NRL semi finals live: Parramatta Eels into preliminary final as fan mock Raiders

The Parramatta Eels are a win away from the NRL grand final after a brutal domination was topped off by the savage fans.

The Eels fans have every right to celebrate. Photo: Getty Images and Twitter

It's been 13 years but the Parramatta Eels are back in the preliminary final after a dominating 40-4 shellacking of the Canberra Raiders.

The Eels have been hit and miss all season but made no mistake against the Raiders, romping to a dominant first half and closing out the game in front of a packed home crowd.

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However, the challenge gets so much harder for the Eels as the side travel to Townsville to take on a North Queensland Cowboys after a week off, a place Parramatta hasn't won at since 2017.

The last time the Eels made the preliminary final was the 2009 season where the side made the Grand Final against the Storm, losing the match which was eventually stripped from Melbourne amid the salary cap scandal.

Since then, it's been a tough road for the Eels but in recent seasons, the side have been perennial finalists but without many wins to show for it.

Entering the game, questions surrounded coach Brad Arthur and his ability to end the Eels 36-year premiership drought particularly as the side hadn't made the third week of the finals in Arthur's eight-year tenure.

But now they have, ending the hoodoo in a dominant performance.

How many wins from the GF? Photo by Cameron Spencer/Getty Images

The Eels fans were in celebration mode, mocking the Raiders with the Viking clap and rubbing salt into the wounds.

Parramatta fans are just rubbing it in now! 😭

📺 Watch #NRLEelsRaiders on Ch. 502 or stream on Kayo: https://t.co/869nwwKNWS
✍️BLOG: https://t.co/kX8ejMBvNG
🔢MATCH CENTRE: https://t.co/zvoznsubjR pic.twitter.com/ukC2yDUSRQ

— Fox League (@FOXNRL) September 16, 2022

Getting mocked with the Viking clap.#NRLEelsRaiders pic.twitter.com/Y9qY1vCyxV

— Michael Mazengarb (@MichaelM_ACT) September 16, 2022

But it was about as dominant a performance as the Eels could want, going on with a crushing victory.

The Eels ran out to a 22-0 lead in the first half, capitalising on a mix of mistakes including a nutmeg on Raiders fullback Xavier Savage and some great strong running.

The Raiders responded however when Savage did it all himself, slipping through the Eels line and tearing off for a breakaway try.

The Eels finished the half with two disallowed tries but also the door slightly ajar for the Raiders.

Early in the second, the Raiders spread it wide and Nic Cotric kicked inside and it appeared as though Reed Mahoney had taken out Jack Wighton before he could get the ball down.

But Wighton was a step offside and the try was denied.

And to rub salt into the wounds, Mitchell Moses ignited the capacity crowd at Commbank Stadium outpacing the Raiders despite a gallant attempt from Xavier Savage to score in the corner.

It was the moment the door was slammed shut as the Raiders couldn't get close to scoring.

And the crowd went wild. Photo: Getty Images

The Eels scored late via a double for Marata Niukore, wrapping up the dramatic win.

The only worries for the Eels were a hamstring injury for Tom Opacic midway through the second half, while Mitchell Moses was taken for a HIA test in the second half, but returned to the field of play.

In his post-match press conference, Arthur said he didn't even think about holding Moses out of the game and that he was always going to play in this game.

Speaking after the game, Moses said the Cowboys will be a challenge, particularly since it's already 30 degrees up in Townsville.

"They're a great side, you've got to play for the full 80 minutes," Moses said. "They showed that last week (against the Sharks).

"We're going to have to be at our best there, especially playing up there behind their home crowd. It's a good test for us, but we're ready for it."

Originally published as NRL semi finals live: Parramatta Eels into preliminary final as fan mock Raiders