NRL 2022: Shaun Lane stars as Parramatta Eels thrash Brisbane Broncos to secure finals spot
Backrower Shaun Lane has emerged as a key strike weapon for the Eels after helping tear the Broncos apart at Suncorp Stadium and securing their spot in the finals.
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Shaun Lane may be the forward to take Parramatta on a trip down memory lane.
Lane terrorised Brisbane’s right edge defence in the Eels’ crushing 53-6 win over doomed Brisbane at Suncorp Stadium on Thursday night.
Some are already touting Lane as an Australian World Cup bolter.
Lane secured three try assists during Parramatta’s 31-point first-half obliteration. He was virtually unstoppable throughout the game, running for 148 metres and posting eight tackle busts.
“It was pretty impressive from the left back-rower,” former Test halfback Greg Alexander told Fox Sports.
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It was a win which guaranteed Parramatta an NRL finals spot.
For Brisbane, it was another disaster. The Broncos have now conceded 113 points in their past two games — the most ever by the club in back-to-back games.
“The wheels have well and truly fallen off,” former Broncos forward Corey Parker said.
Lane has the most try assists of any non-spine player in the NRL this year. Eels skipper Clint Gutherson wasn’t far behind when it came to best-on-ground.
With Lane and Gutherson dominating, Parramatta posted eight tries to demoralise Brisbane.
Parramatta’s painstaking wait for a title has now rolled into its 36th season. With Lane and his Eels cohorts on fire, could the wait be over? Could history be beckoning? The Eels looked strong, physical and sharp.
“We knew we had to come up here and do a job and we did that,” Gutherson said. “This is the best time of year and you want to be playing well.”
Halfback Mitch Moses added: “We just have to come to every game.”
Victory pushes Parramatta to 32 competition points alongside Melbourne however the Storm remain fourth on percentages. The Eels play Melbourne in a final round NRL blockbuster this Thursday night at CommBank Stadium.
That match could decide a top four finish — and second chance in the finals — if the Roosters beat Melbourne on Friday night. Victory against Brisbane followed Parramatta’s 42-6 win over Canterbury last Saturday.
Eels winger Mika Sivo scored early – his 12th try in nine games against Brisbane.
Sivo brilliantly kicked ahead under pressure a few minutes later for centre Tom Opacic, who took four defenders over the tryline to score. And when Gutherson scored in the 19th minute, his Eels were in complete control.
Moses scored in the 27th minute and the first half rampage continued when Gutherson scored a second try – his 14th this season - after another Lane bust.
Parramatta scored an additional three second half tries. Hapless Brisbane’s for and against has taken a hammering, their finals aspirations dying quickly.
“We’ve got a lot to fix,” said Broncos forward Kurt Capewell.
The Broncos remain on 28 points, two points ahead of Canberra, who play Manly at GIO Stadium on Saturday afternoon.
Playing his 250th NRL game, Adam Reynolds failed an HIA after just 13 minutes. It was a hammer blow for Brisbane.
Brisbane play St George Illawarra in the final round at Kogarah on Saturday week. It is expected State of Origin winger, Selwyn Cobbo, who was rested against Parramatta due to fatigue, will return.
Thomas Flegler’s hit on Reagan Campbell-Gillard midway through the first half was the most thunderous tackle this season albeit Flegler was placed on report, perhaps unfairly, for a shoulder charge. Flegler later injured his throat and was taken to hospital.
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