FIRST HALF BLITZ SETS UP EELS’ BIG WIN OVER DOLPHINS

Last year's runners-up Parramatta have made it five wins on the trot with a comprehensive 48-20 victory over the Dolphins at Sunshine Coast Stadium . Sitting 14th after 11 rounds with a 4-7 record the Eels have rediscovered the form that carried them all the way to the 2022 decider. On a glorious afternoon at Sunshine Coast Stadium it was the Dolphins striking first in the fourth minute when debutant Brayden McGrady displayed neat footwork to stand up Will Penisini and plant the ball down for a 4-0 lead. The Eels hit back in the seventh minute when Andrew Davey powered into a hole after taking a short ball from fellow back-rower J'maine Hopgood. Former Panther Hopgood then had a four-pointer of his own when he powered past Isaiya Katoa and Felise Kaufusi to make it 12-4 with Mitch Moses' conversion. The Eels stretched their lead in the 21st minute when centre Will Penisini showed great strength to beat three defenders to score wide out before Clint Gutherson grabbed his 14th try of the season after great lead-up work by Moses, Bryce Cartwright and Penisini. Parramatta went out to a commanding 30-4 lead in the 26th minute when Cartwright and Moses again combined to bust the Dolphins open and Penisini took the last pass to complete his first career double. With seven minutes remaining in the half Bailey Simonsson got in on the act to score his eighth try of the season and the Eels led 36-4.

Maika Sivo was denied in the 37th minute as the Dolphins scrambled in defence but the reprieve was short lived as right winger Sean Russell crossed on the stroke of half-time to give the visitors a scarcely believable 42-4 lead. Ten minutes into the second half the Dolphins conjured a try from deep in their own territory when Jamayne Isaako put Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow into space and the Maroons flyer raced 70 metres to notch his 13th four-pointer of the season. In the 56th minute the Dolphins had the full house at Sunshine Coast Stadium on their feet again when cult hero Valynce Te Whare crossed on the right edge to make it 42-14. Eels skipper Gutherson then showed his strength to shrug off Sean O'Sullivan to score from close range before Tabuai-Fidow swooped on a Moses grubber and sprinted 80 metres to score his fourth double of the season. The Dolphins showed plenty of fight to win the second half 16-6 but have now conceded 136 points in their past three matches and face a daunting task against ladder leaders Brisbane in Round 18. Source: NRL. Com

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