NRL 2021: Parramatta Eels win 32-16 over North Queensland Cowboys | Match Report

Beating the lacklustre Cowboys is one thing, taking on the top two teams in the final rounds is definitely another. At least Parramatta enter a crucial phase of their season in winning form.

Clint Gutherson keeps the play alive against the Cowboys. Picture: Chris Hyde/Getty Images

A reborn Mitchell Moses has breathed life into the Eels’ season but a knee injury to star winger Maika Sivo took the gloss off a 32-16 win over a lacklustre Cowboys outfit.

Moses had his best game since returning from a back fracture to take control and give the Eels a faint hope of finishing in the top four but a suspected MCL injury to Sivo in the 25th minute made coach Brad Arthur’s heart sink.

The imminent return of Blake Ferguson will give the Eels an experienced campaigner to fill the breach.

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Arthur had given the team an extra day off after the humiliating 56-10 loss to Manly last week, their fourth loss in a row, to think about how they could reignite their season.

Moses clearly decided to take the game by the scruff of the neck and his running, passing and kicking game was on song as he set up three tries in a masterclass display.

Eels skipper Clint Gutherson slips a pass away against the Cowboys. Picture: Chris Hyde/Getty Images

Hooker Joey Lussick was put on report for contacting the head of Tom Dearden and lock Nathan Brown was penalised for a crusher tackle but not put on report.

It will be a nervous wait for the Eels given that even a grade one charge would carry a two-week suspension for Brown.

The Eels led 14-6 at half-time and went on with it in the second half as the Cowboys halves Scott Drinkwater and Tom Dearden failed to fire in combination once again.

Dearden has now lost 25 straight games as a starter and Cowboys fans must wonder why the club let Jake Clifford, who is on fire for the Knights, go.

The Eels have the ultimate tests ahead of them against the Storm and Panthers in the coming weeks. Their premiership hopes barely had a pulse after the Manly loss but at least now the confidence from a win will give them some hope that a late season revival is achievable.

MOSES MAYHEM

The Eels star half had struggled on his return from a back fracture but this was Moses at his best. His game management was spot on and when he put his foot down to set up centre Will Penisini in the first half his confidence returned.

Mitchell Moses was back to his best against the Cowboys. Picture: Chris Hyde/Getty Images

It was then he took control at first receiver — on both the left and right side — to give the Eels much needed direction.

Throw in his sneaky short kicks and towering bombs, one of which led to a try to Dylan Brown, and it was clear when Moses fires the Eels are always a show.

Brown and Clint Gutherson also gave him much needed assistance and the trio all combined to set up the opening try to Waqa Blake.

“I thought that was Mitch’s best running game for a long time and that is what we need from him moving forward,” Arthur said.

“It was really important for him. We talked during the week that we need our halves touching the ball more and that they are the ones responsible for setting up tries and coming up with the big plays.”

Moses certainly delivered on that chat.

TEST AHEAD

The clashes with the Storm and Panthers in the next fortnight will be the acid test for the Eels. They will have to be much better than they were against the Cowboys and cut out the crazy errors that marred their win, but the form of Moses and the attacking flair of centre Blake will give them hope.

Getting the pressure and heat off the coach and the team with a win was a start.

“That is a starting point. We only had one job to do and that was to win,” Arthur said.

“We’d lost four in a row and the pressure and expectation was around the team. We didn’t get everything right but we got the job done.”

They will likely have to complete their premiership quest without Sivo.

“They said MCL and he’ll go for scans, but we will be pushing it to get him back this year I reckon,” Arthur said. “Fergo is back this week and will come back in on the wing.”

Arthur said he didn’t think there was too much in the Nathan Brown or Lussick incidents but said he would play Will Smith at hooker if need be.

Maika Sivo is likely to miss the rest of the season after injury his knee. Picture: Chris Hyde/Getty Images

COWBOYS CRASH

It was the 10th loss in a row for the Cowboys and coach Todd Payten must wonder where the next win is coming from. The Dearden experiment has been a failure with the former Bronco having lost his confidence and the ability to control a game.

Coen Hess fails to deliver far too often. There were some bright spots with debutant winger Laitia Moceidreke looking a player of promise and hulking forward Heilum Luki also showcasing his raw talents and brute strength with a barnstorming try.

Originally published as NRL 2021: Parramatta Eels win 32-16 over North Queensland Cowboys | Match Report