Jayden Campbell out after failed HIA as Lomax, Penisini and Iongi lead Eels to win over the Titans

It wasn’t always pretty, but it was the Eels who stood tall against the Titans as a late Will Penisini double added salt to the wounds of a Gold Coast side set to lose a star.

Will Penisini celebrates after scoring one of his two tries. Picture: Getty Images

Forget Liam Neeson’s upcoming Naked Gun remake.

If you’re looking for a laugh, watch a replay of Parramatta’s 36-20 win over the Titans.

From the moment Titans winger Allan Fitzgibbon knocked on in the second tackle of the game, you just knew it was going to be one of those matches.

Moments later, Eels back-rower Kelma Tuilagi bombed a certain try when he bounced the ball over the line, and, suddenly, it became clear why these two teams entered Sunday’s match at the foot of the ladder.

That’s not to say it wasn’t an entertaining game, but much of the scoring came in comedic circumstances.

Take Parramatta’s third try, which eventuated after an Isaiah Iongi bomb ricocheted off AJ Brimson’s shoulders right into the path of Charlie Guymer, who raced away to score.

That put Eels ahead 18-6 after 20 minutes, but an individual effort from Chris Randall and a 90-metre intercept from Alofiana Khan-Pereira put the Titans within two points by halftime.

The Eels celebrate after Joey Lussick dives over from dummy-half. Picture: Getty Images

The entertainment kept coming in the second term, with the Eels extending their lead in the 49th minute when Iongi’s ugly grubber evaded three Titans and bounced off the padding to set up Dean Hawkins.

Brimson redeemed himself somewhat for his first-half error when he threw a dynamite pass to set Khan-Pereira in the 62nd minute, but a quick-fire double in the closing minutes to Will Penisini, the first following an amazing leap from Zac Lomax, ensured that Des Hasler’s men would remain in last place on the Telstra Premiership ladder – two competition points adrift of the Eels.

CAMPBELL CONCUSSION

The Titans lost talismanic fullback Jayden Campbell in the 26th minute after he sustained a Category One HIA.

Campbell came from the field after copping an accidental knee from teammate Sam Verrills and will miss next Sunday’s clash with Melbourne.

Titans halfback Jayden Campbell leaves the field for a HIA test. Picture: Getty Images

WILL’S WORRISOME WAIT

Despite scoring the match-sealing tries, it wasn’t a perfect evening for Penisini, who was sin-binned in the 78th minute for a lifting tackle on Beau Fermor.

He was also placed on report and may face the judiciary this week.

Josh Addo-Carr runs the ball during the Eels’ win against the Titans. Picture: Getty Images

OFFLOADS SLAY TITANS

One area that would concern coach Hasler would be the ease with which Parramatta was able to offload in the tackle.

Much of the Eels’ attack came on the back of second-phase play, and they ended the night with a whopping 14 offloads. Conversely, the Titans managed just four.

Originally published as Jayden Campbell out after failed HIA as Lomax, Penisini and Iongi lead Eels to win over the Titans