Raiders youngsters run riot as hapless Eels slip to 14th

RAIDERS 41 EELS 8

KEY POINTS

SLIPPERY SLOPE FOR THE EELS: More of the same for Parramatta, and in the worst way possible. The same errors and disjointed performance that cost them in a tense loss to the Tigers were gobbled up by the Raiders. And the difference was there for all to see on the scoreboard. Their defensive statistics blew out late as the weight of possession and an extra 109 tackles compared to Canberra took their toll.

But a lack of cohesion out wide, with Dylan Brown and Bailey Simonsson targeted on the Eels left edge, and the Raiders able to bust through too many tackles that hit and didn’t stick, will have Brad Arthur especially filthy – it’s the exact opposite of how he coaches his sides.

Reagan Campbell-Gillard will be waiting on Monday morning’s charge sheet as well after being cited twice in the dying minutes for separate high tackles.

The Eels have a difficult run ahead too as they slip down to 14th and the wrong end of a seven-team pile-up with 2-3 records. North Queensland (home), the Dolphins (in Darwin), Manly (away), a round nine bye, Broncos (home) and Melbourne (away) await.

HALVES AND HALF NOTS: Parramatta have much bigger issues than no Mitch Moses, though they are missing their star No.7 like nothing else. Dylan Brown was all effort, especially with a couple of valiant try-saving attempts, but his kicking game was no match for Canberra in Moses’ absence and couldn’t keep the Eels in it. A game-managing halfback he just isn’t and the problem for Parramatta is where on earth do they turn to find one?

On the other side of the ledger, there’s half a dozen NRL rivals who would kill to get their hands on what Canberra have in Jamal Fogarty. A steady, seasoned playmaker with a pinpoint kicking game and confidence in steering his side around the paddock. On his own, he’s not a premiership-winning No.7. But like Aidan Sezer in the previous Raiders generation, in the right team he’s got the ability to keep a premiership contender on track.

MATT’S ON THE MONEY: Canberra added another year to Matt Timoko’s deal late last week, keeping NRL rivals well away from the young Kiwi with an extension until the end of 2026. The deal has another two-year option to it as well and the club would love to lock it in right now after his impressive rise over the past 18 months. The Raiders outside backs all fired as they skinned the Eels on the flanks – Timoko, James Schiller and Xavier Savage all finished with more than 200 run metres each. Timoko’s combination with fellow youngster Schiller especially looked the goods.

Never better than when they traded passes for Timoko’s 42nd minute try – complete with spinning acrobatic putdown as Brown tried to fling him across the sideline. His try-assist for Hudson Young, beating several tired defenders right through the middle, wasn’t a bad follow up either.

WHAT THEY SAID

EELS COACH BRAD ARTHUR: ”I didn’t think [the loss] was effort-based or soft. It was around some big moments when we didn’t nail the fundamentals of the game… If you don’t have much ball, you’re not giving [our halves] much opportunity… I thought Dylan was very good again tonight, he kicked well, he ran well, he scrambled well. When you’ve got everyone across the board not owning their fundamentals it does put pressure on Dylan. But [bringing in uncapped halfback Ethan Sanders] is not going to help us.”

All over now, we’re just winding this one down. So why not do it with a second try if you’re Maika Sivo. Dylan Brown cut-out ball got him on the outside of James Schiller there and the big Fijian just barges over in the corner.

Clint Gutherson can’t convert from out wide. Apparently he’s missed every shot he’s taken from the left side of the field so far this year, but is hitting them ok from the right.

And just to round out a rough trip down the Hume highway, Reagan Campbell-Gillard is on report for a high tackle. Canberra take the resulting penalty and after a couple of dropped balls, Timoko crumbs one from close to the line and dives over for his second with a minute left.

Raiders 41 Eels 8

They’re queuing up now. The Raiders come down that right edge again and James Schiller is over. They’re having a field day attacking through he and Timoko, and Jordan Rapana chimed in with quick hands there to engineer their fifth try of the night.

Not for the first time this season, Parra’s left-edge defence is a target for the opposition. From the kick off, Timoko is shoving his way past Bailey Simonsson and Dylan Brown, finding a couple of tired forwards in the middle and then Hudson Young in support. It’s an old-fashioned carve up down in Canberra.

Raiders 33 Eels 4

Parramatta are on the board after 48 minutes. A rare penalty, the count is 6-2 to the Raiders as it stands, sends the Eels downfield and they’re able to pull the trigger on a left-side shift.

James Schiller was racing up from his wing chasing the intercept and could have easily reeled in Clint Gutherson’s long ball, but it had just enough mustard on it to get past him. Maika Sivo crosses untouched in the corner.

The revival is snuffed out immediately. Danny Levi – picks up Xavier Savage’s kick in-field from the right wing after the Raiders skinned them out wide once again. Levi was offside when Savage put boot to ball, but the young winger then ran him onside a few metres afterwards, so the try stands. Fogarty converts this one and now the Eels need more than three converted tries.

Raiders 23 Eels 4

We’re back after half time and Jordan Rapana is back on the paddock, but he does not look a healthy man. Joe Tapine’s now off getting an ankle worked on as well. In the meantime, Canberra might have scored the most spectacular try of the night, or any night you care to name. This is their third long-range effort of the game. James Schiller away down the left-hand touchline, finds Timoko in support and he cuts back away from Gutherson.

Timoko fends off Dylan Brown and gets himself over in the corner despite being spun around in a valiant attempt by the Eels half. That is some try, and an even better putdown. Fogarty can’t convert from the sideline but still, all Canberra.

Raiders 17 Eels 0

Some fun and games now before halftime, something for everyone in this. A Dylan Brown chip-and-chase has Corey Horsburgh seeing red – see what we did there? Brown collects him high, in the nicest way possible. Not much in the contact at all, but Horsburgh gets his cranky pants on, picks a stink with Brown and Gutherson and eventually gets a penalty.

The Raiders go down the other end, yet another goal line drop-out – Parramatta’s third – is forced by James Schiller with a fine kick back in-field as he races down the sideline. The Eels manage to win their second short drop-out in a row. It’s keeping them alive in this one.

And just before halftime Jamal Fogarty drills a one-point field goal from directly in front. Frankly, the Eels are doing well to trail by only 13 at the break. Raiders are all over them.

Raiders 13 Eels 0

Clint Gutherson saves a try – pinching a ball from Corey Horsburgh as he was ready to reach out for the line. Gutho strips the ball, legally given it was in the act of scoring with Eels defenders hanging off the Queensland prop, and Parramatta hang on again.

It matters for little though. The next time Canberra get the ball, an early spread sends Xavier Savage away down the left wing. He’s off and racing for 60 metres, steps Gutherson and beats him all ends up. Doesn’t need Ethan Strange in support, streaks away for Canberra’s second try and a double-figure lead.

Fogarty can’t convert 10 metres in from the sideline. Jordan Rapana also threatening to come back on with his knee heavily strapped.

Raiders 12 Eels 0

Past the 20-minute mark now and Parramatta’s using their captain’s challenge after J’maine Hopgood was penalised for stripping Josh Papalii of the ball.

Replays show it was a straight-up lost ball and the Eels needed that. Their errors are letting them down and Canberra were on the march then.

Instead it’s Parra going down the other end and Junior Paulo is a bee’s proverbial from scoring. It doesn’t take long in any case.

Another six-again call to the Eels and Dylan Brown is grubbering for the corner early in the tackle – Maika Sivo all over it and they’re on the board… until Gutherson is found to have knocked on with the last pass before Brown got ahold of that ball. Back to the drawing board.

Raiders 8 Eels 0

Parramatta force Canberra into touch from a high kick, great chase by Will Penisini and Sean Russell gives the Eels a crack at the Raiders line after 10 minutes… they last all of one tackle. Wiremu Greig spills the ball straight away.

And now Ethan Strange has split them up the middle, steps past a poor attempt at the tackle by Ryan Matterson. Brilliant scything run by the young five-eighth. Finds Hudson Young who almost bombs the try after running 40 metres, he didn’t think he’d make the final 10 with Parramatta in pursuit.

Simi Sasagi ends up with it and gets a wobbly old pass away for Seb Kris to open the scoring. That was rather fun.

Raiders 8 Eels 0