‘What a game’: Fans lose it over golden point NRL madness

Mitchell Moses has had an enormous day, sealing his future and getting the Eels season back on track in stunning thriller.

SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA – MARCH 23: Mitchell Moses of the Eels celebrates after kicking a field-goal in extra time to win the round four NRL match between the Parramatta Eels and Penrith Panthers at CommBank Stadium on March 23, 2023 in Sydney, Australia. (Photo by Cameron Spencer/Getty Images)

Parramatta have ended its dire winless start to the year, claiming a slight bit of revenge in the grand final rematch against the Penrith Panthers, pulling off a 17-16 golden point thriller.

It may not have had the same hype as a normal grand final rematch due to the Dolphins and Broncos first match stealing the limelight, but it’s lived up to its billing with an epic match.

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The Eels had started a season after making the grand final with three losses by four-points but pulled off the win against the reigning premiers, despite a stunning 40m field goal from Nathan Cleary to send it to extra-time.

A Junior Paulo high shot saw the Eels co-captain sin binned with 20 seconds remaining and the Panthers kick 40m out.

He does have ice in his veins. Photo by Cameron Spencer/Getty Images

It left just enough time for Cleary to kick the two-point field goal, handing the Panthers a huge advantage heading into golden point.

“That is about the greatest clutch play I’ve ever seen,” Matthew Johns said after full-time, who also called it “almost an act of god”.

Former NRL star Ashton Sims tweeted: “That’s got to be one of the cleanest field goals I’ve seen! Wow!!”

CODE Sports’ Lachlan McKirdy wrote: “Nathan Cleary, what an absolute freak. Incredible.”

But a borderline high shot from Mitch Kenny saw the Panthers rake sin binned, giving the Eels a piggyback down field.

After angling the side down the field, Mitchell Moses kicked the match winner from the 20m line, ending a brutal run of losses for the Eels.

Moses has been in the headlines as the Parramatta faithful waited for news of his contract extension.

Earlier on Thursday, it was reported he had finally ended the standoff and re-signed with Parramatta.

“It’s a good moment,” Moses told Nine.

“We have been chasing that performance all year, see what happens when we hold the ball (and) have defensive efforts like that, then we’ve got good enough players to come up with plays like that.

“It was big.”

And that’s why you earn the big bucks. Photo by Cameron Spencer/Getty Images

Incredibly, it leaves both sides with just one win from the first four rounds — Penrith also has an extra two points due to its round three bye.

But now 1-3, Parramatta fans were thrilled to get off the match for 2023.

Million. Dollar. Moses.

‘Atta boy!#NRLEelsPanthers

— Luke Cooper (@luke__cooper) March 23, 2023

Happy signing day, Mitch Moses.

Boy oh boy, my heart. What a game.#NRLEelsPanthers

— Alexander Grant (@AlexGrantOz) March 23, 2023

Bloody hell, what a sport. #NRLEelsPanthers

— Scott Bailey (@ScottBaileyAAP) March 23, 2023

The day just set it up for that didn’t it? What a story #NRLEelsPanthers

— Scott Bailey (@ScottBaileyAAP) March 23, 2023

Now THAT’S the Grand Final I wanted. A Cleary goal for the ages & a Moses last gasp victory. So good. #NRLEelsPanthers

— Nina Stevens (@NinaBStevens) March 23, 2023

The match also saw the impressive debut of Brendan Hands for the Eels, providing the spark the Eels have desperately missed with a try on debut against his former club.

The reserve rake came on for Josh Hodgson midway through the second half and immediately made his mark when he backed up a Will Penisini to make it 14-8.

It’s a moment he’ll always cherish but the same can’t be said for one of his former pals at Penrith with Soni Luke’s injection into the contest lasting just three minutes before he was knocked out trying to make a tackle.

The Panthers were so close. Photo by Cameron Spencer/Getty Images

Luke has been a shining light off the bench this year but will miss next week’s trip to Canberra after he was ruled out with category one symptoms.

It continued the Panthers’ attacking woes to kick off the season.

The loss of Viliame Kikau and Api Koroisau was always going to be massive, but few could have predicted how much their attack would suffer as a result.

The two-time defending premiers have scored just seven tries in the first four rounds, and their usually slick left edge has really struggled to click with several plays breaking down when they normally would have led to points.

With NCA Newswire

Originally published as ‘What a game’: Fans lose it over golden point NRL madness