NRL: Parramatta Eels back on top with strong win over Wests Tigers
Wests Tigers forward Michael Chee Kam was rushed to hospital after suffering an on-field seizure during his side’s loss to Parramatta.
Wests Tigers forward Michael Chee Kam was rushed to Westmead Hospital by ambulance after suffering a sickening on-field seizure during his side’s 26-16 loss to Parramatta on Thursday night.
Chee Kam, a Tigers interchange player, began convulsing after attempting a tackle on Parramatta second-rower Shaun Lane in the 27th minute.
The 28-year-old lay prone on the ground while eight medical staff worked on him. The game was stopped for five minutes before Chee Kam was taken from the field on a Medicab.
He was conscious minutes later and sitting up in the Tigers’ dressing room but was taken to nearby Westmead as a precaution.
The score was locked 12-all when Chee Kam was hurt, but his side was unable to hold back a rampant Parramatta side.
Wests Tigers played virtually the entire second half with just 14 men due to injuries to Chee Kam, Sam McIntyre (HIA) and Adam Doueihi (HIA).
Doueihi was earlier placed on report for a shoulder charge while teammate Russell Packer was also on report for an alleged crusher tackle.
Thursday night’s match was the first time Parramatta’s Ryan Matterson had played Wests Tigers since quitting the club one year into a three-season deal.
Forget what the players are saying and will continue to say publicly, there is a genuine dislike for Matterson at Concord. And it didn’t take long for Matterson to feel the wrath of his former teammates.
In just the second minute of play, Wests Tigers left-edge forward Luciano Leilua stormed over the top of Matterson to score the game’s first try.
And only 15 minutes into the game, Matterson was knocked out when attempting to tackle Packer. He wobbled and staggered before being held up by teammate Blake Ferguson but did not return to the field of play.
Parramatta prop Regan Campbell-Gillard scored one of the great front-row solo tries, running a remarkable 50 metres to slam the ball down.
In the 23rd minute, and before 6403 roaring fans, Campbell-Gillard hit a hole right on halfway and went through, over and past five defenders to score a memorable try, showing remarkable speed and agility.
It prompted the crowd to start chanting ‘RCG, RCG, RCG’. The Eels were behind 12-4 at the time and his try sparked the Parramatta revival.
Campbell-Gillard was unbelievable again, running for 206 metres. Fellow Parramatta prop Junior Paulo posted 169 run metres while fullback Clint Gutherson enjoyed three try assists.
Eels halfback Mitch Moses wound the clock back 35 years with a rare yet brilliant chip-and-chase try in the 33rd minute.
It revived memories of the wonderful and exciting exploits of former champion player Phil Blake, who represented Manly, Souths, Warriors, St George and Norths.
With his side deep in attack, Moses noticed Doueihi wasn’t hanging out the back and chipped ahead, regathered and scored under the posts. It was an art Blake mastered throughout the 1980s.
After an upset loss to Manly last weekend, the Eels are back on top of the NRL premiership – for now. They overcame a 12-4 deficit to overwhelm the injury-riddled Tigers.
Parramatta’s time on top may be brief though with their closest competition rivals expected to win this weekend – the Panthers play Gold Coast on Sunday while the Storm confront Brisbane on Friday night.
Eels winger Blake Ferguson was denied a late try after showing unbelievable acrobatic skills when trying to ground the ball.
The chant also went up after just ten minutes – Sivo, Sivo, Sivo after cult figure Maika Sivo crashed over for his side’s opening try. He added another later in the match.
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