NRL round five: Canberra Raiders defeat Parramatta Eels 41-8

Parramatta are now zero wins from two in the absence of Mitchell Moses, copping a heavy defeat after an electric Xavier Savage performance and dominant overall showing from the Canberra Raiders.

CANBERRA, AUSTRALIA - APRIL 07: Xavier Savage of the Raiders celebrates scoring a try with team mates during the round five NRL match between Canberra Raiders and Parramatta Eels at GIO Stadium, on April 07, 2024, in Canberra, Australia. (Photo by Mark Nolan/Getty Images)

Mitchell Moses continues to prove his true worth for the Parramatta Eels, without touching a ball.

Two weeks into a three-month lay-off due to a foot fracture, Moses could only watch on as his Eels teammates copped a 41-8 shellacking at the hands of the Canberra Raiders on Sunday night.

Two losses from two Moses-less performances makes the next 10 weeks an even more daunting prospect than first thought for the Eels.

Parramatta had no answers with ball in hand, wasting early chances in good territory. The only highlights came in the second half when Maika Sivo scored two almost identical tries.

One of the game’s best on his day, Dylan Brown’s struggles as chief playmaker was laid bare for all to see while rookie five-eighth Blaize Talagi was hardly sighted.

A lack of firepower from the Eels’ engine room didn’t help their cause. Only Reagan Campbell-Gillard managed to crack the 100-metre mark.

Eels coach Brad Arthur would leap to his halfback’s defence post-game, though did concede the game “snowballed out of control” for his side.

The Raiders celebrate a Xavier Savage try Picture: Mark Nolan/Getty Images

Ethan Strange had a strong showing. Picture: Mark Nolan/Getty Images

“(Dylan) kicked well, ran well, scrambled well. When you have everyone across the board not owning their fundamentals, it did put pressure on Dylan,” Arthur said.

“We were outplayed. They were too good for us. We beat ourselves. Too many moments either side of the ball, be it attack or defence, went by the wayside.

“41 points I know isn’t great. But I don’t think it was effort-based or soft. I thought it was around the big moments which we didn’t nail. We had four sets at their tryline in the first half and made four errors.

Also not helping their cause was a barnburner performance from Canberra Raiders centre Matt Timoko.

Days after re-signing for a further two seasons, Timoko proved the Eels’ worst nightmare with a second half performance that included two try assists and two tries, including a remarkable bullocking effort in the 44th minute.

Early Rapana fears allayed

It was three minutes into proceedings when Jordan Rapana’s career flashed before his eyes.

When the competition’s sixth eldest player was left clutching at his knee and required assistance from the field, Raiders fans would be forgiven for thinking it would be the final time he would don the lime green.

A dislocated kneecap was the initial reported diagnosis. Then it was a meniscus issue. And then, Rapana returned to the sideline still in kit, only to return in the second half.

The veteran made seemingly from teflon, who has come back from far worse throughout his career including a metal plate inserted in his skull, was clearly hampered in the final 40 but managed to grind out the half with a try assist to boot.

Xavier Savage was at his electric best for the Raiders. Picture: Mark Nolan/Getty Images

X marks the spot

Xavier Savage is finally beginning to live up to the hype that has followed him since his debut three seasons ago.

Even his coach Ricky Stuart is starting to believe.

“I have visualised Xavier Savage doing what he did tonight for three years,” Stuart said.

“That’s why I have been patient and why I have cuddled him and constantly tried to tap into his potential.

“I know the footballer Xavier Savage is and can be. But it’s only one game.”

Restricted to just one appearance last year, Savage has featured in every game for the Raiders this season.

Savage ensured his place on the end-of-season highlight reel with a flashy performance, underlined by a scintillating 70-metre try-scoring effort late in the first half.

Savage would leave opposite winger Sean Russell in his wake, with a swift change of direction on a backline spread in the Raiders half, before making light work of the covering Clinton Gutherson.

With a pat on the back by teammate Ethan Strange to assure him he was in the clear, Savage continued on his way to finish the special effort.

Savage enjoyed the spoils of over 200 metres and a Danny Levi try assist by game’s end.

Originally published as NRL round five: Canberra Raiders defeat Parramatta Eels 41-8