The finals have arrived for the Jersey Flegg Cup and the NSW Cup and the Parramatta Eels feature in a monster double header at Jubilee Stadium today. I will be covering the Jersey Flegg today while Sixties will bring you all of the action from the NSW Cup.

For the Flegg, they find themselves in a sudden death clash against their Western Sydney rivals in the Penrith Panthers. Despite finishing in the last berth for the post-season, the Eels round into the finals in good form having claimed the prized scalps of the Melbourne Storm and Cronulla Sharks in recent weeks. They welcome back Chris Petrus from schoolboy footy responsibilities for this clash as well in a nice boost to the backrow stocks.

Parramatta and Penrith have split bragging rights in the two occasions they met earlier this year. It sets the table brilliantly for the winner-takes-all stakes of today’s game as the Eels look to knock over their rivals and push ahead to meet the loser of the Canberra and Cronulla clash currently taking place.

Coverage starts at 4:00PM for the Flegg while Sixties will blog the NSW Cup from 6:00PM. You can catch the live stream of the game on BarTV if you have an active subscription but you are plenty welcome to join the conversation right here on TCT!

 

 

Jersey Flegg Cup Team List

1	Nathan Howlett
2	Lorima Rokosuka
3	Tuvaka Palu
4	Domenico De Stradis
5	Mohamed Alameddine
6	Matthew Hunter
7	Josh Lynn
8	Beau Lucien
9	Patrick Spence
10	Teancum Brown
11	Tyrese Lokeni
12	Christopher Petrus
13	Max Popo
Interchange
14	Lachlan Coinakis
15	Raffaele De Stradis
23	Javahn Stevenson-Hala
25	Sebastian Piukala
18	Trace Beattie
19	Wesley Pakoti
20	Isaac Kim

 

Late Changes

 

Damascus Neemia has dropped out of the team with Sebastian Piukala replacing him on the interchange bench.

 

Match Updates

 

First Half

 

The Eels will kick off.

Tidy first set of defence for the Blue & Gold and the Panthers opt for an early kick to get out of their own half. Little threat of a 40/20 as the ball dribbles into touch on the Eels’ 30m line.

Good work from Popo and Brown through the middle before the Eels shift quickly to Palu down the left edge. He is wrapped up to bring up the last tackle as Parra send it to sky but the fullback Edgar takes it very well to defuse the situation for the Panthers.

Penrih work their was back out to halfway in reply and send up a regulation midfield bomb that unfortunately results in a cold drop from Alameddine – gifting the Panthers a free shot at the Parramatta goal line.

Short passes around the ruck from Penrith here. While the interior defence of the Eels holds firm, Parra are caught short when the shift to Penrith’s right edge follows. The opposition find a seam between Hunter and Palu as the half jams but the centre checks off and slides and it allows Jaxen Edgar to cut through for the first points of the game.

 

Try scored by Jaxen Edgar. Conversion successful by Jirah Liddiard.

Penrith lead 6-0

6min gone

 

Very neat set from the Panthers now as they work back over halfway. They send it back towards Alameddine who is hesitant to contest this time around. The Panthers chase get under it and I think they tip it forwards but the ref rules play-on and instead it is Palu they is adjudged to have lost it next. Tough call but momentum for Penrith.

How costly as well as the Panthers look to run it on the last and get the ball outside Lorima Rokosuka courtesy of a very good cutout pass down their left edge. It sees Nick Murphy touch down in the corner as Penrith seize both opportunity and luck to secure a premium lead early on.

 

Try scored by Nick Murphy. Conversion successful by Jirah Liddiard.

Penrith lead 12-0

11min gone

 

Time for the Eels to hit the ‘Break Glass In Case Of Emergency’ as the Panthers tear them to ribbons with second phase play now. Their backrower Wigmore sparks the movement down their right edge with a brilliant offload in heavy contact as finds the centre Patea who then links up with his winger Liddiard who stretches out the remaining distance to score a third straight try.

 

Try scored by Jirah Liddiard. Conversion unsuccessful by Jirah Liddiard.

Penrith lead 16-0

13min gone

 

Finally a break for the Eels as the Panthers are finally halted. Penrith were caught on the last there and despite confusion from the official about a potential incorrect six again the Eels get the ball back. A penalty from the resultant scrum has Parramatta poised to strike and strike it looks like they have done as Josh Lynn looks to have put Beau Lucien over almost untouched under the posts but Lucien has the ball knocked out by a desperate last ditch attempt from Edgar. Oh no, that stings with the Eels damn near certainties to put a 6-point dent in the deficit there.

Despite the botched scoring chance, the Eels get another good look in their next possession as the Panthers are caught infringing inside the 10m mark. Petrus and Popo drive the ball downfield before Lokeni is brought down short of the line to bring up the last. Lynn rolls the ball from right to left looking for his partner Hunter on the chase but the ball barely beats Hunter to the dead-ball line. Another opportunity there for the Eels.

The Panthers are keeping the door ajar as well. They fail to complete the following set with the referee seizing on a forward pass through the ruck.

While the Blue & Gold work through the next set, Penrith defend them quite capably. Hunter completes the possession with a bomb that the Eels regather via Alameddine but his offload to support is pinged forwards.

Another fortuitous call for the Panthers in a kick contest – in almost identical circumstances to the one prior as they look to have knocked on competing for an attacking bomb but the referee only spies the Eels drop. Thankfully Penrith can’t capitalise this time around as they spill the ball attacking down their left edge.

A penalty comes to Parra as they look to work it out of their quarter as Brown and Popo get to work early on. Teancum gets a second run off the hip of Hunter before Palu gets a looped pass down the left edge and does well to hold on in the face of pressure. Hunter runs it on the last as he darts down the left edge and uses Petrus on the crash ball but the Panthers are all over it and effect the turn over on tackles.

Oh poor Moey. It has been a nightmare half for him as he is charged with another error from a kick. In his defence, this midfield bomb was struck poorly off the boot and he made the right call to let it bounce. However he was too close to said bounce as it kicks right into him and results in a knock-on. Penrith pull out the trick shot from the scrum as they stab the ball in behind on the first tackle. Rokosuka probably has it covered if he doesn’t slip…but slip he does and the loose pill is recovered by Nick Murphy who barely has enough pace to beat Lorima to the line

 

Try scored by Nick Murphy. Conversion unsuccessful by Jirah Liddiard.

Penrith lead 20-0

31min gone

 

Big chance for the Panthers to strike again after Coinakis is penalised for a dangerous tackle but they get it wrong in the follow-up set looking to attack the ruck with some aggressive short passes.

Lynn nearly dummies and slides his way through next set but he is barely collared and offloads to Howlett who quickly feeds it to Rokosuka. That brings up the last though and Lynn opts for the bomb but it is heavy off the boot and incontestable for the chasers.

Petrus unleashes an almighty shot in defence as he looks to inspire his team mates. They do lift and swarm their opponents to pin the Panthers deep in their own half but all the good work is swiftly undone at the end of the next set as Lynn completely misjudges his kick and it sails out on the full.

Alameddine’s confidence is pretty clearly shot today and the Panthers know it as they continue to pepper him for results. He chops up another attacking kick here and it hands Penrith a huge attacking chance with just minutes to the break.

It leads directly to points unfortunately as the Panthers shift to the left, allowing the big set up to the right. Alameddine tries to make the defensive play as he shoots out trying to shut down the fullback but he misses Edgar completely and gives the Panthers a saloon passage to the line as Palu is left marooned out wide. The ball ends up with Liddiard amidst the three possible options there and the Panthers will end the half with an almighty lead.

 

Try scored by Jirah Liddiard. Conversion unsuccessful by Jirah Liddiard.

Penrith lead 24-0

39min gone

 

An error from the Panthers gives the Eels an unlikely chance at nabbing some much needed points before the break but Penrith are able to hold the Eels out.

Curious scenes now as the referee calls out both captains for a chat. The Panthers are set to walk off before they are called back and the backrower Delahia Wigmore is put on report. Perhaps an accusation leveled from the Eels that needs to be investigated? Either way, it is the least of Parramatta’s concerns right now after producing some of their worst footy of the year in the first half of a sudden death final. They have it all to do in the second stanza and will needs to be orders of magnitude better if they intend to cut down on a mammoth deficit and pull off an all time comeback.

 

Half Time

Penrith Panthers 24 lead the Parramatta Eels 0

 

Second Half

 

Eels fielding the ball and with all the work to do.

Howlett claims the midrange restart and runs the ball. Raff De Stradis and Popo up next. Right to Lokeni for a good charge before the ball is centred to bring up the last. The Eels look to run it on the last down their right edge. Intent is good but execution is well off as Dom De Stradis has to push a pass to Rokosuka to stay alive before Lorima’s pass back infield is intercepted for the turnover.

It is a good start in defence for the Eels as they are able to restrict the Panthers to a modest gain and in reply they find some traction down their left edge. It leads to one of Parra’s best runs of play this game as the set is completed with an attacking bomb that both Palu and Petrus contest. It looks like the ball has been tipped back to Petrus who is ready to make a sortie to the posts but the referee calls play up and indicates a double knock-on against Penrith. Thought it was clean from the Eels there but they still get a result.

Good charge from Palu off the scrum win as he nearly storms over. Penrith barely hold on and the Eels finally sense blood in the water. They shift to the right where Lokeni is pulled down millimeters short of the line and shows tremendous discipline not to reach out and get pinged for the double movement. It does however pave the way for Javahn Stevenson-Hala who hits and spins through the goal line defence on the next play and gets the ball down on the chalk!

Finally some signs of life.

 

Try scored by Javahn Stevenson-Hala. Conversion successful by Josh Lynn.

Eels trail 6-24

46min gone

 

And as you so often see, points beget a surge of energy and the Eels carve out some deep gains through Penrith’s right edge as Palu makes a half break. The set is completed with a bomb to the opposite side of the field and it is well claimed by Penrith, although it rounds out an excellent set for the Eels.

Slender gains for the opposition as they hoist a clearing kick from their own 30m line. Howlett reclaims possession for the Eels and is backed up next play by Alameddine and then Palu. Petrus takes the Eels over halfway as Popo has a busy run in his wake. He wins a set restart! Huge effort.

Stevenson-Hala takes the Eels into the red zone with Popo hot on his heels. Left one pass to Raff who is barely dragged down under the posts. Lynn turns Petrus under next play but it unravels on the switch to the right as Howlett grasses it. But Penrith were offside! What a reversal of fortune.

Lokeni takes the first run now. Popo to the posts on tackle two before Coinakis executes another switch of play as he feigns left and finds Hunter back to the right! Big dummy and step from the five-eighth as he fights his way over for the second score of the half for the Blue & Gold. Don’t go anywhere folks, we are one try away from the notions of a proper comeback.

 

Try scored by Matthew Hunter. Conversion successful by Josh Lynn.

Eels trail 12-24

51min gone

 

Aggressive play from the Eels as they move the ball to their left early in the kickoff set. They pick up a reset of the count when a pass catches the hand of a defender but an error from Petrus a play later means the gift is given back to the sender.

Parramatta must be resolute in defence now. They had all the running prior to the error and they can’t left the Panthers seize it back.

Resolute they are! Good set in defence and maybe a little slice of redemption for Moey as he delivers a bustling run through the guts that pinches big metres and finally a penalty for a sloppy ruck.

Popo is used by Lynn to start the next possession. Raff De Stradis up next. Left to Hunter who sends Petrus back to the posts. Raff is called on again as he is tackled close to the goal line. That brings up the last as the Eels look to run it down their right edge but Howlett can’t find Dom De Stradis with a clean pass and the dribbling ball is knocked on by Rokosuka under pressure from a defender.

The Eels compound the turnover by ceding a penalty in the ruck shortly afterwards.

Defence continues to hold up here for Parra but it will get a huge test after a cold drop from Dom. Rare error there and it comes on the back of some positive second phase play that had the Panthers on the back foot. Instead they get the ball back inside the attacking half.

How costly have these errors been today? Penrith play a very vanilla set here right up until the last where they opt to run it down their right. It is a scrappy final pass that hits the deck but it is scooped up in stride by the makeshift winger Patea who has enough pace to beat the cover defence and score in the corner. Painful scenes there.

 

Try scored by Tuaomaliemavaitoelau Patea. Conversion successful by Kye Raven.

Penrith lead 30-12

61min gone

 

Almost a point a minute required now for the Eels. Alameddine has another good charge and finds Hunter in support for a big gain but the set is concluded prematurely when Lynn loses the ball later in the set.

Big run from Tyrese Lokeni now as he puts the Eels on the front foot but again the set unravels with so much promise. The left edge are the culprits this time as Alameddine does more good putting Palu on a crease between defenders but the big centre loses the ball as he is hit by a cover defender near the goal line.

Desperation defence from the Eels here as they somehow repel a torrent of connecting passes from the Panthers on the last tackle. Hunter is the hero in the end as he dives on the loose ball inside his own red zone.

It looks like the Panthers have coughed up the ball but the referee is calling play back for a late shot against Petrus. I didn’t track how close/late the shot was so I can’t comment on the penalty but it does give the Panthers a chance to extend their lead to 4-scores with under 10min on the clock by way of a penalty goal.

 

Penalty goal attempt successful by Kye Raven.

Penrith lead 30-12

71min gone

 

The short kickoff is the only option now we the Eels chasing a miracle but Hunter strikes it too strong from the tee and it sails out of the full for a play-the-ball.

Penrith do turn it over on the Eels’ 30m line but an immediate length of the field scoring effort is required here. While Parramatta do pick up a repeat possession at the end of the set after an improvised kick from Raff De Stradis is dropped by the Panthers, more time is off the clock and a quick fracas follows.

Palu with the run from the scrum. Brown up next with an offload that sees Popo finish the play. Long cutout of Alameddine next as he spins through a tackle and tries to link up with Palu back inside but the ball has traveled forwards.

Another penalty falls for the Panthers for a late ‘shot’. Not really a great deal in this one as Raff De Stradis is pinged for a push on the kicker. That will just about do it here as the Panthers elect to take a shot at goal and bleed out the clock until there is just under 3min left.

 

Penalty goal attempt unsuccessful by Kye Raven.

 

The Panthers push it wide right from the shot at goal but poor Moey Alameddine drops it in-goals and hurriedly has to dive on the ball to save a rather embarrassing try. Penrith turn it over from the line drop out but all that is left for the Eels is some potential academic work to be done to the scoreboard.

The touch judge is all over a forward pass from Hunter, good call honestly, and it looks like Penrith will have just about the last say here. They run it out from the scrum win and the clock rings up four zeroes.

Sixties and myself had a cautionary tale in the preview for this game that the biggest risk to the Eels today was themselves and sure enough the Panthers scored almost all of their points on the back of elementary errors from the Blue & Gold. Credit to Penrith in that regard though, they capitalised on what the Eels gave them and despite a surge after half time, the Eels did not have enough in the tank to overcome a 24-point deficit.

It is a massively disappointing conclusion to the season for a team that could have seriously pushed for the title but that is how footy goes sometimes. Well done to the Flegg for reaching the finals but they will be very frustrated with how their season ended.

 

Full Time

Penrith Panthers 30 defeat the Parramatta Eels 12