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Post by Electric Eel on May 24, 2020 17:09:22 GMT 10
2009 Qualifying Final: Parramatta 25 d St George Illawarra 12
ABC
Eels shock Dragons in finals boilover
Raman Goraya Updated Mon 14 Sep 2009, 8:54 AM AEST
Parramatta turned the NRL finals series on its head with an emphatic 25-12 upset win over minor premiers St George Illawarra at Kogarah Oval on Sunday afternoon.
Just like the Warriors did to the Storm last year, the eighth-placed Eels did the unlikely by toppling the highly-fancied Dragons after being battered 37-0 by the same opposition at the same venue just nine days ago.
The victory means defending premier Manly is eliminated from the finals series, with the Bulldogs and Melbourne Storm enjoying the week off.
Parramatta will take on the Titans at the Sydney Football Stadium on Friday night, while Wayne Bennett's shell-shocked Dragons will travel to Lang Park for a tantalising showdown against the Broncos on Saturday evening.
The determined Eels soaked up the early pressure and took a 12-8 lead at half-time thanks to two tries in five minutes from winger Luke Burt and young five-eighth Daniel Mortimer.
After the restart, some inspirational defence and a length of the field intercept try by Eric Grothe gave Parramatta a 10-point buffer with 18 minutes to go.
The Dragons hit back when Josh Morris, crossing for his 23rd try in 23 matches this season, scored inside the final 10 minutes to get his side within a converted try.
But a 42-metre drop goal by Burt and a sensational solo try by Dally M medallist Jarryd Hayne slammed the door shut and delivered Parramatta a stunning triumph.
Despite outscoring their old rivals by four tries to two, the Eels' win was built on tremendous defensive pressure as the visitors repelled numerous attacking raids from the frazzled Dragons' attack.
The Eels were reputably miserly in their late season tilt towards the finals and centre Joel Reddy said the side just needed to harness that confidence after last week's beating.
"We went into the game knowing it's a total different game, finals," he told ABC Grandstand.
"We came out today and we brushed off last week and really got stuck into a new game plan.
"We just dismissed last week and we felt like we were still coming off seven wins in a row."
Turning point
A Nathan Fien 40/20 and a mistake by Reddy deep in defence looked to provide the Dragons with a golden chance at taking the lead in the second half.
But Jamie Soward's cut-out pass was plucked by Grothe off his wing in what was ultimately a 12-point play by the massive winger.
The home side did find some success through Morris not long after but it proved too little, too late thanks to Burt's one-pointer and a dazzling run by the irrepressible Hayne, who beat a host of defenders on his way to yet another memorable try to add to his lengthy highlights reel this season.
Hayne enjoyed another commanding display befitting of his Dally M honour midweek, breaking into the backfield for a surging 70 metre run which led to Mortimer's try on the short side.
Mortimer was the provider for Parramatta's first, leaping high for a Hayne bomb over Wendell Sailor and dumping the ball back for a waiting Burt to score under the posts.
Dan Hunt kept the Dragons in the contest in the shadows of the half-time break, looming up alongside Soward after the cunning number six bust through the Eels' line.
Eels: 25 (L Burt, D Mortimer, E Grothe, J Hayne tries; Burt 4/4 conversions; Burt field goal)
Dragons: 12 (D Hunt, J Morris tries; J Soward 1/2 conversions; 1/1 penalty)
ABC
Eels shock Dragons in finals boilover
Raman Goraya Updated Mon 14 Sep 2009, 8:54 AM AEST
Parramatta turned the NRL finals series on its head with an emphatic 25-12 upset win over minor premiers St George Illawarra at Kogarah Oval on Sunday afternoon.
Just like the Warriors did to the Storm last year, the eighth-placed Eels did the unlikely by toppling the highly-fancied Dragons after being battered 37-0 by the same opposition at the same venue just nine days ago.
The victory means defending premier Manly is eliminated from the finals series, with the Bulldogs and Melbourne Storm enjoying the week off.
Parramatta will take on the Titans at the Sydney Football Stadium on Friday night, while Wayne Bennett's shell-shocked Dragons will travel to Lang Park for a tantalising showdown against the Broncos on Saturday evening.
The determined Eels soaked up the early pressure and took a 12-8 lead at half-time thanks to two tries in five minutes from winger Luke Burt and young five-eighth Daniel Mortimer.
After the restart, some inspirational defence and a length of the field intercept try by Eric Grothe gave Parramatta a 10-point buffer with 18 minutes to go.
The Dragons hit back when Josh Morris, crossing for his 23rd try in 23 matches this season, scored inside the final 10 minutes to get his side within a converted try.
But a 42-metre drop goal by Burt and a sensational solo try by Dally M medallist Jarryd Hayne slammed the door shut and delivered Parramatta a stunning triumph.
Despite outscoring their old rivals by four tries to two, the Eels' win was built on tremendous defensive pressure as the visitors repelled numerous attacking raids from the frazzled Dragons' attack.
The Eels were reputably miserly in their late season tilt towards the finals and centre Joel Reddy said the side just needed to harness that confidence after last week's beating.
"We went into the game knowing it's a total different game, finals," he told ABC Grandstand.
"We came out today and we brushed off last week and really got stuck into a new game plan.
"We just dismissed last week and we felt like we were still coming off seven wins in a row."
Turning point
A Nathan Fien 40/20 and a mistake by Reddy deep in defence looked to provide the Dragons with a golden chance at taking the lead in the second half.
But Jamie Soward's cut-out pass was plucked by Grothe off his wing in what was ultimately a 12-point play by the massive winger.
The home side did find some success through Morris not long after but it proved too little, too late thanks to Burt's one-pointer and a dazzling run by the irrepressible Hayne, who beat a host of defenders on his way to yet another memorable try to add to his lengthy highlights reel this season.
Hayne enjoyed another commanding display befitting of his Dally M honour midweek, breaking into the backfield for a surging 70 metre run which led to Mortimer's try on the short side.
Mortimer was the provider for Parramatta's first, leaping high for a Hayne bomb over Wendell Sailor and dumping the ball back for a waiting Burt to score under the posts.
Dan Hunt kept the Dragons in the contest in the shadows of the half-time break, looming up alongside Soward after the cunning number six bust through the Eels' line.
Eels: 25 (L Burt, D Mortimer, E Grothe, J Hayne tries; Burt 4/4 conversions; Burt field goal)
Dragons: 12 (D Hunt, J Morris tries; J Soward 1/2 conversions; 1/1 penalty)
