WITH their 1986 premiership team in the stands – and having attended their captain’s run – Parramatta pulled off one of the upsets of the young NRL season.
Humiliated 52-10 at home to Gold Coast last week, Jason Ryles’ side took on competition heavyweights Canterbury with seemingly little hope of anything more than an honourable defeat.
Not only did they win but they did so comfortably. Canterbury posted a couple of late tries but the Eels ran out 38-20 victors.
The Eels led 18-4 at halftime.
Teams:
PARRAMATTA: Joash Papalii; Brian Kelly, Will Penisini, Araz Nanva, Josh Addo-Carr; Ronald Volkman, Mitchell Moses (c); Luka Moreti, Riley Smith, Junior Paulo, Charlie Guymer, Jack Williams, Jack de Belin. Res: Dylan Walker, Tallyn Da Silva, Saxon Pyke, Toni Mataele.
CANTERBURY: Connor Tracey; Jacob Kiraz, Bronson Xerri Josh Curran, Marcelo Montoya; Matt Burton, Lachlan Galvin; Sam Hughes, Bailey Hayward, Leo Thompson, Viliame Kikau, Jacob Preston, Jaeman Salmon. Res: Kurt Mann, Sitili Tupouniua, Harry Hayes, Jonathan Sua.
Referee: Liam Kennedy.
