NRL Round 4: Eels v Dragons match report, Mitchell Moses and Dylan Brown put on halves clinic

Parramatta Eels substitute Bryce Cartwright produced a ludicrous behind-the-back pass to tee up Mitchell Moses in his side’s annihilation of the Dragona. WATCH HERE.

Dylan Brown celebrates with Clinton Gutherson and Mitchell Moses (Photo by Mark Kolbe/Getty Images)

Premierships may not be won in April, but they sure as hell can let you know who’ll contend for one.

And on that score, Parramatta have distinguished any fears they won’t be, backing up their dramatic win over Melbourne with a 48-14 walloping of St George Illawarra on Sunday evening.

The Eels made their case for being the most dangerous attack in the league with a second-half assault on the Dragons that would’ve made the rest of the premiership contenders take notice.

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Halves Mitchell Moses and Dylan Brown spearheaded an eight-try clinic, including four in a 15-minute spell that knocked the dizzied Dragons to the canvas.

Moses finished a memorable individual night with a personal tally of 24 points from two tries and eight goals from as many attempts, along with two try assists.

Dylan Brown celebrates with Clinton Gutherson and Mitchell Moses (Photo by Mark Kolbe/Getty Images)

On a night filled with highlights, the best was Moses’ finish off a no-look flick pass from Bryce Cartwright, who switched hands with the ball mid-air, for their final four-pointer.

But the halves were at the tip of a complete team performance that also boasted a Waqa Blake brace, and a dominant effort from their middle men.

The Eels have now scored more points than every other team through the opening month.

The Dragons, with a new-look line-up, could barely land a punch, and will instead go back to the drawing board as coach Anthony Griffin continues to experiment with his selections.

Mitchell Moses after scoring a try (Photo by Mark Kolbe/Getty Images)

BENJI THROWBACK

When Brown lit up the amped crowd of 19,711 when he broke the ankles of Moses Mbye with a wicked left foot step to score, it drew comparisons to a Tigers icon.

“This is Benji Marshall stuff,” Fox Sports commentator Andrew Voss said.

Brown wasn’t done, breaking into the clear soon after and paving the way for Moses to kick ahead for himself for a two-try lead.

Proving his worth without the ball as well, the Kiwi, who starred in last week’s win over the Storm, produced a trysaving tackle on a flying Mikaele Ravalawa.

“That’s his strength, his running game,” Eels coach Brad Arthur said of Brown.

“But I thought again tonight and again last week, he’s taken a bit more ownership of shape as well. He come up with a couple of nice passes. He’s 50-60 games now, so he needs to step up.”

Dejected Dragons concede another try (Photo by Mark Kolbe/Getty Images)

DRAGONS CHANGES

Not to be completely outdone, Dragons counterpart Jack Bird pulled his team within four points at halftime when he finished off a Ben Hunt grubber set up by a Francis Molo offload.

But the glimmer of hope turned out to be a mirage.

Their defence was torn to shreds by a white-hot Eels attack, exposing the lack of continuity Griffin tossed out as he searches for the right formula.

Griffin made the shock call to drop youngsters Tyrell Sloane and Talatau Amone from his spine, instead opting for the versatility of Mbye at fullback and Bird at five-eighth.

However the moves failed to pay any immediate dividends, with their disjointedness with the ball in sharp contrast to the continuity of the Eels’ sharp and slick attack.

“I thought (the changes) were okay, Mbye and Bird was a little bit scrappy here and there, but I thought they gave us something,” Griffin said.

“Our attack, we were too impatient. But we were a lot more dangerous, despite the scoreline.

“I got no problems with that.”

Compounding the lopsided defeat for the Dragons, who drop to 15th, were reportable offences for Francis Molo (lifting), and Blake Lawrie (dangerous contact).

EELS HOME COOKING

Tries to Nathan Brown, Reed Mahoney, Clint Gutherson and Blake between the 44th and 60th minute blew the game open, and the Dragons out of the water.

Blake’s first was a 90-metre intercept, and doubled it eight minutes later off a Brown’s long ball.

The Eels, who now move into the top four, have now scored at least 30 points in four straight games at CommBank Stadium, a feat not achieved in 20 years.

Originally published as NRL Round 4: Eels v Dragons match report, Mitchell Moses and Dylan Brown put on halves clinic