The Parramatta Eels have kept their finals hopes alive after overcoming the St George Illawarra Dragons 26-20 in an entertaining and intensely fought match.
Played in front of a vocal crowd at CommBank Stadium, the Eels scored three straight tries to close out the second half and claim the result in what was must-win game to keep them in touch with the eight.
While Parramatta started well, scoring two tries in the opening 11 minutes of the match, the Dragons came roaring back into the game with winger Mikaele Ravalawa overcoming a poor start to cross for a first-half hattrick - the fourth his career.
His treble saw the visitors go into the break with a 16-10 lead and things looked ominous for the Eels when Ravalawa scored his fourth of the game to start the second half.
However, errors - and some determined last-ditch defence by Parramatta - handed the ball and opportunity back to the Eels, who made no mistake scoring three unanswered tries through Sean Russell, Junior Paulo and Bryce Cartwright.
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Match Snapshot
- There was early drama for the Dragons with forward Francis Molo being sent from the field in the opening minute of the match for a HIA which he subsequently failed, ruling him out of the match.
- The Eels had the dominant start, scoring two quick tries, including one to debutant Arthur Miller-Stephen.
- Dragons winger Mikaele Ravalawa had a poor start to the match, being dragged into touch twice and being scored on by the rookie Miller-Stephen, but bounced back in style to score his fourth career hattrick in the first half.
Mikaele Ravalawa try 39th minute
- Ravalawa became the first Dragon since Brett Morris in Round 9, 2009 to score four tries in a single game.
- Parramatta swapped wingers with Sean Russell moving to mark Ravalawa in the second half.
- The match was Eels five-eighth Dylan Brown's first match back following a seven-game suspension following NRL and club sanctions.
- Dragons forward Blake Lawrie had big first half, playing the full 40 and ended the match with 167 metres.
- Eels skipper Clint Gutherson had a mixed game, but was involved in an important momentum changer for his team, making a tackle on Jacob Liddle who seemed destined to score, forcing the ball from his hands in what was deemed a loose carry, despite Dragons thinking it was an attempted strip. Talatau Amone picked up the dropped ball to score, but the try was disallowed.
Junior Paulo try 63rd minute
- Joey Lussick also produced a momentum-changer of his own for the Eels, with his pressure on Ben Hunt who was attempting to kick paying off, with the Dragons forced to hand the ball over in attacking position for Parramatta. The play helped set up Paulo's try, with a great pass Ryan Mattherson - flat and to the chest of Paulo - setting the big forward up to score under the uprights and level the scores to 20-20 following Gutherson's conversion.
- The Eels have now won 11 of their last 14 matches between the two sides.
- The Eels have won seven of their past eight games at CommBank Stadium.
- The Dragons have lost all 10 away games this season.
- The Eels came into this match in 11th position and moved up to ninth following the win.
Play of the Game
There were plenty of great plays - in attack and defence - throughout the match, but who doesn't love a try on debut? Youngster Arthur Miller-Stephen capped a memorable first match for the Eels, finishing off a backline play to score Parramatta's opening try of the match.
Arthur Miller-Stephen try 9th minute
What They Said
Dragons: Round 23
"I thought our effort was one of the best efforts I have ever seen from a team to be honest with you, we lost Frank Molo in the first set of the game, some of our players had to play massive minutes, it just throws everything out of whack when you lose a forward ... I thought we were super brave, tough, resilient. I know the scoreboard doesn't show it, but I thought we deserved to win that one." - Dragons interim coach Ryan Carr
Eels: Round 23
"I wasn't concerned, but I knew we had to get some ball at the other end of the field. That's what happened in the last bit of the first half, we didn't have any field position - it was self-inflicted - but I knew if we just spent some time there, there's enough class in the team that they'd come up with the try. With this team, once we get a try, like most teams, you get a bit of energy, you find a bit more, the belief starts to become a bit stronger, so it was pretty fortunate that we got a try." - Parramatta coach Brad Arthur
What's Next
Next week, the Eels have a trip to the Gabba to face the Brisbane Broncos in what is the beginning of a tough final run of games, with matches against the Roosters and Panthers to follow.
The Dragons are also heading north and will face the Rabbitohs at Barlow Park in Cairns in what is also a challenging final few rounds for the club with Melbourne Storm, the Warriors and Knights to come.