Eels slip away from fast-fading Raiders to break Canberra curse

The Parrmatta Eels have silenced their critics by outmuscling the Canberra Raiders, who have slumped to their third loss in four weeks.

Isaiah Papali'i crossed the chalk twice on Saturday night.

The last time Parramatta won in Canberra, Jason Taylor was the Eels coach, Jarryd Hayne scored two tries and John Morris played five-eighth.

On Saturday night, the Eels ended one of the NRL’s longest run of outs at an away venue with their first win at GIO Stadium since 2006, beating Canberra 35-10 in an impressive premiership flex.

The win ended a nine-game losing streak in the capital and is just the club’s fifth win in 23 visits.

Parramatta led from start to finish to record its fifth win from six starts, erasing the memory of a disappointing last-up effort against the Dragons.

Strike forward Isaiah Papali’i led the way, scoring two tries and terrorising the Canberra defence with every touch.

Halfback Mitchell Moses was just as brilliant, tormenting the home side with his kicking game and handling three times in the try that broke Canberra’s back midway through the second half.

He also added a late field goal to put an exclamation point on an excellent performance.

Eels coach Brad Arthur berated his team for not being switched on against St George-Illawarra and they cleared heeded the message.

“It was a good team effort,” Arthur said after Saturday’s win.

“We chased the collision – we knew we had to - and we’re a better football team when we do that.

“We came here prepared to roll the sleeves up.

“Last week we wanted to play pretty and fancy and we’re not that sort of team.”

Parramatta was armed and ready for a Canberra ambush, jumping out to an early 6-0 lead.

The Raiders hit back via Jordan Rapana, the Canberra winger receiving a cut out pass from Jack Wighton and holding off Blake Ferguson to touch down one-handed.

The Eels extended their advantage with a try to Maika Sivo only 15 minutes before a try Made in Britain kept the Raiders in touch.

Hooker Josh Hodgson darted out of dummy half and found countryman George Williams in support with not a blue and gold jumper in sight.

The Eels took a 12-10 advantage to the break and extended their lead when Papali’i scored his second try shortly after the resumption.

But it was Shaun Lane’s try on 55 minutes that proved the difference.

Moses handled three times as the ball swung from right to left and back again across a 60m journey, with Lane finishing off an extraordinary movement.

In the mood they were in, the Eels were not going to lose from there.

Former Warrior Isaiah Papali'i has proven a handy pick-up for the Eels this season.

FLAT RAIDERS

Canberra was surprisingly flat despite what was at stake.

Before a big home crowd and up against a genuine premiership contender, the Green Machine played with a flat battery.

They failed to score a point in the second half while conceding 23 in a poor defensive display.

On the back of a 20-point loss to Penrith, it’s evident Ricky Stuart has a job to do to get the Raiders back on track.

Straight-shooting Stuart made it clear several players were in the side under false pretences, hinting there could be changes after heavy back-to-back defeats.

“There were individuals leaning on others…waiting for someone else to do it,” he said.

“There were individuals happy putting on a NRL jumper and thinking they’re an NRL player.

“There are other individuals there I feel real sorry for because they are having a red-hot crack and they’re not getting supported.

“There are a number of individuals letting the team down. It’s hard to take.

“Once they understand the hard culture of it all – or I’ve got to find someone else – hopefully there’s an improvement.

“We had a massive crowd and every reason to make them proud of us and we embarrassed ourselves.

“Not the (whole) team – individuals (let us down). Don’t put everyone in that category.”

RIP AND TEAR

Isaiah Papali’i cares little for reputations or self-preservation.

Wind him up and let him go.

The Eels forward ripped in from the get-go against Canberra’s celebrated pack, running over the top of Josh Papalii for the first try of the game.

Another typically forceful run from Papali’i led to a quick play-the-ball and Parramatta’s second try to Maika Sivo.

Not bad for a bloke who started out as a relatively unheralded bench player.

“He’s one of the best signings this year,” former international Greg Alexander declared.

“He’s a standout with his hard running. He gets the job done every week.

“What a player.”

HE’S OUR NUMBER ONE

Ricky Stuart consulted his senior players before making a decision on a replacement for injured fullback Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad.

They declared Caleb Aekins was the player they wanted in the No. 1 jumper while CNK recovers from his neck problem.

Aekins repaid the faith with a safe and composed display in his club debut, handling everything thrown at him.

Originally published as Eels slip away from fast-fading Raiders to break Canberra curse