Round 3, 2020: Parramatta 34 Brisbane 6

NRL.com

Broncos v Eels: Lodge cleared; Mahoney to start

Two of the NRL's undefeated teams will go head-to-head to relaunch the season on May 28.

Brisbane and Parramatta were equally as impressive in March in racking up back-to-back wins to get their 2020 Telstra Premiership campaigns off to a great start.

Parramatta head north of the border to Suncorp Stadium for the first match-up between the teams since their finals clash last year. The Broncos have their first opportunity to exact revenge for their 58-0 thrashing at the hands of the Eels in the playoffs.

The Rundown
Team news
Broncos: Matt Lodge, returning from a partial ACL tear, has been included on the extended bench but is set to come into the game-day 17 after getting through Wednesday's captain's run with flying colours. "He trained really well, he’s been training all week," captain Alex Glenn said.

"Our trainers put him through a few tests that he passed easily. Lodgey’s fit and ready to go. He’ll come off the bench though whereas normally he’ll start on the field. He’s pumped to just be back out there and adds strike force to our team." The Broncos have won four of their past five games against the Eels at Suncorp.

Tesi Niu and Xavier Coates were omitted from the reserves list 24 hours prior to kick-off.

Eels: No changes expected. Marata Niukore replaces Nathan Brown (suspended, round five) at lock, with Ray Stone joining the bench. Hooker Reed Mahoney has been named to start after breaking his foot in round two. The Eels have the best defensive record in the NRL after two rounds.

Jaeman Salmon and David Gower were cut from the squad on Thursday night.

NRL.com

Eels bust Broncos as footy returns with a bang

The electric Eels savoured the NRL's triumphant return with an emphatic 34-6 win over the Broncos at Suncorp Stadium on a night that will forever be remembered.

The showdown kicked off 67 days after the enforced COVID-19 shutdown of the NRL as one of the most anticipated rugby league matches in the 112-year history of the code.

It lived up to the billing, and then some.

On an evening many scoffed would never occur the Eels reaffirmed that they are a serious premiership contender after dominating a brave Broncos in the middle and out wide.

The forwards – led by Reagan Campbell-Gillard, Junior Paulo, Ryan Matterson and Shaun Lane – played tough and with skill. Clint Gutherson, Dylan Brown and Mitchell Moses created plenty while Eels rake Reed Mahoney had an outstanding game with his passing, kicking and defensive work of the highest standard.

The new six-again rule for ruck infringements worked a treat for the Eels early with sole on-field referee Gerard Sutton awarding the away side back-to back sets.

A rampaging Marata Niukore made the most of the momentum to bullock his way over from close range and give Parramatta a 6-0 lead after only three minutes.

Broncos half Brodie Croft's kicking and organisational skills were on point early but it was his running game that ignited the Broncos. In the 17th minute the number seven threw a classic show and go from 45 metres out and put the afterburners on to race around Gutherson to score.

The Eels posed a constant threat with the football but the Broncos scrambled well until Mika Sivo put the ball down with one hand, with the rest of his body elevated over the touchline.

Parramatta had two tries disallowed in the first half – one to Gutherson for an obstruction and another to Sivo when a Gutherson pass was ruled forward.

Brisbane too had their chances with Anthony Milford and Darius Boyd both failing to snaffle grubber kicks over the line as the Eels took a 12-6 lead into the half-time break.

Broncos skipper Alex Glenn did not return in the second half after he suffered a nasty gash to his leg on the cusp of half-time and was taken to hospital for stitches.

The Broncos started the second half with several errors and the Eels made them pay with Gutherson running into a giant hole from a Junior Paulo pass.

The Eels were electric with their ball movement while Brisbane scrambled superbly to limit the damage on the scoreboard.

Veteran centre Michael Jennings made a telling blow as the Broncos tired with a weaving run from the left touchline to score under the sticks in the 62nd minute.

Gutherson found Lane running with typical venom close to the line to make it 28-6. Matterson iced the cake with a brilliant one-hander to Waqa Blake to round out a deserved and decisive 34-6.

The Broncos struggled to build any pressure and once again relied heavily on Payne Haas in the middle of the park.

The pace of the game was intense with one referee on-field and the new six-again rule in play as fatigue played its part late in both halves. In the second half the Eels were able to drive home their advantage.