‘Put a line through’: Eels disaster leaves season in ruins as Broncos run riot

The Parramatta Eels were the runners up in 2022 but the side had a night that almost couldn’t have got worse at the Gabba.

It couldn't have got much worse for the Eels. Photo: Getty Images and Fox League

Long suffering Parramatta Eels fans will have to suffer another year as the side was obliterated 54-10 by the Brisbane Broncos at the Gabba on Friday night.

The result helps the Broncos keep the pressure on the Panthers in the hunt for the minor premiership, while captain Adam Reynolds became just the second player to reach 1000 career goals and overtook Johnathan Thurston as the fourth highest pointscorer in history.

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Around this time 12 months ago, the Eels thrashed the Broncos 53-6 on their way to the NRL Grand Final.

But with the shoe on the other foot, the Broncos have got their revenge, essentially ending the Eels’ season.

The Broncos were ruthless, putting the Eels to the sword in a brutal beat down, running in nine tries to two.

While the Eels can mathematically still make the finals, it’s reaching miracle levels as the thumping loss decimated the side’s for-and-against and left them needing convincing wins over the Roosters and Panthers to have any hope of sneaking into the eight.

And they’ll have to do it without halfback Mitchell Moses.

Moses didn’t return after halftime, suffering a broken eye socket early in the first half but playing out the opening 40 minutes.

Moses was a dejected figure in the sheds. Photo: Fox Sports

The Eels may as well start booking their holidays. Photo by Albert Perez/Getty Images

After the result, social media was abuzz with the often trotted out stat that no team has ever won a premiership after being conceding 50 points in a game.

Having last won in 1986, it would extend the NRL’s longest premiership drought into a 38th year.

Put a line through Parra they are done for 2023.#NRLBroncosEels

— Chris (@ChrisAndo5) August 11, 2023

Broncos put 50 on Parra.. no premiership for Eels 2023 #NRLBroncosEels

— 𝓙𝓾𝓼𝓽𝓔𝓭🐴 (@SaintEd61) August 11, 2023

The 50 point curse is not the reason that the eels won’t win a premiership this year. The 2023 eels are the reason #NRLBroncosEels

— Scotty Luther (@scotty_loofa) August 11, 2023

While the hope is all but gone for the Eels, coach Brad Arthur promised the side would fight on until the season’s over.

“We were just beaten by a team that was too good for us,” Arthur said.

“We had some carnage, but they were just too good.

“It makes it tough but we’re going to keep fighting. Until it’s over, we’re going to keep fighting. We’ve got two games and a bye and we’ll just worry about next week.”

But the hope is almost extinguished for the rest of the league with Fox League’s Cooper Cronk all but calling the Eels’ season.

“(It’s) a devastating blow to their hopes,” Cronk said of the result.

“I don’t want to put the line through them but you pretty much can because this has been a poor performance tonight.”

Doesn't get much better than that for the Broncos. Photo by Bradley Kanaris/Getty Images

For the Broncos, it was pretty much perfection, with Adam Reynolds and Reece Walsh tearing the Eels to shreds.

The Broncos fullback scored a try, a try assist, two linebreaks, five linebreak assists, six tackle busts and 109 running metres as well as kicking a 40/20.

Reynolds also led the Broncos around the paddock, and also booted a 40/20 on his historic night.

Cronk said those two be the catalyst to take the Broncos all the way in 2023.

“I would love to play halfback with a threat of this guy out the back of shape. He is electric,” Cronk said of Walsh.

“How many times does he beat the front defenders through footwork, speed and acceleration? On top of that he goes looking for work.

“His ability to be a gambler and throw risk and not worry about the situation, just go all-in on a play. It’s beautiful to watch.

“The Broncos are humming and that combination of Adam Reynolds and Reece Walsh is just really good to watch.

“To the Broncos fans, if you’re going to do something special this year, you have the ingredients in Pat Carrigan and Payne Haas, Adam Reynolds and Reece Walsh to do it all.”