Parramatta have put the Warriors season to bed – slamming the home side 30-20 and showing Eels fans that there’s hope from an otherwise abysmal year.
From the first carry it was clear the Warriors had a battle on their hands, with Mitch Barnett smacked in contact. It sent an eerie feeling over Go Media Stadium in Auckland.
Dylan Brown and Daejarn Asi put forward a combination best performance, linking up to provide plenty of points and promise in attack.
Clinton Gutherson of the Eels scores a try. (Photo by Dave Rowland/Getty Images)
Clint Gutherson was huge for Parramatta, putting his stamp of authority back into the No.1 jersey. Blaize Talagi once again fired in the centres.
Shaun Johnson got into the action early, putting a big shot on Jake Tago – but his night was short-lived with little going his way,
Jake Tago was the first to cross, scoring the opener once again and marking a reward for the Eels after 20 minutes of tough defence.
Joey Lussick then found his way over the chalk, gifting the Eels a quick 12-0 lead and one-two tries.
Roger Tuivasa-Sheck was the recipient of some space on the left, scoring in the corner – but it was a try that went against the grain of every obstruction rule.
Kurt Capewell ran straight into the outside shoulder of Dylan Brown, who was clearly obstructed. The try was allowed with no question asked, but by the precedent of 2024 and years before it – the four-pointer should have been denied.
Rookie No.7 Daejarn Asi then crossed for a dazzling try, bursting into a hole and running under the posts untouched.
At halftime the hosts trailed 18-4, and there were never any signs of a second half resurgence. It was a grim watch of New Zealand fans.
Talagi and Gutherson scored tries in quick succession, extending the lead to 26 points. Statistics ruled the contest, as it was revealed the Eels only managed to botch one win from 22 cracks – leading at halftime against the Warriors.
Talagi strolled in after hitting a hard line off a perfectly timed Dylan Brown short ball.
In an odd storyline, Eels hooker Joey Lussick was placed on report. Dallin Watene-Zelezniak accused the rake of gripping his crotch while in a tackle. The bunker found nothing – but the complaint is to be investigated.
Watene-Zelezniak was adamant foul play was at hand, arguing with the referee to review the tackle. Post contact, he laid on the ground clutching his crotch for nearly a minute.
The Warriors left all their flair to a blitz in the final 10 minutes, but it was all too late.
Poor errors from Kurt Capewell and Marata Niukore plagued the home side all night. Nuikore and Watene-Zelezniak were the final two try scorers, but had little to celebrate. The damage was done.
Staying put on 21 competition points, the Warriors are now a near impossible chance for a finals feature. Sitting in 12th, a perfect record from here on in still leaves large doubt over a ninth place finish.