Sign Up
..... Connect Australia with the world.
Add Category
Categories
Posted:
2024-05-30 08:46:57
Original link:
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2024-05-30/nrl-live-updates-parramatta-eels-vs-cronulla-sharks-blog-scores/103896760
The return of Mitchell Moses has breathed new life into Parramatta's beleaguered NRL season, with a 34-22 win over ladder-leading Cronulla snapping a five-game losing streak.
The Eels' talismanic halfback had been absent for the past 10 weeks with a broken foot, but showed few signs of rust as he set up two tries in Thursday's win in front of 11,665 fans at Western Sydney Stadium.
The win — the side's first since Brad Arthur was sacked and replaced by interim coach Trent Barrett until the end of the season — was also underpinned by the return of Eels captain Clint Gutherson.
The Parramatta fullback has been sidelined with a knee issue for the past month, but he was back to his dogged best, chalking up 245m with the ball in hand.
The win keeps the Eels in contention to make a late-season charge into the top eight, whereas the loss will invite fresh questions over the Sharks' depth.
"I forgot what winning felt like. It's been a while," Parramatta second-row forward Bryce Cartwright told ABC Sport after the win.
Without halfback Nicho Hynes and lock Cameron McInnes on Origin duty, the Sharks lacked the class to trouble an Eels side that played with purpose and intent.
The defeat, which comes a week after a 42-0 shellacking at the hands of Penrith, means Cronulla have lost top spot to Melbourne and drop to second on the NRL ladder.
The Sharks, however, struck first, with a Gutherson error allowing Daniel Atkinson to send Sione Katoa over after just four minutes.
But the Eels took little time to recover, Moses working some magic to send in Will Penisini on the right flank, before Gutherson repeated the trick on the opposing wing with Maika Sivo.
The Fijian winger has been way below his best this year, but he looked like he had hit top gear to rampage over the top of Will Kennedy to add his second of the night.
Kennedy and Ronaldo Mulitalo combined just before half-time to score a 95m try to cut the Eels' lead at the break to 16-10.
Parramatta, though, failed to wilt, even after a sustained period of Cronulla pressure early into the second half.
Junior Paulo led the charge, the Samoan prop carrying five defenders over the line before dotting down.
That alleviated some of the pressure, Moses kicking a penalty and then setting up Bailey Simonsson to give the Eels some further breathing room.
Atkinson and Katoa scored tries in quick succession to cut the Eels' lead to just six points heading into the final 15 minutes, but a barge-over from Dylan Brown clinched a much-needed win for the Eels.
Catch up on the action as it happened on our blog.
That is all for the blog tonight
It's a great night to be a Parramatta Eels fan.
The club achieved their first win since round six, and they knocked off the top of the table in the process.
The Sharks have some soul-searching to do after giving up 76 points over the past two games.
We will be back tomorrow for more NRL action on ABC Sport.
Goodnight.
Sharks not good enough, says Blayke Brailey
A fortnight ago the Sharks were feeling good about themselves.
Wins over Melbourne and Sydney had them at the top of the ladder.
But the Sharks have suffered back-to-back losses, and are not playing up to their expectation according to Hooker Blayke Brailey
"It's been a difficult few weeks," he tells ABC Sport.
"Defensively we're not up to scratch at the moment."
Parramatta enjoy that winning feeling again
This is Parramatta's fourth win of the season.
The Eels had not won since Round 6.
"I forgot what winning felt like. It's been a while," Bryce Cartwright tells ABC Sport after the win.
FULL TIME: Parramatta Eels 34 def. Cronulla Sharks 22
Well done Parramatta.
A fully deserved win from the Eels.
They out-muscled the Sharks in the middle of the field.
The inclusion of Mitchell Moses and Clint Gutherson was a big difference for the Eels.
79: Parramatta defuse the Sharks. Parramatta will win
The Eels are going to get their fourth win of the season.
While it looks like an upset if you only looked at the table, both sides on paper were well-matched tonight.
"What we see is some players, of real quality, tonight show up," Matthew Elliot tells ABC Sport.
77' Missed field-goal
Mitchell Moses has tried to end the game with a field-goal.
It is a flat kick, and it hits the post.
They still lead by 12 points with three minute to play.
72' NO TRY: Simonsson drops the ball over the line
Parramatta have gone within millimetres of sealing the win.
Bailey Simonsson was outstretched, with Will Kennedy all over him, and Simonsson just dropped the ball over the line.
It would have been special if he had planted the ball in the corner.
69' TRY: Dylan Brown rips through the Sharks to score
The Sharks have committed the cardinal sin — turning over the ball after scoring.
The knock-on from Braden Hamlin-Uele gifted Parramatta a full set at the Sharks' line.
On the last play, Dylan Brown goes himself, beats two defenders and scores.
66' TRY: Sione Katoa has a double in his 100th NRL match
The Sharks are back!
Sione Katoa has his second try.
Parramatta went close to scoring and ending the match — but the final pass from Mitchell Moses could not find the unmarked winger.
One set later, the Sharks scored again.
A raid down right-hand side led to Sione Katoa streaking 30 metres down the wing to score.
62' TRY: Daniel Atkinson scores for the Sharks
Great response from the Sharks.
And Daniel Atkinson takes it upon himself to attack the Eels line and score.
It was poor defence, in fairness, from the Eels.
It came from a kick out on the full from Parramatta's Mitch Moses.
An offside penalty gave Cronulla a full set at the Eels' line, and Cronulla kept the game alive with a try.
58' TRY: Eels get their fifth try
The Eels have run on the last tackle again — and have scored again.
It was a "short-side sneak" says Matthew Elliot on ABC Sport on commentary.
Last tackle and the Eels go down the short side.
Mitchell Moses throws a dummy, is in a gap, and passes to an unmarked Bailey Simonsson.
Brilliant from Mitchell Moses. Brilliant from Parramatta.
55' PENALTY GOAL: Parramatta extend their lead
The Eels are really dominating the field position again.
The Sharks, meanwhile, are giving away penalties and set restarts.
A penalty for a high tackle, 20 metres out, allows the returning Mitchell Moses to kick the goal for the Eels.
Parramatta has a 14-point lead.
48' TRY: Parramatta score through Paulo
Poor discipline from the Sharks has cost them dearly.
After failing to score with a full set on the Eels' goal line, the Sharks give away a penalty and three set restarts to allow the Eels to march down field.
Junior Paulo bashes his way over and SLAMS the ball down.
Parramatta have a 12-point lead.
43' Bailey Simonsson appears to be fine
We reported in the first half that Eels winger Bailey Simonsson appeared to have a leg injury.
Sideline eye Sam Williams for ABC Sport says it was a cork in the right leg.
Simonsson appears to be moving much better.
Second half is has started
The Parramatta Eels kick-off and the second half has begun.
Parramatta is running to the left, Cronulla to the right.
Should be a great finish to a Thursday night.
Kennedy's try was as good as footy gets
Evening Michael. That try started and finished by Kennedy was the try of tries in my view. Captivating game to watch on a wild night down here in Tassie.
- Old timer
G'day Old Timer.
That was a brilliant try.
It was so good, I reckon we should enjoy it again.
How do you think wins from here?
Hi Natty.
Thanks for joining me on the blog.
The first half has been captivating. Who will finish the stronger and take the win?
HT: Parramatta Eels 16 leading Cronulla Sharks 10
This game is evenly poised at half-time.
Parramatta dominated the first half, but Sharks tries early and late in the half have kept the visitors in the contest.
I am really looking forward to the second half.
34' TRY: Sharks target the injured Eel
Cronulla have gone the length of the field and scored.
Sharks fullback Will Kennedy fields the ball near his goal line, and he passes it to his left.
He has noticed Parra's winger Bailey Simonsson is limping and there is space.
The Sharks run down that wing, fly passed Simonsson and the ball returns to Kennedy who is under the posts.
Sports content to make you think... or allow you not to. A newsletter delivered each Saturday.