Parramatta Eels NYC side

1. Anthony Layoun

2. Greg Leleisiuao

3. Emosi Alamoti

4. Noel Aukafolau

5. Haze Dunster

6. Dean Matterson

7. Joseph Taipari

8. Sean Keppie

9. Denzal Tonise

10. Beni Valu

11. Dylan Clifford

12. Salesi Faingaa

13. Mitch Butfield

Interchange

14. Reed Mahoney

15. Tangi Hokai

16. Frank Salu

17. Oregon Kaufusi

18. Dom Murphy

19. Dylan Brown

20. Nick Okladnikov

21. William Kei

22. Austin Dias

23. Jye Challenor

 

Late Mail

Dom Reardon comes into the team for Tangi Hokai

 

First Half

 

Perfect start for the Eels as the Tigers drop the ball from the kick off! What a gift of a start! Parramatta make them pay dearly for the turnover as Greg Leleisiuao crashes over in the corner on the third tackle. Too easy!

 

Try scored by Greg Leleisiuao. Conversion unsuccessful by Joe Taipari.

Eels lead 4-0

3min gone

 

Keppie carts the ball out to 15m off his line but loses the ball on the ground. Oh dear. Is this going to be one of those games? Tigers on the attack here. They work to their left from the scrum win before coming back to the posts. Good shape from the Parraaatta defence early on. The Tigers are driven back in a powerful tackle late in the count by the diminutive Taipari but hold their composure to force a line drop out on the last tackle. That was a neat grubber.

Oooh. The Tigers let the drop out bounce and it nearly rolls into touch! They got a fortunate final bounce there. They recover the ball and begin to centre the pill but it comes at the expense of a few tackles. They look to stab a kick in behind from 25m out but Anthony Layoun scoots across to take it on the full.

Semi-enterprising play from the Eels as they nearly create a break moving the ball from right to left but the Tigers barely hold on. Matterson looks to clear the ball on the last but I think he may have clipped one of his own players so the ball comes back for an accidental offside. Fortunately the Tigers quickly turn the ball over themselves.

The first penalty of the day goes to the Eels as the Tigers reef the ball out of Leleisiuao’s grasp. Matterson runs the ball strongly in the following set as the Eels drive the ball into the red zone but Taipari’s bomb on the last is taken quite well by a soaring defender.

Metres are tough to come by for the Tigers in return and they end up driving the ball down field where Layoun scoops it up. He is met by a surprisingly good kick chase and is driven back but offloads to Leleisuauo who makes good metres. Parra fall apart a bit this set as they move the ball slowly through their right edge. They complete the set by bombing to their left via Matterson but once again the ball is taken extremely well.

The Tigers then pick up their first penalty of the game when the Eels are caught infringing inside the 10m mark so they get a piggy back down field.

Ooooh, great hustle from Salesi Faingaa there! He blocks a grubber in the front line and then shoots up to dive on it.

Beni Valu provides a really solid carry to take the Eels forwards and then we kick early . It is a very good kick to as it finds empty space down inside the 20m mark. The Tigers are on the backfoot here and they get out of trouble in an unusual way as there is a shallow mid-field grubber that they recover. Wew. Parra scramble like mad and once again it is Faingaa that produces the big defensive play as he intercepts an errant offload in the hectic play that followed.

A nice break from Haze Dunster down the left takes the Eels downfield and a repeat set follows when Layoun’s chip kick is forced in goals but the Eels can’t take any advantage of the extra possession as Matterson produces an error early in the count.

Scrappy stuff from both teams really so far. The Tigers earn their second penalty of the game and fly downfield off the back of a booming touch finder. As you would imagine there is an error shortly afterwards – to Parra’s gain. Both teams trade sets now before the Tigers earn their third straight penalty when Matterson is called up for a shoulder charge. Tiny bit of momentum here for the Tigers.

The Tigers work the ball to their right as they enter our red zone but our left edge numbers up well through the early tackles. The Tigers kick from dummy half on the half and it looks to be something a shocker quite frankly. A flat kick that sails in-goals on the full which gives Dunster an easy play at the ball for a 20m restart but he drops it through his legs and the Tigers dive on the rolling ball. Costly error there.

 

Trry scored by the Wests Tigers. Conversion unsuccessful.

Tigers lock the score up at 4-all

25min gone

 

The Tigers produce a solid set after points as they drive down field before hoisting a bomb up. Layoun sets himself under it and leaps up to take the ball but he is out jumped by a flying Tiger who spins out of the catch and runs 12m to score the go-ahead try for the Tigers.

 

Try scored by the Wests Tigers. Conversion successful.

Tigers lead 10-4

28min gone

 

Parra finally get the ball back as Dunster defuses a bomb from the Tigers. Leleisiua provides a solid carry before Valu gives us an excellent one. Reed Mahoney looks to catch the markers out but gets no love from the ref but the Eels get a bit of fortune on the last when a stray Tigers’ hand leads to a 6-again call. Mahoney tries to dive over and goes perilously close before he is called held up. Taipari plays flat down the left and fires a cutout pass to Noel Aukafolau who is taken in a superb tackle. Mahoney tries to roll the ball in-goals but the fullback for the Tigers reads it well and barely gets back into the field of play.

Parra undo all the good of a strong defensive set when they hit the kicker late which sees the Tigers get a massive trip down the field for a penalty on Parra’s 20m mark, directly in front. Surprisingly, the Tigers elect to take a shot at goal. Something of a reprieve for the Eels there in my opinion.

 

Penalty conversion attempt successful. 

Wests Tigers lead 12-4

33min gone

 

Embarrassing stuff now as the Tigers create an overlap down there left edge. Nothing fancy there just a 3-on-2 created by bad numbering from the defence. The Tigers zip down the sideline and Layoun is positioned terribly to make a play at the runner – serious amateur hour here from the Eels and the Tigers cross in the corner to make it an imposing lead now.

 

Try scored by the Wests Tigers. Conversion unsuccessful.

Tigers lead 16-4

36min gone

 

Massive metres here again for the Tigers, no line breaks this time though. They bomb Leleisiuao on the last and he takes it cleanly to give the Eels a rare possession.

Parra struggle to make an inroad in this set but Mahoney gets away a neat kick from dummy half to trap the Tigers inside their 10m mark. Parra should get one last possession this half if their defence can hold.

The Tigers work the ball up to short of halfway and rake it across the field. Leleisiuao takes it on his goal line and steams back into the kick chase. Parra work to their left before centreing the ball. Taipari throws a late ball at the line to Keppie that nearly gets the rangy forward through. We then shift wide to Leleisiuao who tries to beat his opposite down the sideline before flinging an offload back in field. Aukafolau cleans it up and passes to Layoun who kicks ahead for himself. Poor kick really but the Tigers’ fullback misses it completely to create a mad scramble for the ball. The Tigers look to have knocked on in the wash up of it all but somehow the ref finds an error against the Eels. Bizarre call I reckon.

Still that will pretty much do us for the first half, a very disappointing half of footy if I am being frank.

 

Half Time

Wests Tigers 16 lead Parramatta Eels 4

 

Second Half

 

The Eels come out of the sheds with a rocket up the backside and move the ball fluidly from the first set. Haze Dusnter ends up making a half break that gets him to halfway but he loses the ball trying to change hands. To make matters worse big Beni Valu has been left strewn on the ground and is in a bad way. He is helped off by two trainers and a bit of a break in play.

The Tigers go left, right, left as they work the ball to both sidelines. Alas it is the Tigers that cross for first points in the half when Alamoti falls off his man a few metres off the goal line, allowing him to burrow under the converging cover defenders.

 

Try scored by the Wests Tigers. Conversion unsuccessful.

Tigers lead 20-4

44min gone

 

Nice bit of hustle from Joe Taipari there as he races out to dive on a loose pass from the Tigers. He earns a penalty for the Eels as well as he is held down in the tackle.

Keppie and Alamoti get the first two touches this set before Leleisiuao links up with Keppie in the centre of the field. Mahoney looks to dribble the ball in-goals from dummy half but it is taken on the line before the Eels look to drive the Tiger back in-goals. The ball pops out and is recovered in-goals by the Tigers for drop out.

Another penalty to the Eels now as Keppie is slowed down in the ruck. Keppie takes the tap and knocks defenders around as he goes painfully close to scoring. Wide right now for the Eels as Matterson runs it and forces a sloppy offload that Parra are lucky to regather. A couple of tackles later and Matterson is once more at fault when he is pulled up for a forward pass to Keppie. Sloppy play.

Carnage for both teams now with a player on the ground for both the Eels and Tigers. Looks like shoulder injuries for both.

Parramatta finally start to play more direct as Matterson puts Faingaa through a half gap centre field. The Eels look to push their advantage as Taipari runs the show down the left edge playing to the line and throwing a bullet pass to Dunster to put his flanker over out wide! Finally some signs of life from the Eels.

 

Try scored by Haze Dunster. Conversion unsuccessful.

Eels trail 8-20

52min gone

 

Talk about a set after points. Strong carries from Faingaa and Tonise pave the way for Mahoney to rifle a 40/20 (or 35/10 really) but it all comes undo when Aukafolau drops the ball in the ruck. Dang.

Bit of a lull in play as both teams just work through their sets here. Beni Valu is back on after a real injury scare and immediately provides great impact with a massive clearing run. Back to the lull before Dunster breaks it with a linebreak out of nowhere. He is taken by the fullback but the Eels are on the attack. Noel Aukafolau nearly punches through from short range before the Eels run it on the last down their left edge short side. It looks like Dusnter will be repelled but he spins through the goal line defence to slam the ball down! Dunster had a few tough moments today but he has roared to life in the last few sets.

 

Try scored by Haze Dunster. Conversion unsuccessful by Joe Taipari.

Eels trail 12-20

63mn gone

 

Goodd carries from Salu and Leleisiuao before Salu has a second incisive run. Mahoney has a good carry to bring up the last but it all goes awry from there. We try to brute force a right edge short side play but have to desperately offload the ball infield before Layoun puts a terrible kick ahead that rolls dead by miles. Gifted 7-tackle set for the Tigers.

We defend the set quite well actually and the ball ends up with Greg Leleisiuao as he defuses a simple bomb. He makes a solid return as well, fending off several chasers.

Salu up next and he draws a penalty as the ball is ripped out. Huge let off afterwards as he look to have failed to find touch but the Tigers winger had his foot on the line. Wow that was lucky.

It ends up a wasted set alas. We made some good gains early on but on the last tackle young Taipari miscues his bomb badly as it skews heavily off the inside of his boot to sail dead. Another 7-tackle set incoming.

Parra survive the extended set once more but time is starting to run out with under 11min on the clock and the margin still 8-points.

Time off now for a Tiger that has put himself in a bad position tackling Haze Dunster. He is eventually aided off the field after a fair break in play.

Parra work left from the restart via Taipari. Matterson to Kaufusi next before Tonise has a run.

Big break from Mahoney now but he has the ball stripped out as he comes to the fullback. 6-again for the Eels and they go right before coming back to the posts with Kaufusi. Noel Aukafolau gets some early ball and half beats his opposite with a left foot step to the inside but can’t help himself but to reach out to try and score. It is immediately called up for a double movement. Poor option from the young centre there.

Error from the Tigers coming over halfway. Wowza. What a pass from Mahoney! He jumps out of dummy half and throws a double cutout pass to Tonise who strolls over under the posts!

 

Try scored by Denzal Tonise. Conversion successful by Joe Taipari.

Eels trail 18-20

75min gone

 

Oh my. Dylan Cliffered has dropped the ball cold on the 2nd tackle. That hurts badly.

Oh MY. The Tigers immediately throw a forward pass on the next tackle! A miracle might be back on the menu boys!

Aukafolau and Cliffered take runs. Leleisiuao comes in-field for a run before Mahoney makes an excellent dart fro dummy half. Right to Matterson who turns back inside to Layoun who slips over to bring up the last. Taipari tries to stab it through but it is taken 5m out and the Tigers survive with 4min left on the clock.

Great kick return from Dunster now! He beats half a dozen defenders as he goes over halfway. Layoun and Leleisiuao with runs before Tonise has a carry. Taipari goes to the line and throws an inside ball to a steaming Oregon Kaufusi. The flying prop carries defenders over the line from a good 6m out to slam the ball down for the go-ahead try! C’mon boys!

 

Try scored by Oregon Kaufusi. Conversion successful by Joe Taipari.

Eels lead 24-20

79min gone

 

The Eels recover the short kick off and show the presence of mind not to get flash for the final 30sec as the ruck it out. Parramatta have truly stolen victory today after a lacklustre effort for the majority of the game saw the Tigers hold a sizable lead for a large portion of the match. A sparkling revival in the final 10min of play proved to be enough for the Eels to grab the win though and by doing so they hold their place in the Top 8.

 

Full Time

Parramatta Eels 24 DEF Wests Tigers 20