FLASHBACK TO THE GLORY DAYS FOR EELS AND JETS

Despite the failure of one Sydney side to make the top grade Grand Final, local supporters can still take heart in a traditional Grand Final clash in the Premier League decider. The minor premiers Parramatta do battle with the second placed Newtown side in a re-match of the 1981 Grand Final.

Newtown has played 2006 as the Premier League side of the Roosters, after severing ties with the Sharks in 2005.Both sides remember this match with fond memories, as it was the Eels first premiership, and the start of their golden era, while for the Jets it was their last Grand Final appearance and their final season that they were competitive. And while the famous names such as Sterling, Raudonikis and Kenny will not be there a new breed of legends may well be.

Josh Lewis and Jamie Soward will lead Newtown around the Park while for the Eels young Blake Green and Marcus Perenara will have the job. First grade experience is spread around both sides, as both teams have had to call on lower trades this year due to large injury tolls.

Parramatta will be aiming for their second consecutive Premier League title while Newtown will be out to exact revenge on their 1981 heart break.The Roosters and Parramatta have won the last 10 club championships, and fittingly they do battle in the Premier League decider. The Eels won in 97, 98, 99, 00, 01, 02, 03 and 05 while the Roosters were crowned club champions in 04 and 06 with Newton counting towards their total points.

So stay tuned for tight pants, flares and those huge sunglasses as the Gold of the Eels is brought against the Bluebags once more in 'September'.

Melbourne Storm 12 v Parramatta Eels 6
at Olympic Park Melbourne

Referee: Steve Clark
Crowd: 15,690

Match Summary:Melbourne has joined the Bulldogs in week three of the 2006 NRL finals series with a hard-fought 12-6 victory over the Parramatta Eels at Olympic Park today.In somewhat of an anti-climax, the Eels managed to keep themselves in the match for the full 80 minutes and the Eels very nearly took the match into golden point extra- time through a dangerous Ben Smith dash with just three minutes remaining.

But after a Tim Smith pass from the subsequent scrum win, the Eels turned possession over to the Storm and the win was confirmed.This match has been soured by a controversial decision from video referee Chris Ward. The replay appeared to be inconclusive as to whether the ball was grounded in the in-goal or not. This should usually result in a benefit of the doubt ruling as a number of replays were looked at. But strangely, it wasn't to be.

Earlier, Melbourne's Steve Turner crossed for a try after five minutes of play and at that stage, a massive score-line looked possible.But the Eels grinded their way back into the match and it wasn't until a 38th minute barge-over from Storm prop Antonio Kaufusi that more points were added. Melbourne took their 12 point advantage into half-time.

The Storm was unsuccessful in striking the final nails into the Eels' coffin in the second half. And midway through the second period Daniel Wagon scored under the posts to send a nervous shimmer over the Olympic Park crowd. But the Storm were lucky to hang on and will find life difficult in week three when they come to Sydney to meet either the Manly Sea Eagles or the St George Illawarra Dragons.

Melbourne has slight injury concerns with David Kidwell coming off second best in a head-clash, and Jake Webster feeling the effects of an Eric Grothe elbow, of which Grothe was placed on report for.

The men south of the Murray will now cool their heels over the next fortnight but Craig Bellamy has some issues to address on today's performance. They'll need to do their homework as the winner of Friday night's match between Manly and St George Illawarra will be running into form.

The mad Monday drinks will taste that little bit sweeter for the Eels after a spirited performance. If it weren't for some debatable decisions from today's officials, we may have witnessed history today with the eighth side beating the first side for the first time ever.

Scorers:Melbourne Storm: 12
Tries: Antonio Kaufusi, Steve Turner
Goals: Cameron Smith 2/2Parramatta

Eels: 6
Tries: Daniel Wagon
Goals: Luke Burt 1/1

By the Clock:The fourth qualifying takes place today between Minor Premiers the Melbourne Storm and the eighth-placed Parramatta Eels. The weather is clear in Melbourne today with slight winds. The Storm have to be favoured here but stranger things have happened.

Changes: A big loss for the Storm with Greg Inglis ruled out injured, Jake Webster comes in for him.Also, Brett White will be missing through injury. Garret Crossman comes into the starting side with Adam Blair coming onto the bench.The Eels are as-per-program.

KICKOFF! Finals footy underway at Olympic Park!

5 min: TRY Melbourne StormMelbourne have struck at the first opportunity - moving the ball quickly through the hands close to the Eels' line, culminating with a try in the corner to winger Steve Turner. Cameron Smith converts. Storm 6-010 min:

NEWS Parramatta managed to hold Melbourne on that occasion but it's all the Storm at the moment. The Eels have had no possession or field position in the opening 10 minutes.

16 min: NEWS NO TRY: Luke Burt was unable to ground the ball off a Tim Smith grubber kick as ruled by the video referee. Cameron Smith knocked the ball dead and a Storm line drop-out is the result. Eels with a chance here.

19 min: NEWS Parramatta bomb the chance as Tim Smith's kick goes too deep and over the touch in-goal line. Opportunity wasted by the Eels who simply cannot afford to make a habit of this.

26 min: NEWS Parramatta are holding down far too long in tackles and Nathan Hindmarsh has been spoken to by Steven Clarke as a result. The Eels must improve their discipline. 5-1 is the penalty count now in favour of the Storm.

33 min: NEWS Melbourne are looking clinical and dangerous in attack but they still only hold a 6-0 lead on the scoreboard. A great effort by the Eels to be this close to the Storm at this stage.

38 min: TRY Melbourne StormAntonio Kaufusi has barged over the line from close range, sending fear into the Parramatta defensive line in the process. A heartbreaking try for the Eels right on halftime after their spirited defensive efforts of the first half. Smith successful with the conversion.Storm 12-0

HALF TIME min: NEWS While it's not out of the realms of possibility that the Eels come back from here, their chances of doing so look highly unlikely. Melbourne are in control with a 12-0 lead and a very tight defensive structure at the moment. Anything other than a Melbourne victory would almost be a miracle. A long way back for the Eels.

Second half underway at Olympic Park

48 min: NEWS Parramatta have lifted their intensity but Melbourne have held sway again in defence. Still 12-0 the locals lead.

50 min: NEWS NO TRY: We can now establish that the benefit of the doubt rule is irrelevant in our game. A number of replays were looked at by the video referee who came to the conclusion that Glenn Morrison failed to ground the ball. Poor decision. Storm leading 12-0 with 30 minutes remaining.

59 min: TRY Parramatta EelsDaniel Wagon has completed an exciting passage of play for the Eels with a try under the sticks. They've done a tremendous job to remain in this game for as long as they have. Luke Burt converts and the Eels are within six points now. Storm 12-6

67 min: NEWS In the blinking of an eye this match is there for the Eels' taking but Melbourne's defence is still proving difficult to crack. An exciting finish nonetheless.

72 min: NEWS Melbourne off the hook as Parramatta bomb another opportunity with a kick that goes dead. The Storm have taken their foot off the pedal but they might just have too much for Parramatta in any case. Tight finish here.

FULL TIME: min: NEWS The Melbourne Storm have hung on to defeat the Parramatta Eels by 12 points to 6 this afternoon at Olympic Park.

Storm end Eels' campaign

Melbourne ended Parramatta's season and earned a week off after a thrilling 12-6 win in their NRL qualifying final at Olympic Park today.

It was a far from convincing performance from the minor premiers, who are looking to win their second NRL crown, but they did enough to hold off the brave Eels who battled until the final whistle.Parramatta had the chance to level the score with less than three minutes remaining as centre Brett Delaney made a break down the sideline and turned Storm fullback Billy Slater inside out.

But Slater showed his class to make a last-ditch tackle just metres from the tryline, which forced Delaney to throw a pass back infield, with no Parramatta players able to take the ball.A try a minute before half-time to hulking Melbourne prop Antonio Kaufusi set up the win, giving the home side a 12-point lead at the break which it probably didn't deserve.

Kaufusi charged on to a pass from dummy half Cameron Smith and bustled across the line, brushing off tackles by Parramatta's P.J. Marsh and Luke Burt.The first half was a fairly even affair, with Parramatta having the better attack but unable to penetrate the Storm's rock solid defence, which was the key to their win.Melbourne's other points came from winger Steve Turner, who crossed in the corner six minutes into the match off a well-worked set move, which caught young Eels winger Jarryd Hayne out of position.

Brushing off the Kaufusi try, the Eels were far from finished and continued to claw their way back into the match against an uncharacteristically lacklustre Storm outfit.They almost got on the scoreboard in the 51st minute when lock Glenn Morrison chose to ignore unmarked winger Eric Grothe and crashed over the line with Smith and winger Matt Geyer in tow.

However, he was left ruing that decision, after video referees Chris Ward and Phil Cooley ruled he had failed to ground the ball.Eight minutes later Parramatta posted their first points through second-rower Daniel Wagon after halves Tim Smith and John Morris combined to put him into a hole.With 20 minutes left on the clock and a six-minute margin, the match was still up for grabs but Parramatta were unable to find another try to tie up the match, with Delaney's break the best effort.

Storm halfback Cooper Cronk, who had an erratic match, attempted a drop goal with seven minutes remaining but the shot fell short and wide to the dismay of the crowd of 15,690.Melbourne were dealt a major blow before kick-off with gun centre Greg Inglis and first-choice prop Brett White ruled out.

Inglis, the club's leading try scorer, failed to recover from an Achille's tendon injury while White couldn't overcome a hamstring problem.

EELS SET TO TARGET SLATER AS WEAKNESS, INGLIS CLEARED TO PLAY

Parramatta is set to target Melbourne fullback Billy Slater heavily as they look to ways to become the first side from 8th position to win a semi-final since the controversial McIntyre Finals system was put into place in 1999.

Whilst Slater is a fine attacking player with speed to burn and an ability to turn a match in the blinking of an eye there are noticable chunks in his game. Slater has been suspended three times this season, he is perceived weak under the high ball and can be turned off his game easily.

Slater is a classic example of being a confidence player and the Eels will be trying to target any possible weakness in a Storm player as they have to overcome the odds and create some history.Former Eels legend Brett Kenny echoed the same thoughts and said,

"He can do some brilliant things but he's also vulnerable at times. I think a lot of it with him is confidence. If you let him get off to a good start and don't put pressure on him, I don't know whether you're going to see too many mistakes from him all game."

If you can put a bit of pressure on him early and force a few errors, all of a sudden he's not the same player."

Parramatta face an uphill task to upset the Storm who won the Minor Premiership by eight points. The Eels did remarkably well to qualify for the Finals but their form in the last two weeks suggests they have just about run out of petrol.The Eels have nothing to lose and everything to gain and will be looking to target any weak points that Melbourne have and will be attempting to exercise them to the hilt.

Meanwhile, Melbourne has received some good news on top of Cameron Smith winning the Dally M Player of the Year award with boom centre Greg Inglis being cleared to play.Inglis was sent for MRI scans after Achilles tendon pain forced him out of two training sessions and there were reports that Inglis would be forced out of the semi-final clash against Parramatta.

Storm coach Craig Bellamy said, "I would be hugely surprised if he doesn't play on Sunday. He had a bit of trouble with it last Saturday night and that's why I brought him off."He struggled to run on Monday and Tuesday so we thought we'd play it safe and get the scans to make sure there's nothing underlying there but he should be right to train."

Inglis missed two months earlier this year with back stress fractures, and Storm physiotherapist Mary Toomey again put the problem down to "growing pains" as he's added three centimetres in height and five kilograms of weight over the past year.Toomey said,

"We can reasonably attribute it to growing when there's physical stress on the body. It's now a matter of treatment and optimising his recovery after each match."

TELSTRA PREMIERSHIP WEEK #1 FINALS

Knights v Sea Eagles
Broncos v Dragons
Bulldogs v Raiders
Storm v Eels

Storm target Hill back to haunt Eels

Having rejected an offer to join them next season, Melbourne five-eighth Scott Hill can disappoint Parramatta one last time in Sunday's qualifying NRL final at Olympic Park.

The Eels made Hill their top recruiting target after losing pivot John Morris to Wests Tigers but they ended up with Sydney Roosters playmaker Brett Finch after the Storm co-captain opted for English club Harlequins.

Hill has been instrumental in guiding Melbourne to the minor premiership and has also been one of the main reasons his side has won five out of the past six clashes between the clubs.

"I spoke to them and had talks with overseas clubs, it was just the way it worked out," Hill said of the contract approach from the Eels.

"The thought of going overseas was a great opportunity for me and my young family.

"You rarely get the opportunity to go and travel through Europe and see that side of the world and get paid to do it.

"At this stage of my career it was good financially, so that's why I decided to finish my career over there."

Adding spice to the match are some colourful comments from the club bosses - Eels CEO Denis Fitzgerald has previously stated the Storm is destined for failure, while counterpart Brian Waldron put the heat on his players by saying he expected nothing less than a premiership this season.

Hill denied the media talk added extra pressure.

"We don't take much notice of that," he said.

"Brian is just excited about the finals series and being part of it.

"As players, we know our objectives and the process we need to go through to produce each week.

"We only worry about results."

The 29-year-old was also at pains to downplay his side's favouritism for the title and for the home finals match against the eight-placed Eels.

"We don't think we're favourites at all and we're just concentrating on Parramatta," he said.

"They've shown what a good side they are over the last 11 weeks, they're going to be very tough.

"We're obviously in a pretty good position but we are all on a level playing field from now on.
"It's all about producing over the next few weeks.

"It only takes one match and it throws you straight out the back."

Eels interchange weapon Dean Widders said all the pressure was on the Storm.

"We've flown under the radar a little bit," Widders said.

"The incentive is there for the side coming first to win and get that extra week off and be just one win from the grand final.

"That will be pressure for them to be on song but nobody expects us to win."

Melbourne coach warns against ball-gazing in Eels clash


MELBOURNE Storm coach Craig Bellamy was at pains to drill one particular point into his team at training yesterday: no player was to be caught ball-gazing when Parramatta half-back Tim Smith put up the inevitable cross-field kick during their qualifying final on Sunday.

They must get across to the flanks of Olympic Park and help wingers Matt Geyer and Steve Turner as much as possible. The statistics show the reason for the call for all on deck when the expected aerial bombardment comes.

The Storm wingers are giving up substantial weight and size to the Eels' in-form pair of Eric Grothe and Jarryd Hayne. Geyer, at 182 centimetres and 90 kilograms, will be matched up against the hulking Grothe (188 centimetres, 102 kilograms) and Turner (177 centimetres, 74 kilograms) will be at a greater disadvantage giving up 20 kilograms in his contest with this season's rookie sensation Hayne (188 centimetres, 94 kilograms).

The cross-field bomb is a standard Eels tactic and, with Smith at half-back, the kick can be made from anywhere.

Bellamy said he was well aware of the danger. "It's obviously a big play for them. They're big wingers but they are very athletic wingers. They've got good pace and they're very good in the air," he said. "There's obviously a couple of things we need to do well there to hopefully restrict their effectiveness and we'll be working on that."

But Turner is used to coming up against a substantial size differential each game. "He's been wonderful for us all year," Bellamy said. "He's not an overly big winger but he's very strong and he's very quick and he's very good under the high ball so we've got no doubt he'll do the job for us on the weekend."

Turner said it was about making a contest and relying on his teammates to clean up the spoiled ball.

"I don't see it as a danger," he said. "I just see it as something I've got to work on to get right for the weekend. Jarryd Hayne and Eric Grothe have been in great form … but I've just got to do my best and compete for the ball.

"I have to get my width right on the defensive line on the last tackle and making sure I've got my eyes on the ball. That's all he (Bellamy) expects out of us and it's up to the blokes on the inside to come across if we do still spill the ball."

The Storm named a 20-man squad for the match with Bellamy maintaining he had yet to decide on his line-up with Adam Blair, Jeremy Smith, Ben Cross and Michael Crocker competing for two forward positions on the bench. Greg Inglis did not train yesterday, with Jake Webster, squeezed out of the game-day team, taking his place in drills. Inglis continued his modified training program after returning from stress fractures in his back.

Parramatta bolstered its forward stocks for Sunday's must-win clash, dumping full-back Wade McKinnon and centre Luke O'Dwyer with captain Nathan Cayless (fractured eye socket) and fellow prop Michael Vella (ankle) to make injury comebacks.

The return of Cayless was of particular concern for Bellamy. "Nathan's has had a great year. He was probably the catalyst (when) they won nine on the trot. He's a wonderful leader for them, so they'll take a lot of confidence in having him back," he said.

Eels inspirational back-rower Nathan Hindmarsh said the team would draw strength from one of the club's darkest days as it prepares to upset Melbourne, which has lost just one game at Olympic Park this year. The Eels were in a similar position in 2001, winning 20 regular-season games only to drop the "unloseable" grand final to Newcastle.

Hindmarsh said the result underlined the unpredictable nature of finals football. "There's no guarantees," he said. "In 2001 we were flying high, got to the grand final and were hammered. It can happen."

■The Bulldogs received a blow ahead of their qualifying final against Canberra with lock Reni Maitua ruled out for up to two weeks with a knee injury. He is the third Bulldog to injure a knee in the past month.
■The Raiders added Jason Smith to the bench from their side that just held on to defeat Cronulla last week.
■Newcastle will go into attack in the qualifying semi-final against the Sea Eagles on Friday night, with Coach Michael Hagan revealing he would use an offence-minded scrum-based trio of Andrew Johns, Kurt Gidley and Jarrod Mullen.

CAYLESS AND VELLA RETURN FOR EELS

Parramatta have been given a massive boost for their do or die clash against Melbourne at Olympic Park on Sunday with Nathan Cayless and Michael Vella set to return to bolster the Eels prop depth.The return of Nathan Cayless is a massive shock after he was originally ruled out for the season with an eye socket injury. Cayless was given the all clear by club doctors after undergoing further scans on Sunday.The Eels have lost two since their nine game winning streak, with the losses almost solely to blame on the clubs ravaging injury toll up front

1. Luke Burt
2. Jarryd Hayne
3. Brett Delaney
4. Ben Smith
5. Eric Grothe
6. John Morris
7. Tim Smith
8. Nathan Cayless
9. Mark Riddell
10. Chad Robinson
11. Nathan Hindmarsh
12. Daniel Wagon
13. Glenn Morrison

Interchange:
14. Pj Marsh
15. Dean Widders
16. Josh Cordoba
17. Michael Vella

Eels' Hayne named rookie of the year

Parramatta winger Jarryd Hayne capped a remarkable debut season in the NRL by being named rookie of the year at the annual Dally M awards at Sydney Town Hall on Tuesday night.
Hayne scored an amazing 17 tries in 15 NRL games this season, the 18-year-old proving the trump card of Eels interim coach Jason Taylor.

Taylor introduced Hayne to the first grade after assuming the position from Brian Smith and the youngster immediately repaid the favour by becoming one of the most prolific tryscorers this season.

Hayne is the second successive Eels player to win the award after halfback Tim Smith won the accolade last year.

Hayne was grateful to Taylor after beating Brisbane pair Greg Eastwood and Darius Boyd, Cronulla's Luke Douglas and New Zealand Warriors' Grant Rovelli for the award.

"JT helped me heaps this year, I give the credit to him," said Hayne.

"That is why I am playing in the NRL, because of him."

With Wade McKinnon leaving Parramatta at season's end, Hayne said he would love to move into the custodian role next year.

"I want to be number one, if it comes next year it does," he said.

"I'm just happy to play in the NRL at the moment, that's all I want to do."

The award completes a remarkable turnaround of fortune and maturity by Hayne who earlier this year was fined $5000 by his club for allegedly biting a young woman at a Parramatta nightclub.

NORTH QUEENSLAND 22 (M Bowen 2 A Payne N Sweeney tries; J Hannay 3 goals)

PARRAMATTA 8 (J Hayne 2 tries)

Referee: S Hayne.
Crowd: 18,351 at Dairy Farmers Stadium.

Cowboys give trio dream farewell

NORTH Queensland farewelled a trio of club greats as winners and ensured Parramatta would enter the finals on a two-game losing streak with a 22-8 NRL victory at Dairy Farmers Stadium tonight.

Cowboys fullback Matt Bowen scored two tries, including the match-winner, to secure a dream farewell for stalwarts Travis Norton, Josh Hannay and Matt Sing.

The hard-fought win added much-needed gloss to the Cowboys' dismal season that included denials of a sex scandal, public player dissent over training techniques and prop Mitchell Sargent sacked for testing positive to cocaine.

North Queensland, last year's grand finalist, will miss the finals for the first time since 2003.
Parramatta, meanwhile, will enter this year's finals series on the back of successive losses to Brisbane and the Cowboys.

The Eels had ridden a nine-game winning streak to put themselves in the finals mix but have scored just two tries and eight points in the past 160 minutes of football after being held scoreless by the Broncos last weekend.

The seventh-placed Eels could fall to eighth, setting up a showdown with Storm in Melbourne, should Canberra beat the Sharks at Toyota Park.

Storm has lost just one match at home this season.

Two tries to rookie sensation Jarryd Hayne provided Parramatta with a narrow 8-6 half-time lead.

Hayne scored the opening try of the evening in the 15th minute before his second – and 17th in 15 games this season – allowed the Eels to reclaim the lead nine minutes before half-time.
The momentum swung North Queensland's way after half-time when winger Neil Sweeney found himself on the end of a spectacular one-handed off-load by Ashley Graham.

Graham, put through a gaping hole by returning halfback Johnathan Thurston, made a 50 metre break before defying the clutches of Hayne to flick the ball to Sweeney.

Bowen's second in the 52nd minute made it 18-8 before Aaron Payne scored a brilliant solo try five minutes from full-time. Bowen's match-turning performance saw his try-scoring tally move to five for the season.

Departing North Queensland trio Norton, Hannay and Sing received a standing ovation from the crowd of 18,351 after leading the Cowboys onto ground prior to kick-off and after full-time.
Norton is set for retirement after an 11-season career while Sing (Hull) and Hannay (Sharks) will link with other clubs next year.

It was Hannay's 150th game for the club.

Australia halfback candidate Thurston made a successful return from a knee injury during the rain-affected clash. Thurston, who dislocated his kneecap and strained his medial ligament in round 20, is battling Cooper Cronk, Matt Orford and Craig Gower in a four-horse race to replace Andrew Johns in the Kangaroos No.7 jersey.

Thurston, Luke O'Donnell, Matt Bowen and Carl Webb, who suffered a slight medial ligament strain tonight, are likely to be included in the initial Kangaroos train-on squad to be named on Monday.

RD 26 Preview Cowboys V Eels

Outside chance for the Eels to advance higher than seventh on the ladder, but Cowboys won’t be easybeats.

Form: The Cowboys ended a tumultuous week and a four-match losing streak by downing the Rabbitohs 34-12 at Telstra Stadium. Contrasting fortunes for the Eels, whose nine-match winning run was halted by the Broncos.

History: The Cowboys have won five of their past seven matches against the Eels, including a 26-18 victory at Parramatta Stadium back in round four. The Eels have bitter memories of their 29-0 defeat against the Cowboys in last year’s grand final qualifier.

Danger sign: A short preparation, symptoms of fatigue and a dearth of big men adds up to a massive danger sign for the Eels.

Eels' Vella finally gets his chance

Having watched on from the sidelines as Parramatta went from wooden spoon contenders to the NRL premiership high flyer, Eels prop Michael Vella finally gets his chance to join in on the fun.
Vella will make a welcome return for the front row-starved Eels against North Queensland in Townsville, Parramatta desperate to get its finals campaign back on track.

The Eels won nine straight matches before going down to Brisbane last week, Vella only managing an appearance in the first win of that streak against South Sydney in round 15 before a severe ankle sprain almost ruined his season.

"I thought I'd miss out on all this because (teammate) Nathan Hindmarsh has had a similar injury before and he missed about 14 or 15 weeks," Vella said.

"From when I did it 14 weeks would have been to the week of the grand final.

"The last time I played we beat Souths and the boys went on a good winning streak from there and I missed out.

"I was always confident we were a chance of making it into the top eight but I thought we might have sneaked into seventh or eighth.

"I didn't think we'd go as good as we did and win nine straight.

"It's good to finally be back part of it."

Another man happy to see Vella back on the paddock is coach Jason Taylor, who had to operate with just one specialist prop against the Broncos.

The 23-0 loss to Brisbane cost the Eels any chance of a home final but Vella said the side still held out some hope of moving up the ladder in the final round of the season.

"Who knows, we win this week and some of the results go our way we could end up in sixth which would be good," Vella said.

"It's not the end of the world if we don't, with the side we've got there's enough quality players there we can beat any side."

Vella's return coincides with that of playmaker Tim Smith, who was also expected to miss the rest of the season after fracturing his collarbone in the round 18 win over Newcastle.
His availability couldn't have come at a better time for Taylor who last week lost halfback Jeremy Smith to a broken hand.

The Cowboys received a major boost on the eve of the match with injured halfback Johnathan Thurston cleared to make a surprise return from a knee injury.

Thurston hasn't played since suffering a grade three medial ligament strain against Brisbane in round 20 with his earlier than expected return sure to aid his chances of retaining his Australian Test jumper for the end of season Tri-Nations tournament.

He is expected to start at halfback with Aaron Payne shifting to hooker to replace David Faiumu who has been omitted due to ongoing neck and shoulder complaints.

Emotions are sure to be running high at Dairy Farmers Stadium with prolific winger Matt Sing, skipper Travis Norton and centre Josh Hannay all playing their final games for the club.

The retiring Norton is captain despite being named on the bench after recovering from a shoulder complaint.

Eels lose to Broncos

The Parramatta Eels' dream winning streak has come to an end, crashing to a 23-0 defeat to the Brisbane Broncos at a packed Parramatta Stadium. Brisbane now looks set for a top-four finish and a home semi-final presuming they can defeat the Warriors next Sunday.

The defeat ended an incredible run of form from the Eels, who had rattled up nine straight wins to guarantee a place in the finals despite sitting in second-last place on the table after round 17.Brisbane meanwhile continued its recovery from a five-game losing streak, taking another prized scalp after last week's 30-0 thumping of the Bulldogs.

Nathan Hindmarsh was an inspiration in a losing side for the Eels, making 18 hit-ups and 53 tackles in a marathon performance.The Broncos drew first blood in front of the 23,000-strong crowd when Darren Lockyer sent a short ball to Justin Hodges, who sliced through Parramatta's line with an angled run to score beside the posts.Karmichael Hunt, starting on the wing for Brisbane with Hodges at fullback, looked to have run clear down the left flank for a second try only for play to be called back for a forward pass from Lockyer.

The Eels were put under plenty of pressure as the visitors dominated the contest for the next half hour, and Parramatta's defence finally cracked when Corey Parker found his way to the line from close range after a kick from Shane Perry forced a goal-line drop-out.Lockyer slotted a field goal in the final minutes of the half to give Brisbane a valuable 13-0 advantage at the break.The hosts had several attacking raids early in the second half but they were continually frustrated by poor finishing and some desperate defence from Brisbane.

The Eels continued to look the more likely to score as the game wore on but when Brad Thorn bustled over for the Broncos' third against the run of play with 15 minutes left the contest was effectively over.A late try from Steve Michaels added further insult to injury for the Eels, who had performed better than the scoreline suggested in their final home game of the regular season.

Broncos 23
Tries: Hodges, Parker, Thorn, MichaelsConversions: Lockyer 2, Parker Field goal: Lockyer

Eels 0