PARRAMATTA EELS 32 NORTH QUEENSLAND COWBOYS 30
CALLUM WALKER, CommBank Stadium, Saturday

PARRAMATTA clung on in dramatic fashion to inflict a costly defeat on finals-hunting North Queensland.

The Cowboys are hanging on to eighth place and they will have been backed by all and sundry to pick up two points here, as well.

However, the Eels had other ideas as they outscored their opponents by six tries to five, even though the visitors broke the deadlock.

Reed Mahoney was the man that got things up and running on 11 minutes before Apa Twidle responded for the hosts.

Ronald Volkman and Tallyn Da Silva scored within three minutes of each other to send the Eels into a 14-6 lead as Heilum Luki was sinbinned for a dangerous tackle, but Braidon Burns responded on the half-hour as the Cowboys closed the gap to two points by the break.

Josh Addo-Carr broke his try-scoring duck immediately following the resumption, but efforts from Jaxon Purdue and Reuben Cotter gave the visitors a 24-18 advantage.

Da Silva’s second levelled proceedings before Tom Chester restored North Queensland’s six-point advantage on the hour.

But, the Eels weren’t about to lay down and die with Jordan Samrani again levelling the scores at 30-30 with 17 minutes remaining.

Mitchell Moses, though wayward with most of his kicking, eventually ensured Parramatta’s victory with a late penalty goal.

EELS: 1 Apa Twidle, 2 Brian Kelly, 3 Will Penisini, 4 Jordan Samrani, 5 Josh Addo-Carr, 6 Ronald Volkman, 7 Mitchell Moses, 8 Luca Moretti, 9 Tallyn Da Silva, 10 Junior Paulo, 11 Jack Williams, 12 Kitione Kautoga, 15 Saxon Pryke. Subs: 14 Dylan Walker,16 Teancum Brown, 17 Jezaiah Funa (not used), 18 Toni Mataele (not used), 19 Sean Russell, 21 Harrison Edwards

Tries: Twidle (14), Volkman (19), Da Silva (22, 55), Addo-Carr (43), Samrani (63); Goals: Moses 4/7

COWBOYS: 1 Scott Drinkwater, 2 Braidon Burns, 3 Zac Laybutt, 4 Tom Chester, 5 Murray Taulagi, 6 Jake Clifford, 7 Jaxon Purdue, 8 Griffin Neame, 9 Reed Mahoney, 10 Jason Taumalolo, 11 Heilum Luki, 12 Kai O’Donnell, 13 Reuben Cotter. Subs: 14 Soni Luke, 15 Thomas Mikaele, 16 John Bateman, 17 Coen Hess, 18 Sam McIntyre (not used), 19 Ethan King (not used)

Tries: Mahoney (11), Burns (30), Purdue (49), Cotter (52), Chester (58); Goals: Drinkwater 5/5; Sin bin: Luki (21) – dangerous tackle

SCORING SEQUENCE: 0-6, 6-6, 10-6, 14-6, 14-12; 18-12, 18-18, 18-24, 24-24, 24-30, 30-30, 32-30

Rugby Leaguer & League Express Men of the Match
Eels: Mitchell Moses; Cowboys: Reuben Cotter

Penalty count: 7-3; Half-time: 14-12; Referee: Todd Smith