Parramatta Eels NYC side

1. Anthony Layoun

2. Greg Leleisiuao

3. Dane Aukafolau

4. Noel Aukafolau

5. John Fonua

6. Dean Matterson (c)

7. Dylan Brown

8. Sean Keppie

9. Denzal Tonise (c)

10. Oregon Kaufusi

11. Dylan Clifford

12. Salesi Faingaa

13. Ray Stone

Interchange

14. Reed Mahoney

15. Mitch Butfield

16. Frank Salu

17. Dom Murphy

18. Tangi Hokai

19. Emosi Alamoti

20. Tuimavave Afualo

21. Nick Okladnikov

22. Kamren Cryer

23. Austin Dias

 

Late Mail

 

Luke Burt has made one change to the starting roster before kickoff today. Reed Mahoney pushes into the starting team for Sean Keppie. This means the Mahoney will play 80min at hooker with Denzal Tonise shifting from starting hooker to prop. The Eels employed the exact same move in their last start victory over the Cronulla Sharks.

 

The second NYC Grand Final Qualifier kicks off at 5:00PM tonight but until then feel free to join to drop by and chat all things Parramatta following their breakthrough seasons across both the Holden Cup and NRL.

 

First Half

 

The Eels are receiving the ball to start the game. Oregon Kaufusi up first and Salesi Faingaa flies into the line on the second. Dylan Clifford makes a nice gain on the third. Good opening set. Early kick from Reed Mahoney on the fourth as he dabs the ball in behind and finds touch 15m out from Penrith’s line. Strong opening set.

Punishing defence! Reed Mahoney drives the Panthers back. Penrith test out our right edge early on but they answer with vigor. Layoun swallows up the clearing kick and returns it to his 30m line.

Fonua has a run before Leleisiuao makes a half break! The powerhouse winger is eventually pulled down after a 20m gain. The Eels go left and the Panthers barely hold on! Back to the posts now where it looks like Stone has a line to go through! He cuts back to the posts but slips over! No! Even worse he reaches out for a double movement. Easy call for the ref.

Counter attacking footy from the Eels! Fonua leaps high to defeuse a kick and returns with interest before linking up with Dylan Brown! Brown weaves in between defenders before he is pulled down! Great chance here now. They go left via second phase play before they are pulled down and create the number back to the right. It is to that edge they go as Brown goes to Matterson who runs to the line and puts Layoun though! First points to the Eels!

 

Try scored by Anthony Layoun. Conversion successful by Dylan Brown.

Eels lead 6-0

7min gone

 

Nice take from Dean Matterson from the kickoff. Dives forwards to take the ball and then the tackle. Through the guts with Stone and Mahoney before the Eels heave it deep on the fourth via Matterson. Decent set after points.

The Eels look to put on a big defensive set but catch some bad luck when an offload a defender’s hand. Correct call but an unlucky one.

Penrith work to their right from the scrum win before coming back to the ruck. The Panthers really look to hammer our right edge but Fonua produces a cracker of tackle to make the turnover!

Oh my, questionable passes across our goal line but it pays off as Leleisiuao gets the ball and makes a nice gain. The Eels march downfield from there and run it left on the last as Brown fires a cut out pass to Noel Aukafolau who then drops the ball onto his foot. It is cleaned up nicely by the Penrith fullback but he is cleaned up by the chase.

Ooph a near 40/20 by the Panthers as Layoun lets it bounce. He cleans it up on the sideline and passes the ball over his shoulder to Fonua. Phew.

The Eels make a near bust with Stone offloading to Mahoney but the ball is knocked out. Is that a strip by the Panthers? Ref says no but replays suggest the call might have been a tough one.

Penrith produce a nice set in reply as they work the ball into the Eels’ red zone and force a line drop out. Big defensive set incoming.

And that is a soft way to let the Panthers in. Our A/B defenders are caught napping, Faingaa in this case, as Egan darts from dummy half for the Panthers near the goal line. Stone and Faingaa nearly stop him but he wrestles through the contact to get the ball down.

 

Try scored by the Penrith Panthers. Conversion successful.

Panthers lock the score up at 6-all

18min gone

 

Penrith hit back, how will the Eels reply?

Fonua gets play back underway from the tee. The kick is deep into the ingoals but thankfully doesn’t sail dead. Alas the Eels do concede a penalty shortly after when Tonise is pinged for jolting the ball loose.

Skinny touch finder though, a good 4m found there.

Nice defence by Noel Aukafolau down our left. Penrith go to the other side from there and kick on their fourth but Layoun is right on the spot. Good run by Dane Aukafolau. Tonise follows him up to halfway. Mahoney darts on the fourth and from there a set play! Oh that is nicely worked! Faingaa holds the ball up at the line and double pumps to Dane Aukafolau before hitting Leleisiua on the inside angle! That is a gorgeous set piece! Well done to Luke Burt and well done to Faingaa and Leleisiuao!

 

Try scored by Greg Leleisuiao. Conversion unsuccessful by Dylan Brown.

Eels lead 10-6

23min gone

 

Greg takes the first run in the kick off set. Faingaa in there second as the two key figures combine. Stone takes the third carry but Denzal Tonise drops the ball on the fourth tackle, just takes his eyes off the ball. Bad drop there.

OOOPH! Stone and Mahoney provide a brutal shot up the middle. Penrith stay composed and plug away. They bomb Fonua on the last and the contest goes to Penrith but a huge scrambling effort by Dylan Brown forces an error in the grounding! What a play! 20m restart for the Eels.

Oh a chance goes begging now! The Eels look to have opened the Panthers up with an inside ball from Matterson to Layoun but the fullback drops it off his shoulder! There was a yawning gap in front of him as well.

That is a nice early kick by the Panthers as they find space behind Layoun. Fonua does really well to get back and make a strong return to his 10m line though. The Eels kick early themselves via Mahoney, nice touch on the kick, but he can’t find the sideline. Huge question marks over the kick return as the fullback uses his winger as a blocker to make a 30m gain. The Eels rally and force an error late in the tackle count before Dylan Clifford earns a penalty for the Eels.

Quick tap from Layoun as he makes 20m. Parra on the front foot. Right from Brown to Matterson to Layoun to Dane Aukafolau but Dane trips over a defender. Still a solid gain. Keppie centres the ball before Brown plays to Noel Auakfolau who is barely tackled in front of the line. Dylan Brown finds the ingoals with a deft kick but the Panthers get out of their danger zone with an audacious flick pass! That was pure madness but it pays off as their winger flicks the ball from the ground to the fullback.

A penalty follows to the Panthers but the Eels hold on once more as the Panthers lose control of the ball in the resultant set.

Nice metres from the Eels here as they look to constantly change the point of attack but Reed Mahoney takes a poor option on the last as he runs and kicks for himself. The Panthers clean it up easily and he had numbers to the left. Still fortune shines on the Eels as they force an error in defence!

Leleisiuao runs it from the scrum win. Big run from Frank Salu on the second. Tonise to the posts on the third. It looks like Dylan Brown is in on the next tackle but the ref has ruled obstruction. Oh I do not know about that! Replay suggests that is a tough call as the runners went through the line. Ticky tacky call.

The Panthers ride the momentum of that call as they bomb Fonua and earn a knock on in a contested catch. Huge chance for the Panthers with 3min to play to the break.

Left then right for the Panthers. The Eels hold firm and once more the Panthers produce an unforced error as a fiery cutout pass deflects into touch. Parra ball.

Good, simple set here as the Eels punch it up the middle before Mahoney fishes for a 40/20. The kick has the angle but takes an unfriendly bounce for the blue and gold.

Penrith work it into Parra’s half in reply and kick to Fonua but he does a nice job this time as he leaps up and comes down with the ball. Layoun takes the run on the second before Leleisiuao has to clean up a messy play on the third. Faingaa plays at the line to Keppie which draws a penalty on the buzzer. One play for the Eels.

They tap and work right where they give Leleisiuao a bit of space! He takes on the cover defence but he is BARELY bundled into touch! That was a helluva crack at the line with just one play up the sleeve!

 

Half Time

 

Parramatta Eels 10 lead Penrith Panthers 6

 

Second Half

 

Eels kicking off in the second half.

Penrith aggressively work the ball to their left and fight their way to halfway before kicking. Layoun takes it on the first bounce and takes ~10m on his return.

Leleisiuao and Faingaa take the early runs before Brown turns Clifford back to the middle. Crash line from Dane Aukafolau! What a courageous run! The Eels roll it down shallowly via Dylan Brown and the Panthers lose it backwards only to clean it up.

Dylan Brown gets his hands on the ball as he intercepts an offload! The Eels work to the posts before going right to Leleisiuao but it is a last pass forward pass! Oh man that was a walk over for Greg but the execution was just off from Matterson.

The game slows down for some dusty Panthers but we eventually pack the scrum 10m out from Penrith’s line. Dylan Brown makes a good 1-on-1 tackle on the second. Line speed is pretty solid from the Eels here. Ooph as I type that there is a near break by the Panthers but the Eels hold on and Penrith look to hoof it down field on the back of that play. Fair touch finder as well as it breaks left to the sideline and is marked on the Eels’ 10m line.

Huge run from Leleisuiao up the guts. Mahoney capitalises on it and busts through the middle! Eels on the attack and they look to kick ahead early. The ball is deflected in the line for a fresh set for the Eels. Slice of luck there!

Salu is pulled down short of the line. Keppie too! Dylan Brown runs it to the right and is cut down before Mahoney tries to dart over. Lots of white line fever here. They get some composure on the last as Brown kicks cross field for Fonua who does sensationally well to pull the ball in as he goes into touch and throw a pass back to Noel! The Panthers somehow recover to knock the ball dead before it gets to Noel Aukafolau! Line drop out. What incredible football from both teams!

The pressure is all too much. Mahoney earns a penalty via sloppy marker play and from there the Eels use hands down their left edge to put Fonua over in the corner! Lovely hands and a simple but well worked reward for a whole lot of pressure.

 

Try scored by John Fonua. Conversion successful by Dylan Brown.

Eels lead 16-6

50min gone

 

Nice run from Ray Stone from the kickoff. Faingaa heads infield on the second. Dylan Brown to Dylan Clifford. Mahoney slices through! Great run as he links up with support to his right but they are tackled immediately by cover defenders! All the running with the Eels here and Layoun heaps on more pressure with an astute grubber that pins the Panthers ingoals. Mahoney might have been able to go left to Brown but the result is still handy.

Keppie carts the ball through the middle before an outside inside play from Brown to Tonise. Keppie nearly backs his over the goal line. Panthers shoot up hard next and the Eels do well to dodge the pressure as the ball is dumped off to Fonua. Mahoney puts it on a dime for Layoun on the last as he grubbers from dummy half! Layoun shoots through and just has to ground the ball but he spills it over the dead ball line! A try has done begging.

Oh that is a rubbish penalty. Faingaa has been penalised for nothing. For a tackle that looked tough. Terrible officiating.

Goal line stand needed from the Eels as a result. Parra do well in the early moments as they hold the ball up over the line and force play back 10m as a result and two tackles later the Panthers cough the ball up! Justice right there. Ray Stone was bringing the pressure on the intended recipient there. Who else?

Greg with the opening carry from the scrum. Spread to our left on the second to Noel Aukafolau. Clifford steams into the line on the third. Tonise is caught trying to distribute the ball next but holds onto the pill despite the contact and Mahoney rattles off a 40/20 from there! What a game from Reed here today! He is on fire!

Speaking of hookers, Tonise has spun and crashed his way over! Mahoney hits Tonise on an outside slant to the posts and Tonise just works through some sloppy goal line defence! Hooker-to-hooker, dust-to-dust…these Parra hookers are condemning the Panthers to a painful end.

 

Try scored by Denzal Tonise. Conversion successful by Dylan Brown.

Eels lead 22-6

59min gone

 

Bullokcing run from Leleisiuao from the kickoff. Butfield and Keppie cart it up next before Butfield gets his second touch of the set. Matterson runs it over halfway to bring up the last and another neat kick pins the Panthers deep in the half.

Another error from the Panthers as they play to the line but the referee has pulled a late bail out call for the Panthers as he finds Ray Stone offload. Justice is served one play later as the Eels force the ball loose in a powerful tackle.

Nice double pump from Dylan Brown to put Clifford over the advantage line. Leleisiuao is in field for a carry. Left ow for the Eels but it breaks down as Brown rushes a pass under pressure. Matterson rights the set as he slides a ball over the goal line for a line drop out! Great polish on that kick.

Dane Aukafolau easily takes the short drop out attempt. Mahoney nearly drives his way over on the second! Just held out. He deserves it too. Oh what the heck! That is just too classy from Dylan Brown. A great courage line from Noel Aukafolau puts him in between plays from a Matterson pass. He flicks up an offload to Dylan Brown who just taps the ball to his left with consummate ease! That was ridiculous. The ball ends up in the bread basket of Layoun who says thank you very much and crosses for his double.

 

Try scored by Anthony Layoun. Conversion unsuccessful by Dylan Brown.

Eels lead 26-6

65min gone

 

Nice bat back from Leleisuiao to defuse a short kick off. The Eels complete a basic set with Reed drilling a flat kick deep into Penrith’s half. Another error from the Panthers follows and Matterson dives over the loose ball.

Leleisiuao heads infield for another relieving carry. His work rate has been immense today. It ends up a messy set at Brown is accosted by a defender as he tries to roll the ball ingoals. It is trapped in the line and dived on by the Panthers.

Brown makes up for it with another excellent tackle. He has really been sensational in defence today with the Panthers trying to pick him out. The Panthers cough the ball up again. A scrum will be set near halfway with a Parra feed.

And now some sloppiness from the Eels as Reed Mahoney makes a rare error after fielding an offload. He was cutting back inside looking for the try line but loses the ball in contact.

Nice pressure from Fonua in this set. He forces a bat-on and pushes across to clean it up. Penrith try a chip and chase with nothing else working but it takes a Parra bounce and Layoun returns it for 20m.

Matterson runs it down the right edge and is pulled down. Left as the two Dylans combine. Tonise goes right to Butfield and with a tackle spare the Eels attacks the posts with big Frank Salu.

Last now, the Eels play right to Brown who rolls the ball along the ground. It pops up off a defender and the Eels follow through via Brown driving a defender back in goals. First call is a knock on.

Bit of second phase from the Eels here. Mitch Butfield ends up over the line but held up as a result. That brings up the fourth tackle. The Eels spin it left and it looks like Layoun could have done himself but he passes to Fonua who is barely held up. Being selfish might have been the play.

Extended play on the last as we go from left to right. Layoun ends up kicking over the top and the Panthers recover it on their goal line.

Another short kick from the Panthers. It ends up with their hooker getting absolutely crunched in the contest for the ball. Dom Murphy cleans up the bouncing ball. Egan had the misfortune of running into the human wrecking ball that is Greg Leleisuiao.

Frank Salu has lost the ball in contact. Turnover with less than 5min to play now.

Much like Week 1 of the finals, the Eels have simply belted their opposition out of this game. Defensive intent has been brilliant.

And now the commitment pays off once more as a charge down ends up in the hands of Dom Murphy. He made the charge down too. Great reward for a hustle play.

A penalty follows as the Panthers try to slow down the play. The Eels elect to slow things down themselves as they point to the posts.

 

Penalty attempt conversion successful by Dylan Brown.

Eels lead 28-6

79min gone

 

Another clever bat back by Leleisiuao to defuse the short kick off but the Eels turn it over a few tackles later. The Panthers look to break the second half shut out by kicking ahead but the ball rolls into touch under the watchful eye of Layoun. That will do us after another brilliant effort by Luke Burt’s men!

 

TCT Best On Field

3. Reed Mahoney

2. Dylan Brown

1. Greg Leleisiuao