LIVE NRL: Eels have a surprising half-time lead over finals-chasing Warriors
The Parramatta Eels lead the New Zealand Warriors 18-4 at half-time of their Round 22 clash at Go Media Stadium in Auckland.
A tough opening to the game saw neither side capable of breaking through the other’s defensive wall, with the Eels goalline defence attracting plenty of praise.
Parramatta’s defensive efforts were rewarded in the 18th minute when rookie winger Jake Tago crossed in the corner following a purposeful Eels attacking shift.
After Tago scored, Fox League’s Dan Ginnane remarked “this is as good as they’ve (the Eels) started a game for many, many weeks.”
Not long after Tago opened the Eels account hooker Joey Lussick burrowed over to double their lead.
Roger Tuivasa-Sheck got the Warriors on the board in the 29th minute, finishing off a wonderful New Zealand back line spread that had shades of the Warriors of 2023.
While some Eels fans may have feared the home side would’ve clawed their way back into the contest, Parramatta scored next through stand-in halfback Daejarn Asi.
A botched short drop out from Shaun Johnson found Clint Gutherson, who skipped across field and hit an onrushing Asi with a short ball. From there, Asi had acres of space and no one to beat to continue the Eels strongest first half all season.
The Warriors will need to rectify their poor first half if they want to boost their finals credentials, with Fox League’s Run Home giving them less than a 5% chance of qualifying for the finals.
Warriors team: 1. Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad 2. Dallin Watene-Zelezniak 3. Ali Leiataua 4. Moala Graham-Taufa 5. Roger Tuivasa-Sheck 6. Chanel Harris-Tavita 7. Shaun Johnson 8. Addin Fonua-Blake 14. Freddy Lussick 10. Mitchell Barnett 11. Marata Niukore 12. Kurt Capewell 13. Dylan Walker 9. Wayde Egan 15. Tom Ale 16. Jazz Tevaga 17. Leka Halasima 18. Demitric Sifakula
Eels team: 1. Clinton Gutherson 2. Jake Tago 3. Viliami Penisini 4. Blaize Talagi 5. Sean Russell 6. Dylan Brown 7. Daejarn Asi 8. Reagan Campbell-Gillard 9. Brendan Hands 10. Wiremu Greig 11. Shaun Lane 12. Bryce Cartwright 13. Ryan Matterson 14. Joey Lussick 15. Joe Ofahengaue 16. Luca Moretti 17. Dan Keir 22. Makahesi Makatoa
