Bring on Storm, anyone: Electric Eels ignite title charge
After belting Brisbane by a record NRL finals margin, it's time for Eels fans to dare to dream: this Parramatta side can break the club’s horrid 33-year premiership drought.
Bring on Melbourne, bring on Canberra, bring on the Roosters, bring on anyone.
This was showtime in Sydney’s golden west.
The players have been saying it for months and now the rest of the NRL is starting to listen to the message: This Parramatta side can break the club’s 33-year premiership drought.
Brisbane were left battered and blue, Parramatta played like gold — all in front of a Bankwest Stadium crowd record of 29,372..
Michael Jennings celebrates a try with his Eels teammates at Bankwest Stadium. Picture: AAP
After a thumping 58-0 win over Brisbane, Parramatta travel to Melbourne for a semi-final ready to conquer the Storm.
They’ll also have to beat the odds — the TAB has the Eels as $3 outsiders against the Storm, who are $1.40.
And with Penrith, Canterbury and Wests Tigers fans watching on, Western Sydney will unite behind the Eels.
It was the biggest finals win ever — beating the previous 48-point margin in 1944 when Newtown downed St George 55-7. It was also Parramatta’s biggest ever win over Brisbane.
“I knew we would come and have a red-hot crack but I didn’t think we would play that well,” said Eels coach Brad Arthur, who watched the final five minutes from the sidelines.
Mitchell Moses is congratulated after scoring a try for the Eels. Picture: AAP
“Some days it just goes to plan. I’m proud of the boys but we still have a long way to go.”
Parramatta scored 11 tries — the final humiliation coming when the crowd started chanting “We want 50.” Seconds later, Eels star Dylan Brown scored to give them their wish.
“It was men against boys — that was embarrassing,” Brisbane coach Anthony Seibold said.
The “Parra, Parra, Parra’’ chant was loud and proud by deliriously happy Eels fans.
The Eels tore Brisbane to shreds in the first half, inspired by another monumental performance from halfback Mitch Moses, who was involved in four tries and scored twice himself.
Parramatta bullied and man-handled Brisbane in defence.
Parramatta Eels fans turned out in force at Bankwest Stadium. Picture: AAP
Darius Boyd has two years remaining on his contract but after this humiliation there must be questions about whether this was his final game.
This was one of the most complete performances this season. It was brutal and barnstorming, leaving Brisbane humiliated and downtrodden. Fans in the Peter Sterling and Brett Kenny grandstands stood and applauded when their heroes returned to each end after every try.
Rarely has a game of rugby league seen, felt and heard such noise, atmosphere and excitement.
Brisbane only had around 30 per cent of possession in the first half and didn’t have a single tackle inside Parramatta’s 20-metre zone in the entire first half.
But no excuses, Brisbane were pathetic. Parramatta pushed three and four defenders into each tackle, rattling Brisbane’s young pack.
The only downside was Eels five-eighth Brown being placed on report for a crusher tackle.
“We just have to look forward to Melbourne in Melbourne,” said Eels skipper Clint Gutherson. Parramatta scored 24 points in the first half, another 34 in the second half.
SIVO, SIVO
What a player. What a crowd-pleaser.
Maika Sivo scored two tries — one where he juggled and regained the ball — and was one of nine Parramatta players to run for more than 100 metres.
And with each try came the ‘‘Sivo, Sivo, Sivo’’ chant. He has now scored 22 tries for the season and 12 in 12 games at Bankwest Stadium.
Maika Sivo had another day out for the Eels. Picture: Getty Images
SAD SEIBOLD
His His former club, Souths, are still alive, his current club, Brisbane, are dead for 2019. The great Seibold shift to Brisbane failed in 2019.
His Broncos — despite a wealth of superstars and a brilliant young pack — limped into the finals and were dumped out in week one.
Seibold has another five years remaining on his deal but the pressure will already mount for next season. There would have been plenty of Souths identities having a quiet chuckle at this result.
“I’m embarrassed and surely the players are embarrassed. But I’ll cop it,” Seibold.
The Broncos limped into the NRL finals and were dumped out in week one. Picture: AAP
“I can’t toss up any excuses. They let each other down, they let the club down. When it was business time, we were a million miles away. It’s not good enough.”
Asked should he apologise to Brisbane fans, Seibold said: “I’m not going to apologise. I’ve worked damn hard this year. I’ve tried my best. If I’m not good enough … I’d rather be in the arena failing than standing outside throwing stones.”
PARRAMATTA 58 (D Brown 2 M Moses 2 M Sivo 2 D Alvaro B Ferguson M Jennings S Lane T Moeroa tries M Moses 6 M Ma’u goals) bt BRISBANE 0 at Bankwest Stadium. Referee: Ben Cummins, Grant Atkins. Crowd: 29,372
Updates
Monday Question Time Ends
Clare Armstrong
In answer to my last question (can the Eels go in again?), yes they certainly can. Daniel Alvaro powers over from close range to put the exclamation mark on what has been a simply emphatic performance from Parramatta.
Manu Ma'u, who's leaving Parramatta after the season, gets the conversion honours and makes no mistake from the tee. The Eels have just wiped the floor with Brisbane to the tune of 58 points, in a final. Wow.
It took 12 minutes for the Eels to open the scoring through Michael Jennings, but once he got over it seemed they just about crossed the tryline every time they touched the ball for the rest of the match. Without getting too scientific, there's a fair chance they actually did.
Maika Sivo scored two tries, as did Mitchell Moses who was in absolutely everything, and Dylan Brown.
The Broncos, on the other hand, were a rabble and never looked like scoring – or stopping Parramatta from scoring for that matter.
Parramatta faces a tough trip to Melbourne to taken on a Storm side that was stunned by Canberra. The Storm will be smarting and certainly fired up – but how can the Eels not be confident after this performance?
58-0
Most points ever scored by a team in a finals match, passing the @TheParraEels own record of 56 points in 2001
Biggest ever winning margin in a finals match, passing 48 point win by Newtown over St George in 1944. The Jets won 55-7 that day#NRLFinals#NRLEelsBroncos
In answer to my last question (can the Eels go in again?), yes they certainly can. Daniel Alvaro powers over from close range to put the exclamation mark on what has been a simply emphatic performance from Parramatta.
Manu Ma'u, who's leaving Parramatta after the season, gets the conversion honours and makes no mistake from the tee. The Eels have just wiped the floor with Brisbane to the tune of 58 points, in a final. Wow.
It took 12 minutes for the Eels to open the scoring through Michael Jennings, but once he got over it seemed they just about crossed the tryline every time they touched the ball for the rest of the match. Without getting too scientific, there's a fair chance they actually did.
Maika Sivo scored two tries, as did Mitchell Moses who was in absolutely everything, and Dylan Brown.
The Broncos, on the other hand, were a rabble and never looked like scoring – or stopping Parramatta from scoring for that matter.
Parramatta faces a tough trip to Melbourne to taken on a Storm side that was stunned by Canberra. The Storm will be smarting and certainly fired up – but how can the Eels not be confident after this performance?
58-0
Most points ever scored by a team in a finals match, passing the @TheParraEels own record of 56 points in 2001
Biggest ever winning margin in a finals match, passing 48 point win by Newtown over St George in 1944. The Jets won 55-7 that day#NRLFinals#NRLEelsBroncos
TRY EELS! Daniel Alvaro puts the icing on the cake.
PM says it's not his fault Labor don't like the govt's answers
Clare Armstrong
Parramatta have just racked up the biggest score in a NRL finals match and this time it's Dylan Brown who does the damage, all on his own. He puts up a bomb, follows his own kick and flies high over Anthony Milford to regather and score. There's still a couple of minutes to go – can the Eels goes in again? Probably.
Parramatta have just racked up the biggest score in a NRL finals match and this time it's Dylan Brown who does the damage, all on his own. He puts up a bomb, follows his own kick and flies high over Anthony Milford to regather and score. There's still a couple of minutes to go – can the Eels goes in again? Probably.
Parramatta are on the attack again – because of course they are – and Reed Mahoney gets the ball with a bit of time. He throws a lovely long pass to his halfback and Mitchell Moses does the rest, racing away for his second try of the day. Moses converts and the Eels are up by 46 – yes, FORTY-SIX – in a finals match. Moses has had an absolute game to remember for the blue and golds.
