Fans rave as Eels edge Storm in ‘extraordinary’ thriller

The Eels and Storm have played out an extraordinary thriller in horrendous conditions, with fans going nuts for what the new look game can be.

This win meant a bit to the Eels.

If the NRL wanted proof that the new rules brought in during the off-season can work, they need look no further than the Parramatta Eels match against the Melbourne Storm.

The Eels claimed the points in a 16-12 win at Bankwest Stadium but despite torrid conditions, the side have pulled off a perfect example of what the new rules can do.

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Despite rain bucketing down throughout the game, the completion rates were exceedingly high especially considering the conditions.

The match went right down to the final moments with Maika Sivo scoring the winning try with four minutes left.

Mitchell Moses put up a massive bomb from 45m out but the Fijian flyer grabbed his second try of the match, catching the ball in front of former teammate George Jennings and getting to the line before battling to get the ball to the ground.

Leave it to Sivo to #DefyImpossible! 🤯#TelstraPremiership Moment of the Match#NRLEelsStormpic.twitter.com/ci73L9Yw5i

— NRL (@NRL) March 18, 2021

“That is an incredible piece of play from Maika Sivo,” Greg Alexander said on Fox League. “What a moment, what a try from Maika Sivo. What a play, in the wet.

“The Melbourne Storm, there’s not much they can don about that, that’s just a piece of brilliance.”

Sivo enjoyed the match winner.

They were incredible scenes and sparked the “Sivo” chants for the appreciative home fans.

It left less than two minutes as Moses missed the conversion.

But the Storm had a shot, when the short kick off hit centre Tom Opacic who was standing off-side within the 10m.

Andrew Voss screamed “Opacic has touched that”.

“What is he doing? Why is he there?” Alexander agreed.

It took the Storm within 30m but a Munster knock on at the end of the first tackle gave the Eels the win in an incredible game of football.

But the statistics were amazing with a wet and wild weekend settling in for Sydney.

The rain was torrential throughout the match with puddles forming at each end.

“Parramatta completing 83 per cent and Melbourne completing 88 per cent in this,” Voss said. “It’s extraordinary stuff.”

The Eels had some blushes saved in the first half with Clint Gutherson pulling off some incredible goal line defence.

By full-time, it was just as crazy with the Eels completing at 88 per cent, while the Storm completed at 80 per cent, with the visitors getting 55 per cent of possession.

The Storm player looked dejected after an incredible game for football.

Although there was an ugly scene which saw Ryan Matterson knocked out, fans liked what they saw from the game as it went right down to the wire and offered a “real contest” for the 80 minutes.

That was one of the first games this season that was a real contest all night, rather than long periods of momentum for one team or the other. #NRLEelsStorm

— Jon Healy (@JonHealy) March 18, 2021

Wow! Just wow. What a game. Twists. Turns. And then twists again to the @TheParraEels with Sivo’s effort from a 45m bomb. Amazing final minutes. Gotta love the @NRL That was some match. #NRLEelsStorm

— Robert Grasso (@RobertGrasso) March 18, 2021

Losing is never fun but my word what a game of footy. Full credit to Eels - well deserved. #NRL#NRLEelsStorm

— Joshua Wells (@joshuawells93) March 18, 2021

Well done @TheParraEels. That was a tough, gutsy win. Brilliant stuff. GO PARRAAAAAA!!! #NRLEelsStorm

— Alex Cullen (@alextcullen) March 18, 2021

Honestly, who tipped Parra tonight? Other than the one eyed supporter.. #NRLEelsStorm

— Lote Tuqiri 🇫🇯🇦🇺 (@LoteTuqiri) March 18, 2021

Take note rest of the NRL — that’s how the game should be played in 2021.