Good morning and welcome to Round 3 of the District Representatives. We are live from New Era Stadium in Cabramatta where there is a full block of footy coming up with the Harold Matthews, Tarsha Gale Cup and SG Ball all scheduled for play. Parramatta will host the Illawarra Steelers on this gloomy Saturday morning. The camera gear is taking a trip to the workshop for a tune up so we are back to the neanderthal-era technology of live updates!

 

Kickoff in the Harold Matthews will be at 10:00am so stay tuned.

 

Harold Matthews

 

First Half

 

Parramatta are kicking off and running towards the Club. Huge contact on the first tackle as Christian Wihongi is bowled over looking for a big shot. He bounces up off the turf quickly and gets back into the line but the Eels go on to concede the first penalty of the game for shooting off the line. The defence in the second set starts off strongly as Illawarra string together some fluent backline moves.

 

They hold the Steelers out before an inspired effort from Jandamurra Stewart somehow sees him get back into the field of play despite the attention of 3 Illawarra Steelers. Incredible effort. A penalty quickly follows as well. What a turn in momentum.

 

David Hollis steamso nto the ball to take hte Eels over halfay and he is backed up on the next tackle by Wihongi to bring up the last.The Eels kick deep on the last and a good kick chase means there is a tidy end to the set. The defensive standard is upheld in the following set as a series of thumping hits rock the Steelers onto their back foot.

 

Stewart fields the kick with a little hop and then flies back into the line for a solid gain. Parramatat play this set down their left edge as the Steelers barely contain Hollis flying down that edge on a slant. The Eels run the bowl on the last as they spin it to their right. Aspin gets the ball and offloads back to Trey Mooney who in turn fields Tyler Field. Field kicks ahead and the chase pins the Steelers in goals. Fantastic end to the set.

 

Clinical play this set as the Eels work the ball down their left edge expertly. Stewart gets the ball with a sliver of space and plants it down in a flash. Awesome play.

 

Try scored by Jandamurra Stewart. Conversion successful by Field.

Parra lead 6-0

8min goal

 

Big runs from Hollis and Skinner to start the next set. Wihongi and Pasitoa take the next carries before Caleb Tohi carries defenders forwards to bring up the last. Field stabs the ball in behind on the last – neat kick really. The Illawarra winger makes a complete meal of it though as he loses backwards onto his foot and boots it dead by accident.

 

Crazy stuff off the line drop out as the ball hits the kick, skews off an Illawarra chaser and is taken on the fly by Trey Mooney. Parra shift it left from there as Jayden Skinner runs the suicide line off Masima. Courageous stuff there. The Eels keep the rage pumping down the left edge as Pasitoa flies into the line off a short ball. He looks to have spilled it but has somehow popped it back up into his hands as he hits the deck and then flicks it out to Stewart somehow! Impossible! Stewart says thank you every much and dives over for his second.

 

Try scored by Jandamurra Stewart.. Conversion successful by Field.

Parra lead 12-0

13min gone

 

Another solid set after points here for Parra. Looking fired up after a fractured effort last week. Midway through the count Jayden Skinner earns a penalty as the defenders hold him down but the kick for touch is a bit too greedy as the Illawarra right flanker pulls it in for a gift possession.

 

Illawarra work the ball down their left edge in reply but an error in the play the ball reprieves the Eels.

 

Big shot on Penioni Tohi from the scrum. Gets rocked back by solid contact. Bounces straight back up before Pasitoa and Caleb Tohi set the course forwards again. Jayden Skinner shows some nice footwork to get in behind the ruck but the kick on the last is barely too heavy as it takes one roll too many and is called dead.

 

A challenge now for our boys as a late penalty piggy backs the Steelers into our red zone. A couple of barge over attempts are repelled at the last moments down our right edge but the pressure proves to be too much when the ball is taken to the opposite edge. Jayden Skinner is moving gingerly on his right ankle and the Steelers step through the gap on his inside to get on the board.

 

Try scored by the Steelers. Conversion successful.

Steelers trail 6-12

20min gone

 

Great set and kick by the Steelers now as they put pressure on Stewart and Campberll Byrd to get back and clean it up. Byrd eventually does so after a hefty roll on from the kick. The Steelers lift their intensity in defence now too. Parramatta are forced to kick from their own half as the hoof in downfield. Big momentum swing in the making here as the line speed for the Eels takes a shot. Illawarra work it into the red zone on the last but a complete break down in play sees the visitors conceding a penalty for an old fashioned shepherd play. We do manage to find touch on this occasion as finally get back to work. Jayden Skinner continues his workmanlike first half in attack, drawing his second or third penalty? David Hollis gets a spell on the sidelines in the mean time as Albert Faave is injected into the game.

 

Whoah there. Big flare up after the Skinner penalty. Players from both teams are right in there as tempers erupt. Captains and allegedly guilty parties are called out for a stern telling to as the original penalty is upheld.

 

Parra take the ball from left to right as they hit Trey Mooney on an overs line. Unfortunately the ball squirrels out of Henry Hall’s hands on the next hit up to take the foot off Illawarra’s throat.

 

And bang, that was a big hit and an even bigger call there. Campbell Byrd leaps up to defuse a mid-field bomb. He takes it cleanly initially but a brutal hit jams him under the rib cage as the ball flies loose. That was a real freeze-frame deal. Had his feet touched the ground? Incredibly hard to tell without the benefit of a HD replay. The ball has popped up straight to a second chaser and Jandamurra gives a spirited chase but it isn’t enough to stop the turnaround try.

 

Try scored by the Steelers. Conversion successful.

Illawarra lock the game up at 12-all

28min gone

 

Campbell Byrd has shifted to the left wing to recover as Jandamurra Stewart takes over the custodial role. It leaves a bit of confusion in the backline though as the Eels let the kick from the Steelers bounce. The visitors get first hands to the ball but fortunately there is a knock on.

 

Jayden Skinner continues to power through a mountain of work as he earns ANOTHER penalty. Outstanding stuff. Tyler Field has a show and go and nearly catches a couple of napping forwards down our right edge but they do well to drag him down. The Eels will end the half working the ball down the right edge to no avail. Even contest right here folks.

 

Half Time

Parramatta Eels 12 – Illawarra Steelers 12

 

Second Half

 

The Eels will be receiving the ball to start the half.

 

Henry Hall with the irst carry of the half. Parra spin it down their left on the second but the Steelers line up well in defence. Their discipline might need some work though as two penalties follow. The caution now comes for repeat offences.

 

Right edge movement from the tap as Penioni Tohi takes a run from centre. Mooeny centres the ball before a slick move down the left nearly gets Pasitoa over. He did really well to stay in there. Field tries to roll the ball in behind on the last for a repeat set but some good hands in the defensive line pluck the ball out before it gets anywhere dangerous.

 

There is a break for the Steelers right through the ruck as they made a strong counter punch. The Eels are reeling here but somehow scramble to recover before a brilliant piece of work from Byrd gets Parra flying. A bit of redemption too as he defuses a bomb brilliantly and races 50m downfield to kick start the set for Parra.

 

The set isn’t the greatest though and despite a nifty kick that could have potentially trapped the Steelers in goals, Braith Aspin is beaten by a big fend to get the Steelers out of trouble. Game see-sawing in the balance here.

 

Parramatta with the mistake there as i type that previous paragraph. Tyler Field nearly pokes his nose through the line from mid field but the balls is pushed to support when it should have been held and the Steelers come away with it. A penalty further compounds the issue as the visitors get a set in our red zone. The Eels are playing with a man down as a defender reels out of a tackle early in the set and Illawarra take advantage as they crash right through the newly vacated gap on the following tackle. That is the go-ahead try.

 

Try scored by the Steelers. Conversion successful.

Illawarra lead 18-12

38min gone

 

Ooph. Pain heaped upon pain now as the Steelers pick up a late penalty in the kickoff set. Play resumes 12m into Parra’s half.

 

Illawaare go right and then centre the ball/ Line speed really struggling here. They are on the goal line with a couple of tackles to spare but they only need one as a wrap around play that took nearly 2 years to develop catches the Eels out when the link ball coming back on the unders line punishes flat-footed defenders down our left edge. A mountain of work to do now for our young boys.

 

Try scored by the Steelers. Conversion successful.

Illawarra lead 24-12

41min gone

 

Big break down our right edge for the Steelers. We were caught short in midfield and Stewart was left in no-man’s land.

 

The Steelers ride their luck as the ref ignores a knock on. Luck seems to turn for the Eels when Jandamurra pressures his opposite with a jam. The ball hits the deck and he scoops it up. He races down the left sideline, fending off 3 defenders that come at him but he is eventually pulled down on the Illawarra 20m line. The Eels have the biggest overlap seen in the history of the game down their right but there is some greed in the middle as the Eels don’t pass out wide and even worse, lose possession.

 

It all goes from bad to worse two sets later as an errant pass down our left edge is swooped upon by the Illawarra five-eighth. Masima gives chase for the Eels to keep the scorer outwide but the lead is looking near insurmountable at the moment.

 

Try scored by the Steelers. Conversion unsuccessful.

Illawarra lead  28-12

47min gone

 

The Eels finally get a normal start to the set as Byrd takes the long kick cleanly. They bring to work the ball down their left but they are looking bunched. All or nothing play on the last now. Field bombs it towards Stewart who flies up into the contest for the ball. The Steeden pops backwards off his shoulder where it is recovered by Dalby who offloads to Masima. The stocky five-eighth gets the ball to Pasitoa who sniffs something on and tries to link back up with Stewart but the pass isn’t on the money. Turnover.

 

Simple set for Illawarra now. All they need though with the 3 score lead. The pressure is piling onto the Eels now as they chase both points and time and another error comes – again unforced. Illawarra with the ball in Parramatta’s half.

 

Really poor defence from the scrum there as the Eels miss a stack of tackles down their right edge. Illawarra don’t score through that run of play but it has opened up the far edge as the Steelers run the ball through the hands and dive over in the corner via their winger. Scoreline looking real painful now. It will be telling to see how the boys respond next week.

 

Try scored by the Steelers. Conversion unsuccessful.

Illawarra lead 32-12

54min gone

 

There is a bit more direction in the ruck for the Eels this set but they fail to use their backline at any point so they never really threaten. The Steelers come away with a real head scratcher of a penalty once they possess the ball. Thier fullback loses it cold as he hits the deck, stops and gestures to the main official who in turn ruminates on the scenario for a moment or three before penalises the Eels.

 

A great hit from Jed Edwards forces the ball loose shortly after though. Good to see signs of life there. The Eels come away with the ball but time is quickly blown off as a couple of Eels get banged up.

 

Late penalty for the Eels follows now. Hollis is first up and has a good offload that gets the ball to Caleb Tohi for a busy run. Hollis comes back for a second run down the left. Masima runs it down the right on the third and Field looks to play down the short side on the same edge but his pass finds no one as there is a breakdown in communication and the ball hits the deck where it is promptly scooped up by the Steelers.

 

Caleb Tohi has been left behind by play and eventually the referee calls time off. He seems to be alright though and jogs back to the line. Some enterprising second phase play gets the Eels pushing up with a minute left but they are caught running the ball on the last and that will pretty much do us here. Illawarra get two carries before the siren rings out on a comprehensive thumping for the Eels.

 

Full Time

Illawarra Steelers 32 DEF Parramatta Eels 12

 

Tarsha Gale Cup

 

First Quarter

 

Energetic start to the game as both the Eels and Steelers chance their arms in attack. There are a few errors and penalties, as to be expected but it has been entertaining.

 

The Eels are first on the board as Rosita Utia powers over the line from short range.

 

Try scored by Rosita Utia. Converserion (drop kick attempt) unsuccessful.

Eels lead 4-0

 

They make it difficult for themselves after camping with the ball down their right edge but a left side shift on the last tackle, along with some passes in traffic get Akasita Masima (sister to Harold Matthews five-eighth, Tevita Masima, if I am not mistaken) over.

 

Try scored by Akasita Masima. Conversion unsuccessful.

Eels lead 8-0

 

Second Quarter

 

Wowza, that was a brilliant little turn of play for the Illawarra #7 as she somehow pulls in a loose cutout ball on the right sideline. She then dances back in field before weaving her way through the Parramatta defence to score a 40m toe tapper. Fantastic stuff.

 

Try scored by the Steelers. Conversion successful.

Illawarra trail 6-8

 

The Eels strike right back but I have missed the scorer as there is a mass fan migration in front of me. Sorry about that.

 

Try scored by the Eels. Conversion unsuccessful.

Eels lead 12-6

 

Carnage on the field as both the Eels and Steelers have girls down.

 

Holy Dooley! The game comes down to the final play as the Steelers kick ahead. They get the first runner to the ball but she can’t pull it in! She was away and under the posts there is she catches it off the bounce. Really fun game today. Credit to both teams.

 

Oops, my bad! The Tarsha Gale is played in quarters it would seem. I have jumped the gun there.

 

Half Time

Parramatta Eels 12 DEF Illawarra Steelers 6

 

Third Quarter

 

The Steelers are first on the board in the third stanza as they spread the ball down their right edge. A late offload catches the Eels defensive line retreating and the Steelers go through the hands to score.

 

Try scored by the Steelers. Conversion unsuccessful.

Illawarra trail 10-12

 

The Eels strike back in a flash as Britney Star (unlisted in the program) taps and goes from close range. Illawarra can’t repel the diving attempt as Parra have a full score lead again.

 

Try scored by Britney Star. Conversion unsuccessful.

Parra lead 16-10

 

Great goal line stand from the Eels now. Punishing defence.

 

Fourth Quarter

Parramatta Eels 16 lead Illawarra Steelers 10

 

Bit of heads up play from the Steelers there as they grubber kick in behind early in the set. Parra are caught shallow in the line as the Steelers kick ahead a second time before getting the ball down in the corner in the nick of time.

 

Try scored by the Steelers. Conversion unsuccessful.

Illawarra trail 14-16

 

There you go! Parramatta have taken back a nifty lead straight away as they tap off from half way. A lovely ball down our right gets Shaylee Bent outside her opposite and she glides through the line to score. Great pass. Great run.

 

Try scored by Shaylee Bent. Conversion unsuccessful.

Eels lead 20-14

 

And as soon as I type that the Steelers are right back in it! Bit of controversy about a missed knock on call but their #7 has flown onto the ball and split the defence from short range. They have missed the kick from in front though!

 

Try scored by the Steelers. Conversion unsuccessful.

Illawarra trail 18-20

 

And that will do us as the Eels hold onto dear life to win a fantastic affair.

 

Full Time

Parramatta Eels 20 DEF Illawarra Steelers 18

 

 

SG Ball

 

Ethan Parry is a late inclusion to the starting team. He comes into the centres in place of Dennis Mataia, who has pushed back to the bench. Second late change for the Eels. Harry Duggan is a last minute cut. Stefano Utoikamanu is promoted to the starting team and Dallas King shifts from 18th man to the bench.

 

First Half

 

After a lengthy delay we are finally underway with the Eels kicking off and running away from the Cabramatta club.

Great contact from Stefano Utoikamanu in the first set but the Eels are pinged for a penalty shortly after. Slowing down the ruck the call. Bit rough in my opinion.

Illawarra work the ball down their right edge but turn the ball over early in the count. Parramatta are quick to take the ball down their right edge as well where Utoikamanu and Parry have strong runs. The Eels kick it deep on the last where the Illawarra custodian loses it backwards before cleaning it up.

The visitors work the ball up to halfway on the last and look to stab it in behind our left edge. Nohra gets back to clean it up and is met by a willing kick chase. Stefano puts his hand up for a big carry again and he is backed up brilliantly by Kyle Cassel as we move the ball a few passes wide. Cassel drives defenders backwards and picks up our first penalty of the game.

Parry takes the tap restart and bumps off a defender. Stefano is back for yet another carry but the ball is raked out of his hands. Multiple men in the tackle there but the ref rules a lose carry. No worries, the Eels will simply win the ball against the feed! I think that is two times in two weeks.

The Eels make the Steelers pay full freight as well! Mark Tepu-Smith bulldozes the interior defence of the Steelers before slipping a silky offload to John Paul Nohra who pushes through two defenders to score next to the posts. Great start.

 

Try scored by John Paul Nohra. Conversion successful by Seve.

Parra lead 6-0

12min gone

 

Fantastic set after points for the Eels as they drive the ball over half way before Dylan Brown rolls the ball into touch 15m out. Parry leads the way in defence and Stefano Utoikamanu follows on the next tackle as the Eels drive the attackers backwards. A quick movement down the right on the next tackle catches the Eels out though as we are exposed down our left edge. The Steelers fly down the field and come to Nohra at the last line but the pass is off the mark and an error lets the Eels off.

Good carry from Cronin now. Utoikamanu is there again, driving past a strong hit. The ball comes to Charbel Tasipale down the left and he tries to flick it back to Tevaga to make the break but the balls squirrels out forwards.

Some thumping defence there. Cronin the man at the heart of it. Steelers are playing good footy though are they work the ball out of their half. Nohra defuses the long kick and takes the ball down the left. A lovely cut out ball from Dylan Brown on the next tackle puts William Kei into a world of space and a great interchange of passes take the Eels to 10m short of the Illawarra goal line. Charbel Tasipale gets the ball on the next play and just powers his way through the fractured defensive line. Great passage of play.

 

Try scored by Charbel Tasipale. Conversion unsuccessful by Seve.

Eels lead 10-0

 

Oh dear. Knock on from the kick off. And it comes back to hurt us quickly as the Steelers smash their way over three tackles into the gift set. Defence was pretty soft there to be honest. Illawarra right back in it.

 

Try scored by the Steelers. Conversion successful.

Illawarra trail 6-10

15min gone

 

The Eels are over-eager in defence now as Stefano Utoikamanu is pinged for coming back through the ruck. Borderline call and it comes late in the count so it hurts.

Big left edge movement from the Steelers but they can’t free their arms for the dangerous offload. No worries for the visitors though as our ruck defence is exposed again as the hooker jumps out of dummy half. He is held up on the first attempt but a fishy flop frees him from the attention of the defence and he slips the ball down. Far too soft.

 

Try scored by the Steelers. Conversion successful.

Illawarra lead 12-10

18min gone

 

Big metres up the middle for the Steelers now. Parra bend but don’t break before Illawarra go down their right edge. Stefano makes a crucial tackle to stop the movement but a kick on the next play pops up perfectly for their custodian as he flies through the line. All the momentum with Illawarra here and they are not missing their chances.

 

Try scored by the Steelers. Conversion successful.

Illawarra lead 18-10

23min gone

 

The Eels are finally back in possession as JP Nohra cleans a deep kick in his in-goals. The grind is real for the Eels as they work the ball out of their half before kicking in behind. Going getting pretty tough here.

Illawarra continue to try and work in behind the ruck. The Eels somehow hold on and force the Steelers to kick which sees Nohra back in action. The Eels move the ball down their left edge before Vea Tapa springs into action with a terrific dart down the left edge short side. He slices through the front line of defence before linking up with Dallas King on his right. King hasn’t got the toe to get to the line and flicks the ball back to Tapa who now has the separation required to beat the cover defence. Fantastic try!

 

Try scored by Vea Tapa. Conversion unsuccessful.

Eels trail 14-18

28min gone

 

Swings and roundabouts now as the Eels pick up a penalty coming out of their half. We work the ball down our left before playing three passes back to posts. Cronin to Vallance Harris there. No kick on the last, set play as we turn the ball back to Dallas King who is well tackled. Good defence from the Steelers there.

Great effort from Cliff Lea’Aetoa there, he races back to tidy up the early kick from the Steelers. Gorgeous set play! Alex Seve has lined up down the left-edge showing a big movement to the same edge but he turns it back to a flying JP Nohra who cuts through the front line with consummate ease. Seve is the first man to back up his own linebreak assist as well and is rewarded with the money ball from Nohra to get the Eels under the black dot.

 

Try scored by Seve. Conversion successful by Schneider.

Eels lead 20-18

32min gone

 

Parry is well involved for the Eels as he helps his forwards out with some ruck work. Two carries this set in fact. Parry will kick from the 30m mark in the Steeler’s half but Seve’s kick is easily taken on the rolling bounce. The Eels make matters worse when they are pinged for holding down.

An error from the Steelers with 30sec on the clock will give the Eels one last chance to trouble the scoreboard. They take the ball to their left for two tackles but can’t engineer a try against the odds so that will bring an end to the first half.

 

Half Time

Parramatta Eels 20 lead Illawarra Steelers 18

 

Second Half

 

The players are trudging back out for the second period of play. The Eels will be receiving the ball.

 

Good runs by Parry and Cassel down the right edge to start the set. Harris centres the ball with a good carry and on the next play we go back to Parry but the Illawarra defence swarms onto him and drives him into touch.

It was shaping up as a good set of defence for the Eels right up until the last tackle. They had contained some light stepping and offloads fairly well but the Steelers run it to their left on the last and we are caught one man short as their winger gets into a little bit of space and steps back across a sliding Nohra to score.

 

Try scored by the Steelers. Conversion successful.

Illawarra lead 24-20

39min gone

 

Pressure right on the Eels now as the ref pings them late in the count for slowing down the ruck. Play resumes 10m into Parra’s half. Big set of defence needed now.

Seve makes a key tackle down the right edge.. The Steelers aren’t afraid to keep banging away at the short side though as some quick passes see their left edge winger over for his second in two sets as he dives over from the field of play. That makes it a two score lead now as well.

 

Try scored by the Steelers. Conversion successful.

Illawarra lead 30-28

42min gone

 

Much better set of defence ow as the Eels finally force the Steelers to put up a kick from mid field. Unfortunately they let it bounce but Lea’Aetoa does well to bring it in on the bounce. Schneider steps out of dummy half and looks to rifle off a 40/20 but the ball JUST doesn’t break as aggressively to the right as he needs.

Ooph, from nearly a pick against the run of play to a long-range try. The Eels nearly pluck the ball out of the air down their right edge in defence but the chance quite literally sails by and the Steelers race downfield as a result of some quality offloads. Nohra is caught backpedaling to close to his goal line – even with support from cover defenders and the Steelers are over again. The back breaker perhaps?

 

Try scored by the Steelers. Conversion successful.

Illawarra lead 36-20

48min gone

 

Indeed it looks like the back breaker as the Steelers pour on the points now. We have no answer up the middle to the lightning fast play the balls as Illawarra put the butcher’s knife to our ruck work. Pure carve up. To be honest, it looks like the Steelers were held up with the barge over attempt but the ref is happy to point to the spot after some thought to the situation.

 

Try scored by the Steelers. Conversion successful.

Illawarra lead 42-20

50min gone

 

Good carries from Maitaia and Parry, with the latter making a line break out of nothing. He steams down the right sideline and tries to fend past the fullback but only gets a partial deflection. He flings the ball back where it is dived on by the Steelers. That is a big break in the context of any comeback.

Brutal carry from Stefano in our following set. He has deadset laid a defender out there. It may have come at a cost though as he stays down after play. Is that his troublesome shoulder in play here? Pray not.

Back to the game but the Eels have let a chance go begging. JP Nohra cleans up some loose play on our last tackle and bursts through the line. He has options inside and outside and opts to go outside where there are cover defenders. Tasipale tries to catch and pass in one motion and for a moment it looks like he has put William Kei over but the winger can’t bring the tough chance in.

Seve engineers a line drop out on the last tackle as the Steelers tap it dead. With 13min on the clock I’m not sure there is enough time for a 22point comeback though.

Vallance Harris has a terrific carry from the line drop out as the bowls over defenders. Jesse Cronin goes agonisingly close to scoring. For a moment it looked like the ref was pointing to the spot but he was telling the Eels to play the ball. Some one out stuff follows before Kyle Schnider jumps out of dummy half and turns #20 (Ronan King?) back on an inside slant to cross! Nice dummy half work there.

 

Try scored by Ronan King (?). Conversion successful.

Eels trail 26-42

60min gone

 

Ohhh? Was that forward? The Eels play flat down their left on the last as King rifles a pass to Kei. The winger is in space untouched with plenty of support but the pass is coming back. Really tough call there. The pass looked crisp.

Illawarra reply strongly as they earn a line drop out. Nohra was in position to clean the grubber kick up but he has a quick peek up at the chaser and knocks the ball backwards. He manages to dive onto it to save a try.

We don’t keep the visitors out for long though as our sloppy ruck defence is punished again and again. The Steelers bust through the middle from seemingly nothing and Nohra goes too low at the last line as he is brushed past easily. Much like the Harold Matthews, this is a very serious schooling. Both grades will need to bounce back in a big way next week.

 

Try scored by the Steelers. Conversion successful.

Illawarra lead 48-26

65min gone

 

The game can not end soon enough for our boys. I can’t even finish my last update before the Steelers drive down field and score again. Tough viewing here folks as both District Reps teams squander hugely promising starts. Both Matts and Ball have simply let the Steelers have far too much leeway up the middle.

 

Try scored by the Steelers. Conversion successful.

Illawarra lead 54-26

68min gone

 

And that will do us on a rather disappointing day of play. The Steelers have run out 54-26 victors after thoroughly working the Eels over in the ruck.

 

Full Time

Illawarra Steelers 54 DEF Parramatta Eels 26