In what can hopefully be a palate cleanser after the awful result in Darwin last night, the Parramatta Eels launch an all-out assault on the Junior Representative finals with all four teams in action today at Leichardt Oval.

With four games to cover, updates will be split across two separate blogs and we start with the SG Ball and Harold Matthews who are playing the the Sydney Roosters and Central Coast Roosters respectively.

For the Ball, it is a rematch against the lone team who prevented their bid for a perfect regular season. A win advances them directly to the grand final qualifier while a loss still keeps them in the hunt. It is a different story for the Matts given that they snuck into the finals in the final round last week. They are faced with sudden death footy against the team they met just a few weeks ago in what was an intense and torrid defensive showdown.

Set your clocks for 11:30AM for the start of the SG Ball clash. The Harold Matthews will follow at 1:00PM while the Lisa Fiaola (2:30PM) and Tarsha Gale (4:00PM) will have their own blog.

 

SG Ball Team List

 

1	Cameron Bamblett
2	Dominic Farrugia
3	Andes Johansson
4	Nathan Howlett
5	Aidan Kebourian
6	Lorenzo Talataina
7	Lincoln Fletcher
8	Elijah-Shane Tapau
9	Lachlan Coinakis
10	Ryda Talagi
11	Jezaiah Funa-Iuta
12	Christopher Petrus
13	Max Popo
14	Tom Summer
15	Wesley Pakoti
17	Trace Beattie
19	Isaac Jim
16	Beau Lucien
18	Lorima Saukuru
20	Mark Williams

 

Match Updates

 

The Eels receive the ball to open this game.

Simple, conventional set for Parra now as their forwards work the ball shy of halfway and allow Lincoln Fletcher to punch the pill downfield for a first-up completed set.

It is tougher work second time around with the Roosters aiming up defensively. Parramatta are restricted inside their 40m mark but an excellent clearing kick from Lorenzo Talataina gets the Eels out of trouble as he finds touch on the Roosters’ 25m mark. However, a penalty in the ruck for slowing play down gifts the Tri-colours the first major whistle of the game. Make a mistake and you have to back it up and Coinakis and company do exactly that with a strong hit that jolts the ball loose!

Good effort from Funa-Iuta there as he wheels through a strong initial hit for catapults forwards for a good gain. To the left now as Talataina dances through defenders before he is brought down. Left again as Bamblett sweeps down the shortside. There is half a chance here to link up with Kebourian but Cameron holds it and then tries to offload late but loses the ball as defenders arrive in time. Good signs still.

Another driving hit from Coinakis. Great defensive form. The Roosters go to the air on the last and misfortune strikes the Eels as Dom Farrugia times his jump wrong. It bounces into the waiting hands of the opposition centre Lui Lee who has enough pace to beat the cover defence to the corner and give the Roosters the opening points.

 

Try scored by Lui Lee. Conversion unsuccessful by Tyson Walker.

Roosters lead 4-0

8min gone

 

Shoddy kickoff defence is hammered now as the Roosters storm into Parramatta’s half from the work of their bookend Seve. It is a golden chance for the Tri-colours with essentially a full set to play with but they spill the ball venturing down their right edge. It looked like the Eels had the numbers regardless but thankfully we won’t have to find out either way.

The Eels have to roll up their sleeves here. The Roosters are expending energy in defence to pin Parramatta in their half. Funa-Iuta finally gives the Eels some traction around the ruck and a booming clearing kick from Coinakis gets Parra out of trouble. Good work.

Parra navigate the following set of defence before Kebourian swallows a deep bomb. Again though, the Roosters are aggressively shooting up in defence. Possibly testing the ref’s tolerance here but they are getting away with it. Fletcher has to kick from deep within his half and doesn’t have much to work with as the Roosters claim the ball on the full and earn a big swing in position.

A timely error relieves the pressure as the Roosters get a bit cute shifting the ball from centre to prop around the posts.

Just as it looks like another neat kick from Coinakis has the Eels back in the arm wrestle, a sloppy kick chase is punished for a good gain from the opposition. Attention to detail not quite here at the moment.

Nice tackle from Johansson down our left edge. Shot out and made the clean hit. The Roosters try to catch him out of position the next play but the scramble defence from the Eels is on time and a rushed kick from the opposition leads to a double knock on.

Oh no, a rare from from Jezaiah Funa-Iuta coming out of our red zone. It has handed the Roosters a huge chance and they pounce on it as our left edge defence can’t wrap up the right winger Mahu-Delamere. They had that attacking shift under control until they let the winger reposition and head back infield. The Eels are getting punished for a slow start here and they need to shift into gear right now.

 

Try scored by EJ Mahu-Delamere. Conversion unsuccessful by Tyson Walker.

Roosters lead 8-0

18min gone

 

Set for set now but again the Eels are the ones with the heavy feet coming out of their own half. Another important clearing kick from Coinakis salvages a reasonable result at the end of the set but Parramatta desperately need someone to stand up and own the ruck.

Neat work from Fletcher defuses and attacking chip kick and he draws a critical penalty as he is held down on the ground. Bit of a cheap push from the infringing Rooster but nothing comes from it.

Pakoti gets the opening run two passes wide. Left to Petrus. Popo is met heavily and maybe high but play on is the call. Funa-Iuta makes a strong charge and clearly has the ball reefed out with 2 or 3 defenders on him. The referee pontificates for a good moment before awarding the penalty.

Crisp work! The Eels needed to strike back and it comes via their left edge with a rapid shift as Bamblett glides down that edge. He learns from his last raid and finds Aidan Kebourian with earlier ball. The left winger still has work to do as he fends past his opposite flanker and the officials have to consult briefly before awarding the try.

Fletcher drills the extras from out wide!

 

Try scored by Aidan Kebourian. Conversion successful by Lincoln Fletcher.

Eels trail 6-8

25min gone

 

Cardinal sin from the Eels as they cough the ball up after points attacking down their left edge. The Roosters have turned errors into points on two prior occasions and that is the case again as their backrower finds a seam to crash through on the last tackle. There was a 6-again call anyway but they didn’t need the extra tackles as Tyson Walker hit Darcy Smith on the unders line. Again, Parramatta need to lock it in.

 

Try scored by Darcy Smith. Conversion successful by Tyson Walker.

Roosters lead 14-6

29min gone

 

Well like last night, that is dreadful from both the Eels and the officials. Bamblett is clipped across the jaw while defusing a bomb and goes on to lose the ball as he hits the ground. He should have held on there but that was pretty clearly a high tackle.

Isaac Jim makes a crucial tackle to save a try but it only stops the damage happening a single play as Walker finds his other backrower now in James Finegan as he double pumps and then creates the running channel. Another error, albeit from both the Eels and the referee there, another try.

 

Try scored by James Finegan. Conversion successful by Tyson Walker.

Roosters lead 20-6

33min gone

 

Gee, as poor as we have been we have copped some incredibly contentious calls. Bamblett again the man at the centre of it as he is ruled to have knocked on in the contest for a bomb when it looked pretty clearly to be a Roosters’ knock on. It gives the Tri-colours enough time to pack a scrum and execute one play before half time but Parramatta thankfully hold on. They have been miles from their best here and desperately need the break. They do race off though at least – so there is still energy in the tank. A huge second half is needed to salvage this contest though – what can they find within themselves?

 

Half Time

Sydney Roosters 20 lead the Parramatta Eels 6

 

Second Half

 

Eels are kicking off.

Roosters with plenty of running early on with a dangerous offload that leads to a strong gain. It puts the Roosters deep into Parra’s half as they bomb Bamblett but give away the penalty with multiple disruptors in play.

Isaac Jim takes the lead charge. Summer is next before Fletcher sparks something from nothing. He wants the ball down the shorter right edge and flings a sizzling cutout pass to Howlett! Nathan slices past his opposite number and links back up with his half who high steps his way through an ankle tap to score the must-have opening try of the second half!

 

Try scored by Lincoln Fletcher. Conversion successful by Lincoln Fletcher.

Eels trail 12-20

39min gone

 

Tom Summer carts it up from the kickoff. Ball goes towards the left before Jim centres it on halfway. Fletcher stabs the ball into the corner and leads the chase with a strong tackle. Good set after points.

Good contact work from Petrus there as he drives a runner back and it is his fellow big man that creates a chance on the next play as he holds against a tough carry and helps force an error on the loose grip the Rooster has on the ball.

Oh my, Funa-Iuta forces the issue on the first tackle from the scrum and his offload is intercepted. Just pressing there from one of the most reliable players in the team.

The Eels hold out until the last where Bamblett swoops on the grubber and delivers a ripping kick return out to the 30m mark. Parra earn a set restart midway through the count as they venture to their right where JFI holds onto the ball and lodges a good run. Opposite side of the field to Johansson who is dragged down before Fletcher tries to kick for his partner in Talataina but the Roosters read it beautifully with their fullback Stewart.

Try saver from Tom Summer! The Roosters make a bust down their left edge and the interchange forward comes from the clouds to cut down the inside man.

Alas it amounts to nothing as the ruck defence of the Blue & Gold bites hard on the dummy from the halfback Toby Rodwell and he strolls over untouched. Every time it looks like the Eels are poised to re-establish themselves in this contest they manage to find a way to bottle it.

 

Try scored by Toby Rodwell. Conversion successful by Tyson Walker.

Roosters lead 26-12

47min gone

 

So, we are back to a 14-point deficit.

Good combo defence from Jim and Beattie there. Again though it is undone as the Roosters execute a brilliant 40/20 attempt. Bamblett races across to try and save the ball and tips it back infield but it bounces back over the sideline and the Roosters get the chance to bury the Eels now.

Parramatta desperately need anything here and it comes in the form of Lorenzo Talataina as he gets underneath the ball and jolts it free. A penalty follows as the Roosters are finally pinged for infringing inside the 10m mark.

Jim takes the opening charge and is dusty to get up as a second penalty comes. Coinakis wants the quick tap and has two support runners in what would be a huge moment but the referee indicates that play is coming back.

Ryda Talagi gets us back underway. Pakoti next. Left to Popo through the ruck. Big slower now as we go outside-inside from Fletcher to Talagi. Beattie is dragged down to bring up the last where the Eels go crossfield to Farrugia but he is beaten in a high-flying contest for the ball.

Just lazy play now. Beattie is penalised for a low-effort shove on the kicker. Absolute coach killer stuff there.

It puts the Roosters on Parramatta’s goal line when not much else was doing. Again the chance to plunge the dagger into the Eels here. Thankfully another error comes when the backrower Darcy Smith fights too hard to free his arms up near the line and has the ball fly free of his grasp. Very close to a try mind you but the Eels did just enough to hold on.

Kebourian fights hard for a penalty as is brutally unlucky not to get one as the ref lets the Roosters tee off in the ruck this set. Coinakis completes the set with another clearing kick that is worked expertly into the corner but the Eels still need more here. Line speed in defence is struggling and the Roosters find traction weaving back in behind the ruck.

You could see the line break coming from a mile away but Talataina saves the day back-to-back as he cuts down the front-rower running the support line and then scrambles back next play to intercept the attacking grubber kick.

Another penalty is called but no it is a set restart so play is held up as Coinakis comes back to play-the-ball.

Good run from Beattie. He needs that with what he has to make up for from the earlier penalty. Coinakis tries to weave in a grubber kick on the last but it is booted downfield by a defender. Bamblett gets back to reclaim the ball – fresh set for the Eels.

They can’t do anything with it though as Bamblett gets his range wrong on the cutout pass to Kebourian down the left and the ball sails into touch.

That just about encapsulates this game as Dom Farrugia, another pillar of the team, is caught running upright out of his red zone and he is driven back and has the ball knocked free of his grip. Just been off the boil all game.

It looks like the Roosters have sealed the game as they go down their right and touch down in the corner but the touch judge immediately raises his flag and points to the final foot step of Mahu-Delamere as on the sideline.

The touch judge giveth but he also taketh because just as it looks like Kebourian has some time and space down the left edge the same sideline official raises his flag for a forward pass. I honestly didn’t think there was anything in it there but the players aren’t remonstrating furiously so fair play.

There it is. Finally the Roosters put the game beyond doubt and it is the cheapie – the barge over from dummy half as their centre Brooklyn Heath burrows over from short range to sink the Eels and put them into a sudden death clash next week.

 

Try scored by Brooklyn Heath. Conversion successful by Tyson Walker.

Roosters lead 32-12

65min gone

 

Another error from the Eels as Talataina and Bamblett get their connection wrong. The two teams get through their next possessions with no change to the scoreboard as the Roosters complete their stunning ambush of the Eels. Parramatta were miles off their best today and were rattled by the aggression of the Tri-colours and find themselves dropping to the loser bracket of the finals as a result.

 

Full Time

Sydney Roosters 32 defeat the Parramatta Eels 12

 

Harold Matthews Team List

 

1	Riley Davis
2	Cobi McCloskey
3	Cyrus Bloomfield
4	Christopher Moala
5	Santiago Uata
6	Talen Risati
7	Caleb Leiataua
10	Kasinga Noa
9	Jireh-Trey Stewart
21	Billy Fanene
11	Michael Nauer
12	Samuel Polley
13	Hayden Bell
14	Zac Withers
15	Curtis Brown
16	Chaise Attard
18	Strantz Schaumkel
17	Jermayne Faafiu
20	Zain Alameddine

 

Match Updates

 

Changes for the Matts. Curtis Brown moves into the starting front-row for Epapara Tahu-Apiata who in turn is out. Jermayne Faafiu comes onto the bench.

 

First Half

 

Eels kicking off in the Matts.

Well, we have a good opening set of defence here. Uata ranges back to claim the clearing kick and turns upfield for his first run of the game. The Eels look to boldly attack down their left edge but it is too aggressive with the space they have on hand and the Roosters recover to drive Uata into touch just over halfway.

Good field position for the Central Coast Roosters as a result.

They work left initially before switching play but they come unstuck rapidly as Uata seizes upon a loose catch and pass to intercept the ball.

Bell works with Noa to turn his fellow middle underneath but Jireh Trey-Stewart has a wild moment from dummy half as the ball just squirts out of his grip as he tries to pass it from the ground. What on Earth happened there?

Important tackle from Cobi McCloskey! He jams in to cut down a near certain break and it leads to an error! The Roosters are impatient in getting to their feet and the referee is quick on the whistle to call up the incorrect play-the-ball.

Nauer draws an early penalty as he comes infield for work. A good touch finder will put Parramatta inside the Roosters’ half for the first time this game and Risati duly obliges.

Polley takes play down the right before Brown trucks it back to the middle. Left to the half Leiataua for a run before Risati and Polley combine down the right. Outside-inside between Risati and Davis but the Roosters read it well and it nearly opens up for Polley on the last as the grubber kick deflects right towards him but he can’t reel it in off his ankles and turns the ball over. Potential try there if he brought that in cleanly.

Time is off for a downed Rooster who is in a bit of strife here. Trainer is calling for assistance – which is never a good sign. Hopefully it isn’t a serious injury. Samuel Tracey is the injured Rooster and he is chariot-ed off by trainers with what looks to be a knee injury. Cruel blow for the young man.

Solid defensive set from the Eels. Nothing flash but they keep the Roosters inside their own half. Davis claims the clearing kick as Uata and Moala go looking for early work. Bloomfield is up next before Brown nearly bursts through. The Eels go to the air on the last and get a dubious bat back away – thought that went forwards honestly – but Bell seizes on the loose ball and races to the line but is dragged down metres short!

The Eels give away a penalty in the ruck to let the Roosters out of their red zone and back into the arm wrestle.

Big tackle from Polley there! The Roosters are threatening to get on his outside down Parra’s right edge but he slides across aggressively and almost tomahawks the ball loose with a big wrap around effort on the ball. It leads to an error and the Eels back on the front foot.

A set restart gives the Eels a prolonged look inside the Central Coast’s half. Noa carts it up before Davis has to surrender when a lead runner gets the timing wrong – maybe Nauer there. It all culminates with a knock-on from Cyrus Bloomfield just as the Eels arrive on the goal line of their opponents.

Another early penalty – this one for a strip – paves the way for the Roosters to escape their red zone without any issue. Discipline needs to sharpen up from the Eels here.

Big chance for the opposition now. Riley Davis coughs up possession as he tries to tidy up an attacking grubber from the Roosters and it gives the Tri-colour the centrefield scrum from 10m out. They break to their right where the Eels meet them equally and begin the build to the opposite side of the field. McCloskey and Moala combine to make an important tackle before Polley nearly makes a sensational catch on a tipped pass but the ball barely beats his outstretched finger tips.

Another set for the Roosters but strong defence from Hayden Bell has knocked the ball free early on! Terrific goal line stand.

Timely penalty now for the Eels. Similar to what they conceded not a couple of minutes earlier.

Risati hammers the ball downfield to 11m shy of halfway. Brown continues his strong early start to the game with another industrious carry. Nauer rips in through the ruck before Risati takes play to Polley on the right. Risati is the man again with a neat kick on the last that forces a line drop out care of a strong chase.

Short drop out incoming? Indeed. Geez I don’t agree with that. The referee has ruled the Eels have knocked on into an offside player for a penalty. It looked like the Roosters tipped that back and Polley scooped up the loose ball. Tough break.

It leads to a huge swing in momentum as the Roosters make a break down their left. The Eels recover, barely, as the Tri-colours push into the red zone and they make the big play on the last as their half Mareko holds the ball up as late as possible before hitting Cooper Gibbs on the overs line. It all comes back to that contentious drop-out call but the Roosters to their credit have maximised on the opportunity.

 

Try scored by Cooper Gibbs. Conversion unsuccessful by Carter Mareko.

Roosters lead 4-0

21min gone

 

Weak defence from the Eels on the big interchange forward Blessing Foini. First up contact has to be better there. Parramatta do manage to hold on as Uata claims the kick and is then drive back heavily.

It is a slog of a set from there. No purchase at all before the right edge roars to life out of nowhere as Chris Moala is put into open space. He has all the time and space in the world – too much of it in the end – as he makes a meal of linking up with free runners on both his left and right and the Roosters survive a surefire long range try. Dear oh dear.

A TCT shout out from the coverage! Much love to the BarTV crew and their massive effort throughout the season!

And maybe that is what the Eels needed as they finally spark points! Risati goes to the air on the last as he kicks for his trustworthy winger McCloskey who soars through the air and fights through two or three cover defenders to score a sensational individual try! Gee we needed that one!

Critical strike from Risati from out wide as well as he raises the flags!

 

Try scored by Cobi McCloskey. Conversion successful by Talen Risati.

Eels lead 6-4

27min gone

 

Coach killing play as the Eels drop the ball on tackle three from the kickoff set. It then becomes a penalty a couple of plays later for a pretty clear hip-drop tackle that gifts the Roosters the chance to level the scores ahead of the half-time siren.

They set up just to the right of the posts from 19m out and Mareko has no issues banging it over.

 

Penalty goal attempt successful by Cater Mareko.

Roosters lock the scores up at 6-all.

29min gone

 

A mistake from the Roosters in return as they are pulled up for a forward pass but the siren rings out before the Eels can even begin to pack the scrum. We head to the sheds level at oranges.

 

Half Time

Parramatta Eels 6 locked up with the Central Coast Roosters 6

 

Second Half

 

Alright, 30min to play for our boys as they look to fight their way into Week 2 of the finals.

They will receive the ball in the second half.

Well, you couldn’t ask for a worse start as the Eels drop it on the very first play. It is the halfback Mareko who links up with the opposite backrower as Tulsyn McCulloch storms over through the front line defence. Nightmare start to their most important half of the season.

 

Try scored by Tulsyn McCulloch. Conversion unsuccessful by Carter Mareko.

Roosters lead 10-6

32min gone

 

Good, driving set from the Roosters after point as they work to halfway and bomb Davis. The Parramatta fullback reels it in as the Blue & Gold have to get back to work. Bloomfield slips an offload and that leads to Zac Withers getting collared high for a straight forward penalty.

Risati finds touch 35m out from the Rooster’s line. Nauer screams onto the ball before Bloomfield tests the right edge defence of the opposition. Withers centres the ball as the Eels pick up a set restart. Risati dummies and goes himself and is pulled down. Left to Schaumkel and left again to Nauer who is held up over the line. Rapid stuff.

Out we come, back 10m. What is the option for the Eels? Withers is the link man as the Eels shift wide right to Moala but he is pulled down near the sideline. Oh no! It looks like the Eels have engineered a lovely try on the last as the wrap around on the last creates the extra man but the touch judge quickly raises his flag as McCloskey dives for the corner – he was convinced Cobi was on the line!

An error from the Roosters gifts the Eels a second chance though. Forward pass the call.

Polley goes close down the right and it sets up the second dig to the right! Clean ball from dummy-half puts Risati on the front foot as he swoops down the right and he feeds a simple ball to McCloskey who angles his dive better this time around for secure his second of the game! Big passage of play for the Eels.

Risati’s continues to be clutch in this contest as he drills another difficult conversion!

 

Try scored by Cobi McCloskey. Conversion successful by Talen Risati.

Eels lead 12-10

39min gone

 

Good take from McCloskey as he fights for good metres as well. A promising set for the Eels unravels as they muster into the Roosters’ half and leave the ball behind and then compound that into a penalty.

Is there another rapid swing coming in this game?

THERE IS A SWING BUT IT IS AGAINST THE RUN OF PLAY! The Roosters get it all wrong venturing down their right and it is Santiago Uata – who already has an intercept to his name – that screams onto an errant pass from the Roosters as he scoops up the bounced pass and races 70m to claim an outrageous against-the-run-of-play try!

 

Try scored by Santiago Uata. Conversion successful by Talen Risati.

Eels lead 18-10

43min gone

 

Alright, let’s get to the kick here. The Roosters pick out McCloskey who sends Curtis Brown into the fray. Attard goes next before the ball does left to Bloomfield. Brown comes back for another charge before Bell makes a bustling run to take play to centrefield. Risati sends up the midfield bomb and while the kick return beats a couple of defenders on the lateral angle there wasn’t any real damage done.

Important tackle from Risati as he cleans up after a dangerous offload. He has been among the Eels best today.

Davis claims the reply bomb from the Roosters and the backs get stuck in as McCloksey again is heavily involved. Leiataua completes a solid set with a tidy bomb and the Eels begin another defensive set. Alas, Risati is pinged for a leg pull – fair call as well – just a lax moment and the Roosters get a huge chance to make an inroad into the deficit now.

Strong goal lie defence here before the Roosters get a sweep play wrong and it is Hayden Bell with the effort on effort as he traps and scraps a grubber kick on the last! Tremendous play from the young forward.

Simple, effective set now as the Eels work it into the Roosters’ half before Leiataua sends the bomb up. Adventurous play on the kick return from the Central Coast but again it is Risati who slams the door shut on a dangerous run. The touch judge makes a late call on a forward pass right on halfway as the Roosters turn the ball over but time is off for another injured Rooster. Alexander Stephenson the downed player and he is aided off the field in another blow for the Tri-colours. Horrible luck there.

Scrum is set to the left for the Eels. Polley gets the opening run. Left to Noa who rips in for good metres. Now the fullback Davis lurks around the ruck causing havoc to tiring forwards. Risati turns Moala back to the posts before the Roosters manage to somehow trap the grubber kick from Risati only to give away another forward pass! Geez, I grumble about poor passages from our Eels but the Roosters are killing themselves here.

Early ball for Bloomfield from the scrum. He trucks it to the posts before Nauer is held up over the line with a strong run. Right to Brown who chalks up another run – he has been great today. Dummy and go from Jireh-Trey Stewart but he is pulled down. An early kick two plays later from Stewart but the Roosters get back into the field of play after scooping up the grubber kick.

A break for the Roosters now as they chip ahead in the midfield. Davis races up to try and win the contest for the bouncing ball but can’t secure the tipped catch attempt before it hits the deck.

Full set for the Tri-colours from halfway.

A big charge from their interchange forward Foini gives them early impetus but gee they get away with a huge obstruction on the next play. Poor miss from the official and it proves costly as on the next play their halfback Mareko scores a critical try with the extravagant dummy and go in front of the posts. The Roosters are right back in this.

 

Try scored by Carter Mareko. Conversion successful by Carter Mareko.

Roosters trail 16-18

55min gone

 

Huge defensive set now for the Eels. The Roosters look to get their big men involved before a shift to the right edge. The Eels are marking up better here. Still the Roosters march into Parra’s half and send up a swirling bomb for Davis to defuse and he does the job perfectly.

The set after though isn’t perfect as Uatu leaves the ball behind and it is a gift wrapped chance for the Roosters now. Heart in your mouth stuff.

Dagger in the heart stuff now as the Roosters run it on the last down their left and find match up between Bennett and Moala as the Rooster’s centre spins through the tackle and just has enough strength to get over the line and slam the ball down. Errors coming home to roost for the Eels.

 

Try scored by Eli Bennett. Conversion successful by Carter Mareko.

Roosters lead 22-18

59min gone

 

The short kick off has the range but the Roosters get the clean bat back to support and I don’t think there is time left for the Eels now. The Roosters rumble to their right and storm into Parra’s quarter and turn the ball over deep in the corner. Forget any hopes of the miracle as the Eels get it all wrong on the first pass of the set as a pass to no one leads to a drop out. Insipid ending to this game.

There is time for the drop out but it doesn’t travel 10m and alas the Eels have snatched defeat from the jaws of victory in this one. That closes the curtains on their season. Ah, what a frustrating conclusion here but equally so – well done to the Roosters for clinging on in the second half and finding a way to win.

 

Full Time

Central Coast Roosters 22 defeat the Parramatta Eels 18