PARRAMATTA EELS 30 ST GEORGE ILLAWARRA DRAGONS 20
TOM SMITH, CommBank Stadium, Sunday
PARRAMATTA survived injuries to Jordan Samrani and J’maine Hopgood and the sin-binning of Charlie Guymer to hold off St George Illawarra.
The Dragons led 14-6 deep into the first half before super sub Tallyn Da Silva scored the first of his two tries to shift the momentum.
The undermanned Eels clung to a slender lead until Josh Addo-Carr’s runaway try sealed the result seven minutes from time.
The loss leaves Shane Flanagan’s men still hunting their first success of the season.
An escort penalty handed Valentine Holmes the first points with the kicking tee, before the bunker awarded a penalty try to Eels stand-off Jonah Pezet courtesy of an illegal Jaydn Su’A tackle.
However, Saints second-rowers Luciano Leilua and Su’A steamed over to restore the visitors’ lead.
The dangerous hip-drop tackle which ended Hopgood’s afternoon early landed Ryan Couchman in the bin, and Da Silva completed a slick team move with Saints down to twelve.
The replacement dummy-half then sent Kitione Kautoga over to grab the lead before the break, and Da Silva’s second soon after the restart strengthened the Eels’ ascendency.
Guymer’s brain-fade professional foul let the Dragons back in it, when Moses Suli grounded a Kyle Flanagan grubber.
But Addo-Carr galloped 70 metres off a Saints error to settle the contest.
EELS: 1 Isaiah Iongi, 2 Bailey Simonsson, 3 Jordan Samrani, 4 Sean Russell, 5 Josh Addo-Carr, 6 Jonah Pezet, 7 Mitchell Moses, 10 Junior Paulo, 9 Ryley Smith, 13 Jack Williams, 11 Kelma Tuilagi, 12 Kitione Kautoga, 14 Dylan Walker. Subs: 8 J’maine Hopgood, 15 Sam Tuivaiti, 16 Matt Doorey, 17 Tallyn Da Silva, 19 Joash Papalii (not used), 20 Charlie Guymer
Tries: Pezet (11), Da Silva (35, 45), Kautoga (39), Addo-Carr (73); Goals: Moses 5/5; Sin bin: Guymer (56) – professional foul
DRAGONS: 1 Clint Gutherson, 2 Christian Tuipulotu, 3 Moses Suli, 4 Valentine Holmes, 5 Setu Tu, 6 Kyle Flanagan, 7 Daniel Atkinson, 8 Emre Guler, 9 Damien Cook, 10 Toby Couchman, 11 Luciano Leilua, 12 Jaydn Su’A, 16 Blake Lawrie. Subs: 13 Hamish Stewart, 14 Jacob Liddle, 15 Josh Kerr, 17 Ryan Couchman, 19 Mathew Feagai (not used), 20 Lyhkan King-Togia (not used)
Tries: Leilua (13), Su’A (24), Suli (57); Goals: Holmes 4/4; Sin bin: R Couchman (28) – dangerous tackle
SCORING SEQUENCE: 0-2, 6-2, 6-8, 6-14, 12-14, 18-14; 24-14, 24-20, 30-20
Rugby Leaguer & League Express Men of the Match
Eels: Mitch Moses; Dragons: Jaydn Su’A
Penalty count: 3-8; Half-time: 18-14; Referee: Ashley Klein; Attendance: 25,573