1. Arthur Miller-Stephen

2. Turoa Williams

3. Corey Fenning (c)

4. Charlie Guymer

5. Matthew Komolafe

6. Dantoray Lui

7. Ethan Sanders

8. Tevita Taumoepenu

9. Kruz Niutili-Schmidt

10. David Hollis

11. Nikau Wrathall

12. Felix Niutili-Schmidt

13. Ryan Jones

14. David Tui

15. Jayden Skinner

16. Jack Colovatti

17. Larry Muagututia

First Half

Significant changes for the Eels ahead of kickoff as a cadre of SG Ball players come into the line up to boost the playing stocks. Arthur Miller-Stephen, Charlie Guymer, Ethan Sanders and Larry Muagututia all featuring today in that capacity.

As for the game itself – tough start for the Eels as they turn the ball over in the first set of the game. Hardly an ideal start but they hold on and repel the opening raid from the Dragons.

Momentum then swings towards Parramatta as Turoa Williams climbs the ladder to expertly defuse a dangerous attacking bomb and then on the next tackle the Eels earn a penalty. They go from absorbing all that early pressure to converting their own repeat set into points! Quick hands with a hot-potato footy gets the ball into the hands of lock forward Ryan Jones and he throws the defence a gummy bear, sorry I mean dummy there, and dives over!

Try scored by Ryan Jones. Conversion unsuccessful by Corey Fenning.

Eels lead 4-0

A string of touch calls against Parramatta allow the Dragons to set up camp on the Eels’ goal line. I think there was a missed knock on from the Red V followed by Turoa Williams getting pinged for been offside when effecting an intercept. St George are able to finally cash in on the avalanche of possession as their halfback Braxton Wallace slices through near the posts.

Try scored by Braxton Wallace. Conversion successful by Sam Hooper.

Dragons lead 6-4

More tough luck for the Blue & Gold as a knock on from the Dragons is overcalled for a high shot I believe. Tevita Taumoepenu is put on report and St George march downfield where they promptly add to their lead as their prop Bryce Magone bashes his way over. Brutal little run here in this game for the Eels.

Try scored by Bryce Magone. Conversion successful by Sam Hooper.

Dragons lead 12-4

17min gone

Our boys look to be building nicely as they slip into a sweet groove but a wayward pass out of dummy half from Kruz Niutili-Schmidtis pulled up by officials. Dragons get possession close to halfway.

It rapidly comes back to haunt the Eels as well when young Arthur Miller-Stephen isn’t in the right position to defend an aggressive chip kick from the Dragons. They put the kick in from roughly 30m out from Parramatta’s line and win the mad-cap chase for the ball through their five-eighth to open up a truly handy lead now.

Try scored by Zach Herring. Conversion successful by Sam Hooper.

Dragons lead 18-4

23min gone

It felt like the game was slipping away from Parramatta. They had to respond. They had to be the next to score. Enter captain Corey Fenning whose whole hearted chase on a towering bomb earns the Eels a penalty. They don’t squander this chance as big Larry Muagututia crashes onto a short ball under the uprights! The big man has crucially narrowed the gap and arrested the momentum of the Dragons.

Try scored by Larry Muagututia. Conversion successful by Corey Fenning.

Eels trail 10-18

29min gone

They aren’t going away quietly today! Parramatta strike again on the stroke of half time following a lovely play down the right edge as Charlie Guymer plays the overlap to perfection to slip the money ball to Matthew Komolafe who touches down in the corner! Huge, huge, huge play as the clock hits all zeroes! Fenning adds the extras from the sideline to make it that much sweeter.

Try scored by Matthew Komolafe. Conversion successful by Corey Fenning.

Eels trail 16-18

Half Time

Parramatta Eels 16 trail the St George Illawarra Dragons 18

Second Half

Hooooo boy! The Parramatta Eels start the second half the way they finished the first! A sizzling line break from Corey Fenning sees the captain dance down the left sideline before linking up with young halfback Ethan Sanders back inside for the try! What a way to kick off the second stanza.

Try scored by Ethan Sanders. Conversion successful by Corey Fenning.

Eels lead 22-18

38min gone

St George are the beneficiaries of some line ball calls once again to spur a big run of possession. It culminates in their winger Alexander Lobb crosses in the corner. More than a hint that his foot might have been out there tough.

That quickly becomes secondary though when play is halted as Fenning goes to the ref with an allegation of biting against his opposite Tate Roberts. High drama here at Kellyville as the scores lock up.

Try scored by Alexander Lobb. Conversion unsuccessful by Alexander Lobb.

Dragons lock the scores up at 22-all

40min gone

After a sizeable deadlock by the standards of the Jersey Flegg (nearly 20-minutes between points), the Dragons edge ahead via a penalty goal to Sam Hooper. Another case of a Dragons’ knock-on getting overruled by a penalty in what could be a back breaker for the Eels. Still over 10-minutes to play though so Parra are not out of this.

Penalty conversion successful by Sam Hooper.

Dragons lead 24-22

59min gone

Ouch, another string of tough calls against the Eels and the Dragons make sure to turn such a run into points as they put the game beyond doubt with a try out wide courtesy of their skipper Sam Hooper.

Try scored by Sam Hooper. Conversion successful by Alexander Lobb.

Dragons lead 30-22

Under a minute left on the clock, not enough time sadly. The Eels still opt for the short kick off but it fails to go the requisite 10m and that will be all for today folks. A truly spirited fight back from our young lads but they ultimately fall just short of an opening day victory.

Full Time

St George Illawarra Dragons 30 def. the Parramatta Eels 22 

1. Hayze Perham

2. Solomone Naiduki

3. Tom Opacic

4. Samuel Loizou

20. Zac Cini

6. Jordan Rankin (c)

7, Jack A. Williams

8. Ofahiki Ogden

9. Mitch Rein

10. Ky Rodwell

11. Elie El-Zakhem

17. Dan Keir

13. Nathan Brown

14. Brendan Hands

16. Peter Taateo

18. Luca Moretti

22. Keaton Walkington-Meads

First Half

Plenty of new faces from the original Team List Tueday sheet today. The acquisition of Zac Cini is confirmed while Dan Keir moves into the starting backrow to replace the absent Bryce Cartwright. Young forward Peter Taateo also makes his NSW Cup debut today!

The Eels will receive the ball to start this contest as the run away from the Paramatta Headquarters. Messy start for Parramatta as they bobble the kickoff but thankfully don’t produce an error. They do well to recover some momentum with tough carries from Ogden and Brown before Rankin booms the ball downfield. Excellent clearing kick there.

El-Zakhem and Loizou combine to make the first tackle of the year for the Eels on the kick chase. A really strong defensive set follows from Parramatta and the Dragons are forced to kick from inside 30m as Solomone Naiduki gobbles up the kick and steams into the chasers. Cini and Perham follow with good contributions to take Parramatta into the attacking half. Rodwell centres the ball as the Eels play left via Brown to Ogden. Good post contact metres there.

Pure professionalism from Rankin there. He is at second receiver as Nathan Brown feeds him and he rolls in in-goals expertly for the drop out.

Cini fields the bouncing drop kick for the first run of the set. Rodwell dummies and goes on the second before the Eels shift left to a sweeping Perham who is well tackled. Back to Brown on the next play but the seasoned veteran has lost it in the tackle. Big let off for the Dragons there.

Great hit! Was that Ogden with the strong initial contact? Brown and Rein follow up whoever it was to drive the Dragons backwards. St George play to their right from there but are again met strongly by Ogden and Rein as Perham cleans up the clearing kick and gets back short of the 20m line.

Naiduki takes the first settler and Cini follows with a good carry before Rodwell gashes the Dragons in behind the ruck! Rankin runs it now as the Eels roll downfield. Williams sends up the bomb and the Dragons have no clue how to defuse it as it leads to a double knock with advantage Parramatta!

Ooph, sorry some technical issues ate up my most recent updates but nothing of consequence was missed and now the Dragons have the ball on halfway.

First real defensive test for the Eels now. St George work from left field back to the ruck and then back to the left but Parramatta are defending well here. A 6-again call gives the Dragons extra amma though as Blore plays short near the goal line. Parramatta continue to turn up and they stand tall! Burgess tries to spin through contact to score but he loses control of the pill in a strong tackle from Rodwell and Brown!

Superb work from Rein! After strong carries from Rodwell and Opacic, the crafty dummy half slices through the retreating defence! He links up with support in Dan Keir who looks to kick ahead for Naiduki but the kick it too heavy off the boot and rolls dead for a 20m restart. Huge let off for the Dragons and they get the boost of a 7-tackle set.

No too many questions asked though as the Eels get the ball back via Perham on a kick return. Cini and a powerful charge from Ogden take Parramatta forwards. Rankin completes the set with a good kick that takes a cruel bounce to the dead ball line.

Good arm wrestle between the two teams here. No easy points in a physical opening to the game. Cini, Rankin and Loizou shoulder the early ruck work this set and Rankin finishes the set with a tidy bomb that Reubens takes. St George find a bit of second phase play this set to push into Parramatta’s half for an attacking kick. Perham misjudges his leap and misses the ball but the everpresent Rankin scoops it up and flicks it to a looping Cini to avoid any damage done.

Elie El-Zakhem earns the Eels a penalty with a neat run back in to offside defenders. Play resumes with a good carry to Loizou before the Eels spin left. Opacic pokes his nose through the line but can’t link up clearly with Naiduki. Back to Ogden who offloads strongly to Rein who runs into the line. Again things are messy for the Eels on the last as Naiduki has to force a desperate pass that is intercepted but thankfully the Dragons lose the ball on the gain they make leading to a new set for the Blue & Gold.

Right to Rankin from the scrum win for the first tackle. Short side play to El-Zakhem on the second as he beats a number of defenders there. Very good run. Rodwell takes it back to the posts. Options either side but they go left to Rankin who dummies under and goes wide to Perham before Opacic bursts through to score! Sweet little backline play there and some nice play from Hayze Perham!

Try scored by Tom Opacic. Conversion successful by Jordan Rankin.

Eels lead 6-0

23min gone

Rodwell heads back into the fray from the kickoff. Keir and Ogden steam into the defence next as the Eels play right to Brown on the fourth tackle. Rein jumps out of dummy half and drills the ball downfield with an excellent kick and a superb kick chase  from the right edge drives the Dragons back in-goals! What a set after points!

Short drop out that is neutralised by the Eels. Rein nearly crashes over and Loizou nearly does the same next ackle. To the left now as Brown uses Ogden with the short ball. Left again and it is deja vu! Brown to Williams who finds Perham with the double pump and then pass to Opacic. Opa, opa, opa! The ever reliable centre has an early double!

Try scored by Tom Opacic. Conversion successful by Jordan Rankin.

Eels lead 12-0

27min gone

Rodwell again taking the first cart up. Right to El-Zakhem on the second on he continues to push through post contact metres – as does Ogden on the third! Brown dummies and goes next before Rankin stabs a kick down the right edge. Reuben cleans this one up and isn’t at risk of getting driven in-goals this time around.

Blore nearly punches back with a 40/20 but a favourable bounce for the Eels lets Perham clean it up. They end up getting the ball back with some sloppy play from Naiduki who coughs it up on the next tackle anyway. Big moment in this game as the Dragons get a chance to arrest momentum. They play left but are met strongly by the Eels. Hints of a shepherd from their fullback following but he is tackled on the next tackle their lose the ball over the line! Ogden with the cover tackle to jolt the ball loose!

It starts as a tough set for the Eels before some lovely play between Brown and El-Zakhem take them over halfway. Williams bombs to the left on the last and a strong kick chase from Opacic and Naiduki pins the dragons 10m out. Excellent reply there.

Parramatta really dominating the physical battle in defence here. Dragons are forced to kick from inside 40m again and Perham takes the clearing kick on the full with ease. Great first carry from Moretti and he is followed by Taateo as the reinforcements add some punch from the bench. Opacic kicks ahead for Naiduki to end the set but the grubber kick is too shallow and is tidied up. To make matter worse the Eels concede a penalty for offside defenders on the next play.

Regardless of the penalty Parramatta continue to defend resolutely. Cini defuses their attacking kick comfortably and the Eels work through a simple set that concludes with a bomb from Williams. Under 5min to play to half time here, need Parramatta to maintain this level of focus through to the break.

Great tackle from Moretti to cut down the dangerous Reuben behind the ruck! The Dragons rush a kick on their last play of this possession and concede a penalty for offside chasers.

Opacic taps and goes. Moretti up next next. Right to Williams to Rankins to Perham but the long cutout pass to Cini is correctly ruled forwards. That was a good couple of metres forwards there.

Oh dear that is a bad mistake. After Cini does really well to showcase some light feet and beat a couple of kick chasers near the sideline to stay in the field of play, no one manages to get to dummy half in time! Rankin dives for the ball but loses it and the Dragons get a minute to score. Big tackle from Naiduki from the scrum to kill a set play. A set restart comes from 10-sec to go, an academic call, and the Eels hold on as Perham dives on the grubber kick. What an outstanding opening half of footy!

Half Time

Parramatta Eels 12 lead the St George Illawarra Dragons 0

Second Half

Parramatta kick the second half off. The Dragons are running hard, looking to make a statement but some driving defence from Loizou and Cini takes them into touch! Excellent defence from the young centre there.

Moretti and Taateo start the next set off. The young Taateo with a particularly bullish charge that flings a defender away! Unfortunately the Eels turn it over a couple of tackles later but that is a great sign from a young forward.

The Dragons run it on the last in their reply set and Williams swallows up his opposite to effect the turnover. Strong defence once again. Rankin nearly pokes his nose through the line following an offload from Opacic. El-Zakhem is turned back inside by Perham before Moretti rumbles into the line. Wide left to Opacic and sorties back infield to bring up the last where Rankin sends up the bomb. Loizou contests the ball aerially but loses it forwards for the turnover.

Cheap turnover from the Dragons now. Chance for the Eels to put the blow torch on them. El-Zakhem and Keir get the early carries. Right to Moretti next. Fast ruck from the big man lets Brown jump out and find Taateo short. Rein wants to barge over but is well met by the defence. Right to Rankin and then Perham who kicks ahead. It was played at and deflects to Cini for a new set!

Plays settles down with a centreing carry from Moretti. Rein jumps out of dummy half and spins through a tackle to slam the ball down on the line! He has been fiending for a try all game and really deserved that! Excellent play from the rake there.

Try scored by Mitch Rein. Conversion successful by Jordan Rankin.

Eels lead 18-0

48min gone

Moretti continues his impressive work rate with the first carry of the kickoff set. El-Zaken and Taateo cart it up in his wake. Left to Brown who surges onto the ball and then back right to Rankin who keeps it simple with a clearing kick down Broadway.

The Dragons get a number of chances to get on the scoreboard but between poor execution and some strong defence sees the Eels survive and ultimately pick up a penalty as Cini fights for metres.

Rankin uses Taateo from the tap restart before Rodwell crashes into the defensive line. The towering Ogden is back to as well and careens in the line. Rein jumps out of dummy half before Ogden comes back for a second carry. Great work from the Eels to keep the ball alive on the last as they go left to Keir who offloads to support allowing a switch back to the right that sees Rankin force a line drop out!

Messy work from Cini on the line drop out means the Eels start the set on halfway but a strong carry from Ogden undoes some of the pain before a wicked left edge shift fixes up the rest! Silky ball playing releases a flying Opacic, Perham really in fine form in that regard, and the centre streaks down the sideline before throwing a dummy back to Perham to secure his hat-trick! Perham a bit hard done by there but he registers the linebreak assist and try assist!

Try scored by Tom Opacic. Conversion unsuccessful by Jordan Rankin.

Eels lead 22-0

59min gone

It is looking dire for the Red V now as their kickoff sails dead on the full. Tap and go for Rodwell before the Eels work left to Ogden and an illegal strip occurs on the next tackle so an easy tap and go to the Blue & Gold.

Taateo takes the first run before the dangerous Perham takes a dart down the left and in a sign of how everything is doing the way of the Eels, his pass misses the mark and hits a Dragon’s foot only to find an offside Dragons on the ricochet. Parramatta scrum if you can believe it.

Rankin dummies and goes from the scrum win. Right to El-Zakhem on the short side but he is tackled strongly. Rodwell centres the ball before Ogden looks to crash over from a Rein short pass. Good defence repels him. Back to the 10m mark as the Eels spin left to Perham who takes the tackle. Rankin kicks to Loizou but the ball just sails past him allowing the Dragons to defuse the kick and survive the sustained pressure.

St George then march downfield following a penalty for a hand on the ball in the ruck. Can they break the duck egg here? Rodwell and Ogden combine through the middle to drop a runner. St George play right and then left as they use big George Burgess who is cut down. They spin wide left where the Eels have numbers to their centre Clark-Wood so he dances back infield and eventually finds a seam to the try line! Sloppy cover defence honestly from the Eels but the Dragons are on the board.

Try scored by Ethan Clark-Wood. Conversion successful by Dean Blore.

Dragons trail 6-22

66min gone

Dragons with a bit of energy now as you so often see after points but it unravels as they lose the ball over halfway. El-Zakhem and Cini fight for the early metres with Cini beating several defenders there. Loizou jumps out for a scurry before the Eels work left. Rankin to the new man Keaton Walkington-Meads.

Rankin back at again at the end of the set as he forces another line drop out with an astute kick. Excellent game from the veteran thus far.

Oh that is a rookie error from the young man. Loizou makes a meal of the over-the-shoulder catch near the sideline from the drop-out. The ball rolls backwards but into touch and the Dragons are let off the hook.

An error from Blore similarily lets the Eels off the hook thankfully. Nice touch from Brendan Hands as he carries defenders over the advantage line and a deft touch from Perham off the boot nets another line drop out. A long one from the Dragons this time around so the Eels will get the chance to put this one beyond any shred of doubt.

Brendan Hands, ahem, raised his hand to do just that with a lovely dummy to the left and short ball to Elie El-Zakhem on his right. Quality ruck work from the young rake and a deserved reward for the excellent El-Zakhem. Superb allround game from the Eels today.

Try scored by Elie El-Zakhem. Conversion successful by Jordan Rankin.

Eels lead 28-6

73min gone

Dominant set after points as the Eels rumble downfield. Rankin looks to cash in for a try himself as he rolls it ahead but it is well taken in the front line by a St George defender.

No traction again for the Dragons in return, Parramatta have completely owned the territorial battle today. Geez what a day for Perham and what a day for Opacic. Perham glides down the left edge and throws the dummy to beat the front line of defence. He flicks it to Opacic to secure the line break and Opacic puts the fullback Treigh Stewart on skates to get the double hat-trick!

Try scored by Tom Opacic. Conversion successful by Jordan Rankin.

Eels lead 34-6

77min gone

Moretti with a nice run and offload there as the Eels muster over halfway. Rankin sorties down the right to bring up the last. Hands finds Perham who sends up the monster bomb that sees the Dragons lose it backwards over the dead ball line! Can Tom get Mambo #5?

Oh no, they have kicked it out on the full. Tap from in front of the posts from Rankin to Moretti. Right to Ogden who deserves a meat pie today. Right again from Hands to El-Zakhem who can’t free up his arms for the offload and that will do us in a spectacular team effort from the Eels. So many players to rave about today, so much to unpack when The Tip Sheet reconvenes next week because this was a statement game from our boys!

Full Time

Parramatta Eels 34 def. the St George Illawarra Dragons 6