Parramatta can find the positives despite 32-18 loss to Sydney Roosters

Parramatta might have gone down against the Roosters but they have plenty of reasons to stay hopeful for 2019, not the least of which is rookie winger Maika Sivo.

SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA - MARCH 29: Maika Sivo of the Eels celebrates with teammates after scoring a try during the round three NRL match between the Parramatta Eels and the Sydney Roosters at ANZ Stadium on March 29, 2019 in Sydney, Australia. (Photo by Matt King/Getty Images)

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Wouldn’t mind a dollar for every bowl of kava drunk in Momi .

For the tiny village on the Fijian coastline, the one where only three houses have cable TV and the locals now watch Parramatta games through windows of said packed joints ... well, their most famous farmer went and bagged himself a double in this one.

First NRL try after 49 minutes.

Second, nine minutes later.

And on both occasions, the 25-year-old cassava farmer powered through a Roosters defensive line widely regarded as the greatest in rugby league.

At which point you know those three houses would’ve been going more than a little berko.

And, no, the Eels didn’t win this one.

Sivo powered over for two tries. Photo by Matt King/Getty Images.

But nor does that matter.

Not in Round 3, anyway.

Understanding that for all but the final seven minutes of this ANZ Stadium clash, the Eels were right in it against the defending premiers.

Indeed, for large chunks, they were actually -- gasp -- winning.

So 32-18?

No, the scoreboard didn’t reflect what actually took place.

Indeed, had you discussed a game between these two sides, say, just before Christmas, pitching the NRL premiers against the reigning wooden spooners ... well, who would’ve bet on the difference being so few for so long?

Or that midway through the second half, when Sivo was reviving the ghosts of Semi Radradra, they would actually be dominating?

And, OK, the Roosters were without halfback Cooper Cronk.

Then lost hooker Jake Friend and prop Jared Waerea-Hargreaves.

Appeared to have a couple of wounded players late, too.

Parra went hard but ran out of puff. Photo by Mark Metcalfe/Getty Images.

But still, this 2019 Parramatta side isn’t the same mob that struggled through last year.

Take rookie No.6 Dylan Brown, who looks good.

Same deal fullback Clint Gutherson, who as usual covered more ground than the Leyland Brothers.

Hell, even prop Junior Paulo played through the first 34 minutes.

Yep, thirty-four.

Once, that would’ve been his Saturday night count of Chicken McNuggets.

Or something similar.

But against the Roosters, this hulking bookend not only played massive minutes, but threw a beautiful long ball to set up Blake Ferguson.

And Fergy Ferg ... he’s on a mission to make wingers great again.

The Eels can be proud of their efforts. AAP Image/Dan Himbrechts.

And, yes, he made some mistakes in this one.

Had the Roosters leap above him for a try. And dropped a ball running off his own tryline.

Even kicked a ball so badly from a scrum right on halftime, Roosters fullback James Tedesco watched it go dead while laughing.

But the Roosters weren’t laughing when the Eels led nine minutes after the break.

Or again with 60 minutes gone.

And all as Ferguson scored a try, moved strongly, kicked badly, covered more ground (180m) than anybody else on the field, and all while talking to teammates, talking to the opposition, talking to those over the sideline, even talking to himself.

All of which gives Eels fans something they haven’t had for a while: Hope.

Originally published as Parramatta can find the positives despite 32-18 loss to Sydney Roosters