfeet as the Panthers end up over the goal line and under the posts before they lose it! Talk about a let off

Dane Aukafolau makes a big break down the left edge as he shrugs off his opposite and heads downfield! He can’t find support though and is pulled down on the 20m line before earning a penalty for the Panthers slowing the ruck down.

From the penalty restart the Eels go to the uprights. Tonise is barely held out but a quick shift down the left from Kryer to Layoun gets the busy fullback over as he jukes back inside of his left foot. Ideal start to the half for the Blue & Gold.

 

Try scored by Anthony Layoun. Conversion successful by Kamren Cryer.

Eels trail 28-30

45min gone

 

Oregon Kaufusi and Faingaa the opening runners this set. Leleisiuao runs and offloads to Layoun on the third and the fullback nets a penalty for the second time today for a second effort.

Mahoney finds touch 35m out from the Penrith line.

Faingaa taps and passes to Matterson who uses Tonise. Kryer plays behind the ruck to Stone before the Eels come to Aukafolau on the left. He is well contained for once.

The Eels lose their way a bit from there. Some second phase ball from Layoun to Fonua sees the winger kick ahead for himself down a narrow left edge but the Panthers clean it up with ease.

A penalty comes to the Panthers as they work their way out of their half. That was late in the count and it was for a strip after the second tackler fell away. Correct call.

Easy let off though. An error on the second tackle in the ruck. Sneaky hand from Kaufusi perhaps but terrible ball security.

And speaking of a lapse in concentration. Tui Afualo does brilliantly to beat his opposite and draw in the winger from the scrum win before flicking a great pass to Leleisiuao who drops it cold. Acres of open space ahead of Greg there as well. Pressure is right back on the Eels.

The Panthers run to their right with Izzard who is taken by Aukafolau. Back to the posts now as they then go down their left edge. Matterson with the tackle. Once more to the posts and they build for a late set piece. No, scoot from dummy half that is repelled by good defence. The Panthers roll the ball in behind our left edge where Layoun takes it with good positioning but he heads into the chase too upright and his driven back 4m for a line drop out.

Mahoney and Stone first up tacklers. Make that second up tacklers too. Heck, they are the tacklers on the third as well. An unforced error comes from the Panthers following those three basic plays. They looked to swing wide left but the pass to their half was iffy and he grasses it.

Tonise and Beni Valu working up the guts this set. Aukafolau heads back in-field from the left and finds Matterson who is taken to bring up the last. Break down of play on the last as Layoun eventually gets a chip kick away.

A sensational individual play from Matterson is negated by a dubious knock on call. He makes a 1-on-1 strip against the Penrith centre but the ref says he lost it. Replays suggest he didn’t. Big call.

Of course a penalty comes two tackles later as well. Discipline hurting the Eels after missing out on an unlucky call.

Penrith play through the ruck over the first three tackles before going to their left on the back of some offloads. The Eels stand firm and Penrith will run the ball down their right on the last. Big question mark over the last pass. Big question mark even with the touchy in line. Fonua can’t make up the ground on his opposite and the Panthers are over. Bit of luck for the Panthers in that run of possession between the Matterson knock-on call and the contentious pass but did the work to get over.

 

Try scored by the Penrith Panthers. Conversion successful.

Penrith lead 36-28

58min gone

 

Good set after points for the Panthers as they drive over halfway and find touch 10m out from the Parramatta goal line.

Matterson feeds the scrum and Mahoney finds Leleisiuao. Wide to Aukafolau on the second for some useful metres before Utoikamanu has a carry. Cryer to Matterson to LAyoun who uses Afualo down the right. Edge to edge from the Eels. Butfield takes the ball into Penrith’s half and a good kick finds the in-goals before the Panthers are pulled down 7m out.

Better defensive set as Penrith are forced to kick from their 40m line. Layoun fields a friendly bounce and gets back to his 30m line. Fonua comes in field for a run. So too does Leleisiuao as he carries defenders for 15m. Tonise chalks up another run before Faingaa is taken to bring up the last. Matterson heaves it high and is allowed to bounce. The Eels come away with it. Utoikamanu perhaps? He offloads to Cryer who gets to Matterson who finds Leleisiuao. The bullocking winger is caught in two minds between gunning it himself and finding support and is caught short of the line. Turnover.

A second chance comes quickly for the Eels though! Penrith lose the ball coming off their line. Matterson forces the error with a reaching hand that knocked the ball out.

The Eels go down their left midway through the set and Aukafolau schools his opposite. Brushing past him from 10m out. He could probably reach out and score himself but he flicks a ball to his winger Fonua who graciously accepts the gift 4-pointer.

 

Try scored by Johnny Fonua. Conversion unsuccessful by Kamren Cryer.

Eels trail 32-26

66min gone

 

Another carry for Leleisuiao. Ditto for Faingaa. Mahoney loses it cold on the third tackle though and the Eels apply the blow torch on to themselves. Has been the story for most of the day really.

Simple ruck work through the opening tackles. Stone lays on a bellringer on the third! Great read and shot. The Panthers are denied on the fourth as the officials deem the Panthers to be held up. Replays support the call.

Last tackle now and the Panthers run it down their right but the Eels show plenty of discipline and commitment to enforce the turnover on tackles.

Fonua and Faingaa run it on tackles two and three. Bit messy late in the count as we lose direction and it gets worse from there as Matterson is tackled on the last. He was deep behind the line and tried to tackle on the shooter but is pulled down. Massive defensive play right there.

Penrith arrive in the Parramatta red zone on the fourth tackle but a sloppy offload results in a turnover. Sorry, not an offload. Great defensive effort from Ray Stone dislodges it. Another bullet dodged there, can the Eels reply now?

Utoikamanu and Afualo first up. Tonise on the third. Loose pass from Matterson to Leleisiuao is somehow cleaned up. Another messy conclusion to the set though. Layoun is forced to chip ahead for himself for the second time today sees the Panthers clean the ball up in good field position.

Penrith bomb the Eels from 25m out and Leleisiuao takes it nicely under pressure. Suggestions that he was also tackled in there air.

Great run from Fonua there! 20+metres. Aukafolau provides a good carry afterwards.

Tui Afualo now! Huge bust down the right edge! He can’t find Leleisiuao in support though and it pulled down just short of the line. Nooo! The Eels try to go left on the last with the Panthers reeling but the pass from dummy half is rubbish and a turnover occurs. Stone apparently concedes a penalty for a strip in the same play.

Another turnover! Penrith now inviting the Eels into it!

And they nearly make them pay dearly. Aukafolau continues to torment the right edge of the Panthers as he gets outside his opposite and draws the finger. A finger tip touch saves a certain try. 6-again for Parramatta.

Leleisiuao has a barnstorming run from the right edge as he beats four or five defenders. Keppie is just held out afterwards. Utoikamanu takes a run off a short ball and Keppie looks to have gone over on the fourth but the pass from Mahoney is called forwards! Probably a fair call, albeit frustrating in light of the last Penrith try..

5min left now.

Penrith work their way over halfway in what shapes up as a solid set. They make a bust down our right edge on the back of a brilliant late offload but they venture one optimistic pass too far as the Eels scramble with plenty of hustle and force an error! Phew. Defence has not been great today but the footy has still been scintillating at times.

Good run from Aukafolau. Valu trucks it up on the third. Tonise passes wide to Matterson who runs it. To the left edge now and with Aukafolau. He comes back infield and offloads as the Eels keep the ball alive somewhat messily. Leleisiuao ends up with it and makes a brilliant carry to set the Eels up for a last tackle play but again the direction is absent and Johnny Fonua has to take the tackle and turnover.

And another error! Neither team wanting to win this at the moment.

Afualo and Faingaa the first runners. Valu the the third before Afualo gets a second carry. Valu takes the ball back to the posts to set up the last and sadly the Eels do not have a solution once more. We run it down our left and fire a cut out ball to Fonua who takes the tackle once more. Our halves have been absent in the championship moments of this game.

A late penalty for the Panthers but it is much of a muchness, they only needed to survive the sole minute in possession.

The Eels have blown a golden chance to take down the competition leaders unfortunately. Showed plenty of guts to put themselves in the seat to secure the upset but a lack of direction and class proved costly at the death.

 

Full Time

Penrith Panthers 36 DEF Parramatta Eels 32

 

TCT Best on Field

3. Denzal Tonise

2. Tui Afualo

1. Dane Aukafolau

 

Honourable Mentions – Ray Stone, Kamren Cryer