Eels Fightback to Down Broncos

Parramatta make it 2 from 2 against Brisbane at Suncorp in the Ryles era.

“When you play for Parramatta, you fight.”

That was the message Jason Ryles delivered following his side’s gripping 40-32 win over the Brisbane Broncos on Thursday night.

After being unable to cross the line for 76 minutes against Melbourne the week previous, the floodgates opened for the Blue and Gold as they staged a comeback from 20-6 down in the first half.

Ryles was noticeably hesitant to heap too much praise on his charges given their defence has done little more than look like wet toilet paper in the opening two rounds. However, a win is a win, and in the cutthroat land of the NRL, that’s the most important thing.

Defensive frailties

When Brisbane shot out to an early 20-6 lead, the alarm bells were well and truly ringing for Eels fans. How could they not after they conceded 50 points a week earlier?

The Broncos had all the ball and all the running.

Perhaps most concerning was the way in which Reece Walsh and Payne Haas scored. Both waltzed through massive gaps in the defensive line, opened up by little more than a couple of quick passes.

This time though, the Eels were able to fashion a tourniquet and stem the bleeding, allowing themselves to fight their way back into the match.

Pezet and Iongi flick the switch

Much has been made of Parramatta’s decision to recruit Jonah Pezet for a single season before he continues his move north to Brisbane.

The appeal though was having a half available to partner Moses immediately, rather than try and slot Joash Papalii into the role given he was a fullback in lower grades, or risk burning out junior Lorenzo Talataina.

After a very rough start in Blue and Gold last week, Pezet showed why the Eels were happy to get their hands on him for a season and why Brisbane see him as the heir apparent to Adam Reynolds.

4 try assists and a try capped off a stellar night for the five-eighth, even if 2 of the try assists were from the lucky bounce of the ball. Still, you miss 100% of the shots you don’t take. - Wayne Gretzky. - Michael Scott.

More encouraging though was the steady relationship he seems to be building with right edge back rower Kelma Tuilagi. While the two definitely need some work in defence, Pezet’s ball-playing tipped Tuilagi into gaps in the Brisbane line on two occasions, resulting in a double for the at-times-maligned back rower.

Just on Tuilagi, he should banish the head gear forever.

Meanwhile fullback Isaiah Iongi had another strong night at the back as he forges his NRL career. While I’ll never downplay the contributions Clint Gutherson made in his more than 200 games for the club, Iongi has shone since stepping into the fullback jersey.

174 run metres, two line breaks, two tries read his stat line for the night.

Always energetic and always threatening, his passing game has now forced defences into two minds when he pops up on the edge. He’s developed a cut-out ball to the winger that forces defences to stay wide, while his speed and physicality mean if he gets to the outside shoulder of his defender, he can barrel through the contact.

Long may Iongi-season continue.

Bench brings the boom

It wasn’t quite the charge of the Winged Hussars at the Battle of Vienna, but Parramatta’s bench helped turn the match when it seemed like the Broncos were running downhill.

After missing out last week due, Sam Tuivaiti was called upon early and the Eels junior delivered, grinding out 12 runs for 128 metres and 52 post contact metres. His metre-eating total was second only to Tuilagi in the forward pack.

Dylan Walker too deserved plaudits as his scheming and fast legs through the middle enabled Parramatta to hit the edges and make easy metres.

Matt Doorey may never become a breakout NRL star, but his all-energy running and leg speed is what Jason Ryles wants from his bench while Tallyn Da Silva had probably his best game for the Eels.

Limited to 18 minutes, such was the impact of Ryley Smith, Da Silva came on for the final quarter and there was hardly the breakdown in attack that afflicted the Eels late last year.

Fast service to his halves, combined with 4 runs for 39 metres meant TDS kept the Broncos defence off balance and he very nearly plunged over for the match sealing try. More of that, please Tallyn.

Plenty to work on

Throughout his press conference, Jason Ryles continued to mention the Eels have plenty to work on.

Having conceded 84 points in two matches is far from ideal and will need immediate rectification. As the coach pointed out, early six agains against the Eels put them under early pressure that they couldn’t contain, but once possession evened out, the running was with the Eels.

I have seen some commentary surrounding the middle rotation, particularly those in starting jerseys. It has centred on Junior Paulo and Jack De Belin. As the 2 oldest forwards in the pack it makes sense that any early drop in intensity is ascribed to them.

Paulo did ruck out 12 carries for 102 run metres and 31 post contact, which was very similar to front row partner Jack Williams who managed 9 carries for 102 metres and 39 post contact.

Jack De Belin meanwhile, was recruited to add some defensive metal to the middle. His tackle efficiency of 95.24% was the best across the entire Eels squad.

So perhaps it could be the age of those respective middles regarding the slow start. Or perhaps it could be allowing the opposition 80% of the ball in the early stages.

Next week is Parramatta’s first home game of the year, playing traditional rivals (yes, I know they’re a merged club, but if my Pa called them St George until the day he died then I’m considering them a traditional rival) the Dragons on Sunday afternoon.

The last time these sides squared off at Parramatta Stadium (Western Sydney Stadium is such a government name. Parramatta is Parramatta.) the sides battled it out to golden point before he-who-shall-not-be-named slotted the match-winning field goal.

Until then. Parra Proud.