Parramatta's teenage rookie Jakob Arthur produced the magical moment of Magic Round by scoring the match-sealing try for the Eels as his father, coach Brad Arthur, celebrated in the coach's box a memorable 34-18 victory at Suncorp Stadium.
Arthur, 18, was handed a debut after Eels five-eighth Dylan Brown was suspended and the rookie did not disappoint by helping Ryan Matterson across for a second-half try and then scoring his own four-pointer to bury a late Warriors fightback.
"Words can't describe what I'm feeling, it's just a dream come true," Arthurs said.
"[Dad] got pretty emotional, it's a dream come true.
"He was just happy that I did my job and he was just proud I guess.
"[Mum] was really emotional as well. She was the first person I went to because she has done so much for me I wouldn't have played today if it wasn't for her."
Arthur's praise for son Jakob after winning debut
Arthur requested 56 tickets for his NRL debut as family and friends descended upon Suncorp Stadium, with some driving 10 hours from Sydney to support the youngster get his start on the big stage.
The five-eighth played a solid game but with the game in the balance he knew he had to take his chance to secure Parramatta's ninth win of the season.
Match: Warriors v Eels
Round 10 -
home Team
Warriors
10th Position
away Team
Eels
2nd Position
Venue: Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane
"The first time they didn't really commit on me when we did that play so I just thought next time it was my turn to run," Arthur said.
Coach Arthur felt relieved the game was over so he could enjoy the moment after a "long week".
"I'm proud of the playing group. They made it a special day for me and my family," Arthur said.
Arthur's praise for son Jakob after winning debut
"[Jakob] just did his job, as I knew he would. Didn't try to overplay his hand. I gave him a cuddle."
Arthur said he didn't focus on his son more than any other player and trusted his troops would look after the young pivot.
"Put him into a team like that and I just knew they weren't going to let him down," he added.
"And they did their job, that right-edge. They were good … [Jakob] made his debut on a big stage and the boys made sure they won.
"They weren't going to do anything but win for him and I appreciated it. He's a tough kid. He pushed through OK."
Eels halfback Mitchell Moses mounted further evidence he deserved his looming contract upgrade with a blistering start that set Parramatta on the path to victory.
The No.7 spent the last two minutes on the bench but Arthur said he "should be OK" after having his foot stepped on.
Winger Blake Ferguson struggled through the dying stages and Arthur said he'd been kicked in the shin.
Arthur shows selflessness on debut
Moses refused to activate an extension clause in his Eels contract by last Friday's deadline, instead looking to negotiate a new deal that further rewards his standing as one of the NRL's elite halfbacks and the clear conductor to Parramatta's premiership aspirations.
The 26-year-old produced a stunning opening to the Warriors game, igniting a four-try blitz in just 12 minutes as the Eels raced to a 24-0 lead inside 18 minutes, before Parramatta went on to claim a six-tries-to-three win.
Moses flick sends Brown over
The Eels could have won by more if not for two butchered chances early in the second half when Ryan Matterson and Blake Ferguson were both deemed to have dropped the ball over the line.
Those mistakes left the door ajar for the Warriors as they mounted a strong second-half challenge, with Ben Murdoch-Masila bulldozing his way across the line before young midseason recruit Reece Walsh ignited the game with his spark in his first appearance in Brisbane since he left the Broncos a few weeks ago.
Walsh steps, dummies and scores
Walsh scored a superb solo try in the 62nd minute to bring the Warriors back to within two tries at 28-18, but the Warriors couldn't find another four-pointer to produce the grandstand finish as the Eels claimed their ninth win of the season and fifth in a row.
Moses, who was given an early exit from the game as he limped off with a sore foot with two minutes remaining, was not the only star in the Eels early onslaught with middle forwards Nathan Brown and Reagan Campbell-Gillard laying the foundations up front with a strong display.
Brown scored his first try of the season after Moses poked through the line to flick a one-handed offload to the lock for the Eels opener after just six minutes.
Rampaging winger Maika Sivo revived memories of his steamrolling run over James Tedesco last year when he bulldozed his way over Rocco Berry for the Eels second try after 13 minutes before Campbell-Gillard bagged a double with two minutes.
Sivo steamrolls Berry to extend Eels' lead
Campbell-Gillard scored a soft try beneath the posts when he simply hit and spin out of a Roger Tuivasa-Scheck tackle but then showed superb support play and a deft left-foot sidestep to evade Tuivasa-Scheck again when Moses broke through the line.
The Warriors copped what they deserved for an error-riddled opening half, completing at just 47 per cent, although they did create some opportunities late in the half and appeared far more dangerous once Walsh was introduced into the game.
RCG scores his second try in as many minutes
Their only points came when Kodi Nikorima tapped back a well-placed bomb besides the uprights that Josh Curran was able to scoop up to score in the 33rd minute. Curran later left the field with a hyper-extended elbow while Rocco Berry failed an HIA following a head knock.
The Warriors must quickly regroup ahead of Friday's clash with Wests Tigers on the Central Coast while Parramatta face a blockbuster clash with the in-form Manly Sea Eagles at Bankwest Stadium next Sunday.
