Rocked to their Eels: Cordoba left to prop up Parramatta


THE cupboard's not bare, insisted Parramatta coach Jason Taylor yesterday upon confirmation that the Eels' inspirational captain and prop forward Nathan Cayless is gone for the season.

"He's not our last one," Taylor said. "We've got Josh Cordoba, who's been playing off the bench, so we've still got one left."

Cayless left the field against the Roosters last Sunday after 15 minutes with a badly broken nose. The injury failed to heal as expected and he was sent for further tests. A scan revealed a fracture of the orbit, the bone cavity which holds the eye.

Once the swelling subsides, a decision will be made on whether Cayless needs surgery - but the Eels expect their captain's season is finished. If so, he will join Michael Vella, Aaron Cannings, Adam Peek, Justin Tsoulos, Paul Stringer (all injured) and Fuifui Moimoi (suspended) on the list of Eels props missing from action.

"With an injury to your eye, you are not going to take any risks in terms of rushing your return. We are preparing as if he won't be back on the field this year," Taylor said.

Cordoba, named to make his run-on debut in the No.8 jumper, will find himself locked in mortal combat this Sunday with the twin battering rams of the Brisbane machine - Shane Webcke and Petero Civoniceva.

Cordoba's NRL record to date stretches to a total of 287 minutes of game time, accrued during his 11 bench starts this year, according to NRL statistics. Webcke, who made his first-grade debut in 1995, boasts 248 top-level appearances; Civoniceva 186.

The Brisbane behemoths also both tip the scales at more than 110 kilos, a hefty weight advantage over Cordoba (103kg) and his makeshift front-row partner, Chad Robinson (98kg).
Taylor said reining in the Broncos props had always posed many challenges.

"They're great players and they were going to be hard to handle regardless of whether Nathan was in the team or not. He doesn't play 80 minutes for us so we've just got to get Josh Cordoba and a couple of others to fill in and do the job he was doing for us in the time he was out there," he said.

The "others" include the obvious - second-rower Nathan Hindmarsh - and the unusual - Daniel Wagon, who turned out as five-eighth for Queensland just five years ago.

"It's just a bit of a shuffle, but we've got good players; we're confident in their ability and what number they wear on their back or where they pack down in the scrum really doesn't have much significance as far as I'm concerned," Taylor argued.

The coach, having had enough problems on his plate, realised during a press conference that he hadn't yet thought about who should lead the side in Cayless's absence. An answer - Hindmarsh - took about two seconds.

"One of the great things we've got at this club at the moment is a number of very experienced players - Nathan Hindmarsh, Daniel Wagon, Chad Robinson, Glenn Morrison, Mark Riddell - there's a lot of experience there, so it's not as though we're going to lose an enormous amount in that area," Taylor said.

Rather than experience, he added, it was form the Eels would miss with Cayless's absence.

"He's been playing so well for us that's going to be the most difficult part. It's one thing losing a player on paper who's done what he's done in the past but his form of late has been really good," he said.

"[But] Josh Cordoba will start at prop on the weekend and it's a great opportunity for him. That's the thing about this: somebody's misfortune is somebody else's fortune. Josh gets the opportunity now to be the starting front-rower in the Parramatta Eels first-grade team and, for him, that's an enormous highlight.

"We'll be focusing on that side of it and I'm really confident he'll do a good job for us."

Eels Teamsheet: Cayless named in side

Parramatta has named captain Nathan Cayless to the side to take on the Brisbane Broncos this Sunday but have added Brett Delaney to an extended interchange bench. It remains to be seen if Taylor would use Delaney on the bench, if Cayless pulls out as this would leave Parramatta with no front rower on the interchange, assuming that Josh Cordoba is promoted.

1 – Luke BURT
2 – Jarryd HAYNE
3 – Luke O’DWYER
4 – Ben SMITH
5 – Eric GROTHE
6 – John MORRIS
7 – Jeremy SMITH
8 – Nathan CAYLESS ©
9 – Mark RIDDELL
10 – Chad ROBINSON
11 – Nathan HINDMARSH
12 – Daniel WAGON
13 – Glenn MORRISON

14 – PJ MARSH
15 - Dean WIDDERS
16 – Wade McKINNON
17 – Josh CORDOBA
18 – Brett DELANEY

Eels cleared of misconduct

NO action will be taken against the four Parramatta players after the NRL club today officially cleared them of misconduct during an alleged incident last week.

Parramatta boss Denis Fitzgerald and Eels management completed their full investigation into last Thursday's alleged incident at Sydney's Intersection Hotel in Ramsgate involving Tim Smith, Eric Grothe, Daniel Wagon and Ben Smith.

Tim Smith was alleged to have been drinking at the establishment, breaking a self-imposed alcohol ban he had made earlier in the year after a series of off-field problems.

While Grothe was alleged to have been ejected for being too intoxicated.

But Eels investigations found that Smith had not been drinking and Grothe was not directly asked to leave the premises, but a member of the public drinking with the players was refused service.

Fitzgerald cleared all four players of any wrongdoing, but warned his players to be mindful of their off-field behaviour – particularly when in licensed premises.

"I warned the players about being very careful when they entered licensed premises as it appears with their profile any member of the public can make accusations and some media outlets will run those allegations without checking the veracity of them," Fitzgerald said in a statement.

The licensee of the Intersection Hotel told the Eels the players are welcome at the premises at any time.

Hunt to return on wing against Eels

Brisbane have named Justin Hodges at full-back ahead of Karmichael Hunt for Sunday's round 25 NRL clash with the Eels at Parramatta Stadium.

Hunt is making his first appearance since round 18 after being sidelined with a foot injury and he has been selected on the wing as a result of Hodges' sound performances in the number one jersey in the Broncos' past two matches.

The inclusion of Hunt is at the expense of Darius Boyd, who has been named as 18th man. Hodges said he felt for Hunt having to return in an unfamiliar position.

"I'm pretty happy but at the same time it's probably a little bit disappointing for Karmichael, but he hasn't played in about 10 weeks, and I think it's something to just get him back and just get him a couple of games under his belt," he said.

With two rounds remaining before the finals, the winner of Sunday's match will be well positioned to claim a top-four place at the conclusion of the minor premiership.

Both sides are on 28 points with the Eels in fourth place and the Broncos holding down fifth position due to an inferior for-and-against difference. Newcastle, St George Illawarra and Canberra are also on 28 points.

Meanwhile, competition leaders Melbourne have named Billy Slater at full-back for Saturday's encounter with the Raiders at Canberra Stadium.

Slater is returning from a two-match suspension and his inclusion sees Greg Inglis move to the centres with Jake Webster to start from the interchange bench.

Eels big gun Vella in with a finals shot

PARRAMATTA'S former international prop Michael Vella has set week two of the finals as his target date for a comeback in a huge boost to the club's chances of winning the premiership.
The Eels have won nine games in a row despite being enormously weakened in the front row because of injury and suspension, but the pressure of having to try to win without class forwards such as Vella increases every week.

If they can survive to week two of the finals they will probably regain Vella from a lower leg injury and if they can last another week beyond that they will get powerhouse Fuifui Moimoi back from suspension.

During a visit with other Parramatta players to Westmead Children's Hospital yesterday, Vella said the season he thought was probably over was now very much alive again.

"I'd like to think I could get back for the first week of the finals," he said. "But it's more realistic to aim at the second week and I'm very optimistic about my chances of playing then.

"I tore the ligaments down near my ankle playing against Souths in round 15 and the doctor said it was a 12- to 14-week injury. But I've already cut a week off that because the screw he put in was supposed to stay there for six weeks and I improved quickly enough to convince him to take it out after five.

"I've been back running for 11 days now and I'm on the bike and doing boxing and swimming. I generally recover pretty quickly from injuries and my physical condition is pretty good.

"There's nothing like match fitness, but I was in good shape before I got hurt and I've held on to that pretty well. The guys are playing great football and I'm desperate to get back in time and try to play some role."

Vella isn't the only injured Parramatta star busting a gut to get back in time to share in the team's amazing revival this season. Halfback Tim Smith, recovering from a broken collarbone, will visit his specialist again next week in the hope that he will be told he isn't far away from a comeback.

"I'd like to get back for the last round, but I couldn't tell you for sure when I'll play again," Smith said. "I saw the doctor last week and he said there was still a bit of a crack in there, but that will heal pretty quick.

"I just want to play footy. I'm desperate to be a part of what the team is doing."

But when Smith does become available, Parramatta stand-in coach Jason Taylor will have to decide whether to slot him straight back in at No.7 or continue with the in-form and match-hardened Jeremy Smith at halfback.

Jeremy Smith said he would leave that up to the coach and just concentrate on trying to maintain his form.

"The decision isn't up to me," he said. "But if I play well and the team is winning, it gives me a better shot at staying in the side."

Parramatta chairman Alan Overton presented a cheque for $40,000 from the leagues club to the hospital. The money will be used to train a specialist in the oncology unit.

Eels make it nine in a row

Parramatta may pay a heavy price for their 40-26 NRL victory over Sydney Roosters after captain Nathan Cayless was rushed to hospital with an eye socket injury. Cayless suffered a concussion and a suspected broken nose in a costly collision early in the clash, but it's the eye injury which is of the greatest concern to the resurgent club.

The Eels already have four props in the casualty ward, with Aaron Cannings (shoulder), Adam Peek (jaw), Michael Vella (ankle) and Justin Tsoulos (shoulder) all injured, while enforcer Fuifui Moimoi is suspended till week three of the finals.

The drama overshadowed the ninth consecutive victory for the Eels, who can go a long way towards clinching a home semi-final with another win in next Sunday's blockbuster against Brisbane.

In a game where defence took a back seat to attack, the Eels posted a seven tries to five victory as opposing centres Ryan Cross and Luke O'Dwyer bagged two tries apiece. The opening 40 minutes was more akin to a touch football match than an NRL fixture, with the scoreboard ticking over at a point a minute after eight first-half tries.

The Eels went into the sheds ahead 26-14 at the main break after a frenetic opening to the game, showcasing the full array of skills from both three-quarter lines. Roosters winger Amos Roberts showed brilliant balance and awareness to touch down for the opening try, just moments before taking out the left-hand corner post.

Opposing winger Eric Grothe squared the ledger after a sweeping Eels backline movement, before teammate Jarryd Hayne crossed for his 15th try in just the 13th game of his career. When a Josh Lewis grubber caught Grothe out of position and resulted in a Ryan Cross try in the 15th minute, Eels coach Jason Taylor was so incensed he hooked the representative star to the sideline.

Both teams continued to trade tries - Dean Widders and Ben Smith were next to cross for the Eels, while Cross replied moments later. However, the telling blows were delivered by Gold Coast-bound O'Dwyer, who scored either side of the break to hand control to the visitors.

It was more of the same in the second half, as a crowd of 15,142 were treated to more attacking football, although the Roosters never really threatened.

In further bad news for the tri-colours, prop David Shillington was placed on report for a swinging left arm on Glenn Morrison, while lock Ashley Harrison was medicabbed off the field late in the game.

Eeels 40 - Roosters 26

The Eels have posted another impressive victory extending their winnng streak to 9.

Eels ahead at break

Parramatta led the Roosters 26-14 at half-time in their round 24 NRL clash at the Sydney Football Stadium this afternoon.

The Eels scored five tries through Eric Grothe, Jarryd Hayne, Dean Widders, Ben Smith and Luke O'Dwyer while Luke Burt added three conversions. Ryan Cross (2) and Amos Roberts managed tries for the Roosters with Craig Fitzgibbon kicking one conversion.

It was the Roosters who opened the scoring in the fifth minute when Roberts scored during a set of six that had resulted from a penalty given to the home side within 10 metres of Parramatta's tryline.

With the ball spun towards the left touch line, Josh Lewis launched a flat cut-out pass to Cross, who brilliantly swivelled in a tackle to offload to an unmarked Roberts. The former Dragons and Panthers flank then squeezed just inside the corner post to touch down, and with approval from the video referee the Roosters had a 4-0 lead.

The Eels equalised from their first genuine entry into Roosters territory via Grothe, who crossed courtesy of some excellent lead-up work by O'Dwyer.

O'Dwyer angled a run towards the right touch line and in doing so drew the Eels defence, before releasing a flick pass that sent Grothe on an inside route to the tryline.

The conversion attempt was missed but the Eels assumed the lead when they too were rewarded for taking a tap from a penalty deep inside the opposition half. From the ensuring set of six John Morris threw a well-placed double cut-out that found Hayne on the chest, allowing the prolific try scorer to cross with relative ease after being left unmarked on the left wing.

This time Burt was successful with the conversion attempt to put the Eels out to a 10-4 lead but, as had proven to be the nature of the first half at this stage, the Roosters replied through Cross.

From their own 40-metre line, Lewis took the ball to the defensive line before placing a grubber in behind that was collected by Roberts. Roberts then offloaded to Cross, who beat the Eels cover defence, and with Fitzgibbon's conversion the scores were level.

However, Parramatta struck when Widders used a neat right-foot step to score his side's third try under the posts and they posted another four-pointer via Smith, who met a grubber in the in-goal area, after the bounce was misread by Roosters winger Sam Perrett.

Burt converted both tries to open up a 12-point lead, but Smith's try was virtually copied by the Roosters soon after when Jamie Soward placed a grubber into the in-goal area that was chased through by Cross for his second try.

Parramatta, though, found a response with O'Dwyer scoring in the right-hand corner in the final minute of the first half after accepting a pass from Hayne, who had brilliantly marked a Wade McKinnon cross-field bomb.

An NRL star living on the breadline


HE COULD earn more delivering pizzas. Parramatta halfback Jeremy Smith - the man sparking the Eels' charge into the NRL finals - is being paid a paltry $37,500 a year.

The 26-year-old former journeyman has made stunning progress under coach Jason Taylor after failed attempts to nail down a career at the Roosters, Dragons and Sharks. Now, only 18 months after he was set to pull the pin on rugby league and work full-time with a freight company at Sydney Airport, Smith has triggered the Eels' rise from the premiership dead and is on track to secure a grand final triumph that would cap one of the NRL's most remarkable career turnarounds.

All for a pittance.

"Everyone wants to make a bit of coin but that's not what I'm in it for," Smith said in the build-up to the match today against the Roosters.

Just as well.

NRL halfbacks earn a small fortune. They're all key men - and are paid accordingly. But Smith was so down and out at the start of 2005 he was offered the NRL's bare minimum deal to turn out in premier league for the Eels. He couldn't sign fast enough.

His pay would barely cover the rent but he didn't care because the contract gave him the one thing he most wanted: a last opportunity.

"I thought it was all over for me," he said. "It wasn't the biggest contract in the world but it didn't matter. Parra were going to give me a go and that was all I wanted.

"If you play well, I suppose money and things take care of themselves in the end. To be part of the team now and to be going into the finals and to be playing a part in all of this, it's all I wanted to do."

Smith says he can never repay the debt he owes Taylor. He's not talking about dollars and cents. He's talking about being unable to repay the faith. Taylor coached him in the Eels' grand final-winning premier league team last year. Now they're going down the same path in firsts. Taylor says Smith will not be losing his place to Tim Smith when the boom youngster returns from his broken collarbone during the play-offs. That's a fair rap.

"I guess JT has always seen something in me and he's always encouraged me," Smith said. "I've always felt he thinks I can play. That's worth a lot. I can't thank him enough. He's got me playing the way I am.

"He's one of those coaches who can bring out the best in blokes. He's just got that knack. I don't think any of this would be happening if it wasn't for him."

Just when Smith was coming good, in June, he went bad again. The Eels were playing St George Illawarra. He lost his mind and shoved referee Sean Hampstead. He was suspended for four weeks and Tim Smith was returning and it was all about to go pear-shaped.

Taylor said Smith had two options: drop his bundle and permanently go back to premier league, or work his backside off and wait for another opportunity. He took the higher road. Another opportunity arose, and he took it all over again.

"That was a pretty tough month," he said. "The first few days were really hard. I had to turn my phone off because all my mates were on there giving it to me.

"I thought I'd blown it. It had taken so long to get where I was but it was all getting taken away."

Taylor said: "That month showed what he's got. You can imagine how hard it was for him.

"When you've been waiting that long and finally been given an opportunity and to have it all going pretty well, it was disappointing for him. But he got through that with the same attitude he needed to get through the last couple of years. He's shown a lot of mettle. He just had to keep punching and he did."

Taylor is going to South Sydney next year. It's no surprise that Smith is following him.

Souths have got themselves the deal of the century. Taylor was green when the Rabbitohs signed him to be Shaun McRae's assistant in 2007 and now he's an outstanding first-grade coach. Smith had yet to hit his straps when Souths snapped him up. By the time he gets to Redfern, he could be wearing a premiership ring.

"He was still relatively unknown when Souths got him," Taylor said.

"It was before everyone really knew what he was about and what his skills are. He's come on but he's still getting better.

"Regardless of your age, when you haven't played much NRL, there's a real learning curve when you start playing week in, week out. In terms of games, he's still a rookie. Off the field, and I don't want to overstate this, he's had a few areas that he's needed to work on over and above just the playing side of things.

"I wanted him to behave like a professional footy player, which he hadn't been doing before. I suppose he wasn't a professional before.

"His catch and pass ability and his kicking ability are up there with the best of them. It's all natural and he's only going to get better. We're yet to see the best of him."

Smith filled out a questionnaire for his player profile on the Eels website when he became a first-grade regular. One question asked: "If you could turn back time and witness one event, what would it be?" Smith answered: "Seeing Jesus perform his miracles."

Smith's career turnaround hasn't quite been of biblical proportions, but it's still been something of a phenomenon.

Club clears Eels star over drink incident


Parramatta rugby league club officials have cleared halfback Tim Smith of any wrongdoing after an allegation he was involved in a drunken incident yesterday.

The finding came after a radio station report that Smith was allegedly refused service and kicked out of a Sydney pub yesterday along with teammate Eric Grothe.

"He's in the clear," Eels CEO Denis Fitzgerald told Macquarie Radio.

"The thing that I'm particularly worried about is Tim Smith, given that we have agreed with Tim after a previous incident that he wouldn't be drinking alcohol until the end of the season.

"Tim wasn't seen to be drinking alcohol, but what was in front of him on the CCTV was in fact water, and the other guys have confirmed that he had not been drinking alcohol."

Fitzgerald confirmed Smith had left the premises before a group of patrons - including winger Eric Grothe - was asked by management to leave.

"In fact the CCTV showed that he left the hotel at 8.12pm - apparently they got there about 5.30pm - but he left at 8.12 and he was going out on a dinner date with his girlfriend," Fitzgerald said.

"There were just two people who were asked to leave, one was Eric Grothe and another regular there at the hotel."

Smith was warned by Parramatta in June that he would be fined $10,000 and his contract would be in jeopardy if he was caught drinking again after several alcohol-related incidents.

Smith was fined $1000 by the club for a drunken scuffle with Test cricketer Michael Clarke at a pub in Cronulla in June and agreed not to drink for the rest of the season.

He had turned up to training affected by alcohol on May 15, the same day Brian Smith quit the club as coach.

Management from the Intersection Tavern at Ramsgate in Sydney's south confirmed to Macquarie radio there had been an incident.The tavern said after one patron was refused service, another member of the group attempted to be served and the players were asked to leave.

In an email to Macquarie radio, an eyewitness claimed the players were "drunk beyond all belief".The eyewitness said the players were swearing and Smith was spitting on the carpet.

When the players were refused service, Grothe allegedly started banging the walls until teammate Daniel Wagon, who was reportedly well behaved, escorted him out of the pub. In June, Parramatta chief executive Denis Fitzgerald had called an alcohol summit with players after several incidents.

Winger Jarryd Hayne was fined $1000 in June after admitting he bit a woman on the arm while intoxicated at The Roxy nightclub in Parramatta.

AAP

Eels can win the comp, says Grothe

Parramatta winger Eric Grothe has declared the Eels can go all the way and win the NRL competition.

Grothe's bold prediction comes as superstar teammate Nathan Hindmarsh admitted he'd written the season off following the nightmare start to the year under former coach Brian Smith.
Just three weeks ago, Grothe raised eyebrows when he suggested the Eels could finish in the top four, even though they weren't even in the top eight at the time.

But having snuck into fourth spot on for and against, Grothe believes the Eels can continue their momentum all the way through to grand final day.

"Yeah, definitely," Grothe told AAP when asked if they could win the premiership.

"If we get into the finals and we're in it, anything can happen.

"If you keep winning then you keep winning, that's our goal."

Grothe was confident a home semi-final was a realistic goal even a month ago.

"We were aiming for (top four) but it's always nice to get in there," he said.

"It was one of our goals so it wasn't a great surprise.

"All I said was that if we keep winning, anything can happen and we kept winning and it happened.

"I'm pretty happy that's how it turned out because it doesn't make me look (foolish)."

Hindmarsh revealed he had given up on semi-final football after a disastrous 2-8 start to the season.

"To tell you the truth, I was thinking off season, I was thinking trips away, where I'm going on holidays type of thing," Hindmarsh said.

"That's how bad it actually felt at one stage, we thought our season was over.

"We were looking at the table and we were sitting on six points or eight points, we were coming second last.

"It's a massive turnaround for us."

The Test backrower said there was a remarkable turnaround in morale after stringing together eight consecutive wins.

"Obviously we were well down," Hindmarsh said.

"We were turning up to training, it was just pretty much getting in and getting home.

"Now we are turning up, we're enjoying our training and enjoying each other's company and enjoying playing footy together."

The 26-year-old, who pinpointed the Eels' gritty round 17 away win against Canberra as the turning point for the season, said he was desperate to play finals football after missing out last year through injury.

"I'm another year older and one less year I'm playing in the NRL and less chance of winning a grand final," he said.

"If we get to the semis I'm going to really enjoy it because you don't know when it will happen again."

Asked how long the Eels could continue their winning streak, Hindmarsh said: "Good question - hopefully the rest of the season would be good.

"We've hit a bit of a purple patch and I think everyone's waiting for the bubble to burst.

"We've just got to keep our heads on and try and win each game as it comes.

"Everyone wrote us off at the start of the season and really didn't care too much for us.

"We're ignoring all the hype we're getting at the moment and just concentrating on each game."

Streaking Eels to the four

SHARKS halfback Brett Kimmorley last night said Parramatta was capable of winning the premiership after it delivered a near fatal blow to the Sharks' finals hopes.

In crisis mid-season following the departure of coach Brian Smith, the Eels powered to their eighth consecutive victory to sound an ominous warning to their premiership rivals.

The victory temporarily propelled Parramatta into the top four - and they will stay there if the Dragons and Brisbane lose today to the Bulldogs and Melbourne, respectively.

While Kimmorley lamented the Sharks' seventh straight loss, the premiership-winning playmaker believes the rejuvenated Eels are well placed to win their first title since 1986.

"They are a chance. They will be up near the top four," said Kimmorley, who piloted Melbourne Storm to the 1999 premiership.

"They scored tries tonight off a few 50-50 things and in the big games sometimes the bounce doesn't go your way.

"But they are up there now. Jason Taylor (Eels coach) has got them playing enjoyable and exciting footy."

Down 12-8 at half-time, the Eels powered home with a clinical second half, scoring five tries to stun the Sharks.

Since replacing Smith in round 11, Taylor has won nine of 12 games and steered the Eels to their longest winning streak since their grand final year in 2001. There is now a palpable confidence at Parramatta, but Taylor is wisely tempering the emotion.

"We want to keep doing it because we can work our way further up the ladder," Taylor said.

"Our goal was to make the eight, even though we didn't talk about it.

"I said at the start I didn't care if we didn't make the eight, but once we got it going, we wanted to get ourselves in the eight.

"I just said to the boys that it was the most pleasing win we've had in the past couple of months, because at halftime we were up against it. They (Cronulla) were playing for their season.

"We knew it would be tough, we just wanted to concentrate, but we got it going after halftime."

While the Parramatta juggernaut continues, the Sharks' season is in tatters. Their latest capitulation means they must win their final three matches, against Penrith (h), the Dragons (a) and Canberra (h), to have any hope of making the finals.

"I told the guys it becomes a mathematical situation," coach Stuart Raper said.

"We can't look back at what's happened, we can't change those results. We need to be positive about the way we want to play and go all out and see what happens.

"I'm proud of these guys because it's hard to front up when you put in the effort you do and keep losing.

"The players are hurting as much as anyone, I see what they go through. We played well in the first half but at the end of the day we're just not winning games."

The only downside for the Eels was a back injury to Eric Grothe, but he should be right to play the Roosters next week.

SHARKS 14 (B Pomeroy D Simmons tries; L Covell 3 goals)

PARRAMATTA 34 (L Burt 2 J Hayne W McKinnon G Morrison M Riddell tries; L Burt 5 goals)

Referee: T Archer
Crowd: 12,830 at Toyota Park.

Eels' surge continues as Sharks flounder

Parramatta's tidal wave of form is verging on a full blown tsunami after the Eels stormed to their eighth straight win with a 34-14 victory over Cronulla, the club's best winning run since its last grand final appearance in 2001.

Down 12-8 at halftime, the Eels scored four unanswered tries after the break to consign the Sharks to their seventh consecutive loss and put another nail in the coffin that is Cronulla's dwindling finals dream.

Just months after being considered a genuine challenger for the wooden spoon, Parramatta could finish the weekend in fourth spot if both Brisbane and St George Illawarra lose on Sunday - a distinct possibility given they are playing competition frontrunners Melbourne and the Bulldogs respectively.

Eels coach Jason Taylor, who now possesses a 9-3 record after taking over from Brian Smith mid-season, described the win as the best of his short career after his side regrouped to romp home in the second half.

"For me it was our most pleasing win that we've had in the last couple of months because we were up against it," Taylor said.

"The opposition were playing for their season and sometimes teams come out and you know that they're desperate ... I thought they were at their best in the first half.

"We got back to what we do well and that was the most pleasing thing, that we grinded our way out of it in the second half."

Their resurgence started only three minutes after the restart with rookie winger Jarryd Hayne crossing for his 14th try in just his 12th game before Wade McKinnon and Luke Burt, who finished with a personal haul of 18 points from two tries and five goals, iced the game for the visitors.

McKinnon made Brett Kimmorley pay for a spilt pass on halfway and some questionable judgement from stand-in fullback Nigel Vagana, the Kiwi international showing McKinnon the line as he burst through the gap with the Eels speedster gleefully accepting the invitation.

Burt then secured his double within the space of four minutes, the first coming after Brett Kearney had lost the ball cold in his own in-goal with Kimmorley describing the incident indicative of just how the two sides are travelling.

"When you've got a lot of confidence you score some 50-50 tries and they sort of went three in a row that were pretty quick I suppose," Kimmorley said.

"At the start of the year we were getting the bounce of the ball and we weren't even trying much. We were playing really well and when you get on that roll of winning everything happens.

"You can say the bounce doesn't go you way but maybe you're not there to get the bounce either."

Cronulla now needs to win all three of its remaining matches to be any chance of making the top eight.

Eels on a grand final run

PARRAMATTA second rower Nathan Hindmarsh last night compared the Eels' fairytale late-season surge with the club's all-conquering run towards the 2001 grand final.

The amazing story of interim coach Jason Taylor's odyssey moved into another chapter as the Eels celebrated the 20th anniversary of Parramatta Stadium's opening with a 28-6 belting of dismal St George-Illawarra in front of 19,137 rain-soaked fans.

The result saw the Eels claim a seventh consecutive win for the first time in five years while it banished the Dragons from the top four.

A buoyant Hindmarsh said that the atmosphere around the club reminded him of the Eels' most recent big season, when they took out the minor premiership in a canter before losing to Newcastle in the grand final.

"Not since 2001 - we're not the same team we were in 2001, but it's kind of got the same feel about it," said Hindmarsh.

"The blokes are really enjoying their footy. The team's vocal out on the field, where I think at the start of the year we were very quiet.

"When we first started on this streak, there was no pressure on us because no one expected us to keep it going.

"I suppose now the pressure is starting to build. If we drop one, we're up the creek.

"It's getting towards that point where we think 'oh we might ...' but no one's saying anything. Maybe at home talking to the missus, but not in front of the boys.

"If we pick up the paper and we're in the eight, then we're in the eight. We've just got to do the hard thing and stay in there."

Hindmarsh said the fact the Dragons could score only six points in the rugged opening exchanges last night had swelled the confidence of the Eels.

"We just braced ourselves for it, and tried to get it over," he said.When St George-Illawarra wing Colin Best scored from a Trent Barrett kick in the ninth minute, Hindmarsh recalled: "I thought 'jeez, it's going to be a long night'."

But Parramatta fullback Luke Burt crossed off a John Morris kick and then converted for 6-6 before the Eels had tries to wing Jarryd Hayne and halfback Jeremy Smith disallowed in the 37th and 39th minutes respectively.

They weren't deterred, however, and wing Eric Grothe crossed in the south-eastern corner to give his side a 10-6 half-time lead.

The son of Eels great Eric Sr scored again after the break, at which point Nathan Brown's joint-venture side completely self-destructed.

Dragons second rower Danny Wicks was sent to the sin bin for his side's repeated infringements, a Barrett line drop-out went over the touchline on the full, and two forward passes stymied St George-Illawarra's attempts to get back into the game.

The Eels put the icing on their win when makeshift prop Chad Robinson scored after Dean Widders' grubber kick evaded a clutch of hapless Dragons with 15 minutes to go.

The eventual points difference means the Sharks need to beat New Zealand Warriors handsomely at Mt Smart Stadium tonight to move ahead of the Eels again.

"Places in that eight are going to come down to for and against," Hindmarsh said.

Eels hooker Mark Riddell, a former Dragon, meanwhile boasted: "(St George-Illawarra) only scored one try tonight, from a bomb. We just kept turning them away and frustrating them and kept enjoying it."

Eels coach Jason Taylor revealed after the game that Hindmarsh, second rower Daniel Wagon and lock Glenn Morrison had almost missed the match with respective knee, elbow and tailbone injuries.

"We've done it the same way since day one so we'd be silly to change anything now," said Taylor.

St George-Illawarra fullback Ben Hornby will have a quadriceps injury checked this morning.

Eels slay Dragons, move into top eight

The golden run from the Parramatta Eels continued tonight, slaying the St George-Illawarra Dragons 28-6 at Parramatta Stadium.

The home team celebrated 20-years at the venue in style, scoring four tries to one which propelled them into the top eight for the first time this season. A feat made more emphatic after many critics condemned them to the wooden spoon only seven weeks ago.

Both teams came into the match with vastly different form guides. The Eels’ having won their previous six matches, while the Dragons’ having lost their last three straight.

However, despite conceding the first try of the match and being without six regulars, Parramatta capitalised on the slippery conditions.

While wet, the conditions were tame compared to the last encounter between these teams – which saw the Dragons snatch an unlikely seven-point win at Kogarah Oval (Oki Jubilee).

St George-Illawarra were quick on the board, a third minute penalty to Mathew Head after Eels’ prop Glenn Morrison infringed was followed two minutes later by Colin Best strolling over out wide after Dragons’ skipper Trent Barrett’s cross-field kick.

On the half-hour, Luke Burt swooped on a grubber kick from John Morris for the Eels’ first try.

With half time closing in, the Eels’ posted a second try through Eric Grothe and took a 10-6 lead to the interval.

Try-scoring machine Jarryd Hayne did play, however he was not amongst the scorers this evening, though he came agonisingly close.

Instead, fellow winger Grothe scored a double with his second, and the Eels’ third, coming just six minutes into the second half.

A conversion and two penalty goals from Burt followed as the Eels’ extended the margin to 14 points (20-6).

The sin binning of Danny Wicks for a professional foul on Dean Widders, in the 52nd minute, did not help the Dragons either.

Chad Robinson sealed the game with a 64th minute try, while Burt kicked his third conversion goal and then slotted over a penalty goal five minutes from full time.

Next week, Cronulla and Parramatta meet at Toyota Park on Saturday night in a showdown that could determine who remains alive for a finals place in season 2006.

The Dragons’ top four aspirations are now on the line, and next Sunday afternoon they confront the second placed Bulldogs at Telstra Stadium.

NRL Premiership - Round 22

PARRAMATTA EELS 28
Tries: Goals:
Eric Grothe (2) Luke Burt 6/7
Luke Burt
Chad Robinson

ST GEORGE-ILLAWARRA 6
Tries: Goals:
Colin Best Mathew Head 1/2

@ Parramatta Stadium, Sydney
Referee: Steve Clark
Crowd: 19,137

Eels treating Dragons encounter as a do or die affair

Parramatta centre Luke O'Dwyer says Friday night's round 22 NRL clash with St George Illawarra is likely to determine whether the Eels will make the finals.

The Eels have won their past six matches under caretaker coach Jason Taylor after losing 10 of their opening 13 fixtures.

They sit in ninth position on the NRL ladder, one of five teams on 22 points, and will host the fourth-placed Dragons at Parramatta Stadium.

O'Dwyer said Friday night's encounter was a 'must win' situation for the Eels.

"It is do or die, so it is what it is all about," he said. "It is going to be for us to win and hopefully we can get it done."

O'Dwyer said he and his team-mates were revelling under the coaching of Taylor, who will join South Sydney next season.

"Everyone's loving it at the moment and everyone is enjoying playing football and being coached under Jason Taylor, so I think that's why we are playing so well on the field," he said.

Meanwhile, Brisbane Broncos prop Petero Civoniceva said the return from injury of half-back Shane Perry would ease the pressure on captain Darren Lockyer. Perry is returning from a knee injury in Sunday's away match against Canberra and Civoniceva said the inclusion of the 28-year-old would give the Broncos extra options in attack.

"He's a very experienced footballer and the great thing about Shane is he's a great communicator out on the field," he said.

"That's probably something that has been missing the last few weeks, just his organisational skills as well and he's very good at that."

The Broncos, who have lost their past three matches, sit in third position on the NRL ladder while the Raiders are in 11th place.

Taylor gives departing duo confidence to spark Eels' revival

JEREMY Smith is on a roll now, with the Parramatta No.7 jumper on his back and a contract to play for South Sydney next year. But it took a few years to convince selectors that he was good enough to play first grade.

"I always had the belief," Smith said yesterday, as the Eels prepared to try to keep alive their finals hopes in tomorrow night's clash with St George Illawarra at Parramatta Stadium.

"It was getting someone else to believe in me."

Parramatta coach Jason Taylor believes in him. Taylor says that if players are performing well in the lower grades and doing the work asked of them at training, they will be rewarded, and it's not the hot air you get from some coaches.

"Jeremy's had a bit of a chequered past," Taylor said.

"He played lower grades at the Warriors, the Roosters, the Dragons and the Sharks before he came here. But we've found him great.

"I think he was probably a bit misunderstood at those previous clubs. He's always had the ability, but no one had ever given him the opportunity or drawn the right things out of him."
Smith, 25, played five-eighth in the Taylor-coached Eels team that won last year's premier league grand final. Now, at halfback, he has formed a first-grade partnership with five-eighth John Morris that is unusual, to say the least.

Here they are, two players who, because of the key nature of their positions, will have a huge influence on whether the team actually makes it to the finals - yet neither of them will be at the club after this season.

There wasn't a long-term deal on offer for Morris at the Eels, so he took one that was on the table from Wests Tigers. Smith could have stayed with Parramatta on minor money, but with regular half Tim Smith to eventually come back from injury there wasn't much point. Better to accept a contract with the Rabbitohs, where the halfback spot is up for grabs.

Both players admit that trying to sort out their futures mid-season was a distraction, but that since the deals were done they have been able to concentrate on football.

"I haven't had to adjust my game too much, to play with Jeremy," Morris said.

"He steers us around the park and I try not to get in his way. He's a crafty player. He can put players through holes and he's produced some nice tries through clever touches near the line."

Morris says that, after Parramatta looked gone mid-season, he would regard it as a tremendous opportunity to play finals footy for the club one last time, because of the awful way in which the Eels dipped out of contention last season. North Queensland whipped them 29-0 the week before the grand final.

"It took me a long while to get over that loss and I'm sure I wasn't the only one," Morris said.

"I think the disappointment contributed to us playing poorly in the early part of this season."

Parramatta have won six games straight, but the players have tried to ignore increased expectation coming from outside the club.

"There's still a bit of pressure, but it's not bringing us down," Smith said. "That game against Manly that we won with 12 men last weekend - we wouldn't have won that two months ago. Winning brings confidence and the confidence is high."

PARRAMATTA EELS v ST GEORGE ILLAWARRA at Parramatta Stadium, 7.30pm

EELS: Luke Burt, Jarryd Hayne, Luke O'Dwyer, Ben Smith, Eric Grothe, John Morris, Jeremy Smith, Nathan Cayless (capt), Mark Riddell, Chad Robinson, Nathan Hindmarsh, Daniel Wagon, Glenn Morrison. Interchange: PJ Marsh, Dean Widders, Josh Cordoba, Brett Delaney.

DRAGONS: Ben Hornby, Colin Best, Ben Creagh, Matt Cooper, Brett Morris, Trent Barrett (capt), Mathew Head, Jason Ryles, Dean Young, Justin Poore, Sam Isemonger, Danny Wicks, Luke Bailey. Interchange: Michael Henderson, Ashton Sims, Matt Bickerstaff, Aaron Gorrell, Clint Greenshields (one to be omitted).

Referee: Steve Clark

Eels looking like 06 Tigers

Parramatta's late season surge is taking on a similar look to the Wests Tigers' charge to the 2005 NRL premiership.

And with prop Fuifui Moimoi's acceptance of a seven-match ban for his high shot on Manly's Brent Kite adding to the decimation of the Eels' front row stocks, the side may have to resort to some Tigers-like tactics to keep their finals dream alive.

Parramatta forward Dean Widders said Moimoi's suspension would likely force the ninth-placed Eels to play a more expansive game in the final five rounds of the regular season.

"We might have to try a different style of play from now on, and throw the ball around a little bit more, which is what the Tigers did last year, to try and cover his loss," said Widders.

Moimoi joins fellow props Aaron Cannings (shoulder), Michael Vella (ankle), Adam Peek (cheek), Justin Tsoulos (shoulder) and Paul Stringer (retired, neck injury) on the sidelines, with skipper Nathan Cayless the only recognised prop still fit and available.

Moimoi also missed the end of last season - when the Eels finished minor premiers but crashed out in the preliminary final - because of a nine-match ban.

Widders admitted Moimoi's loss probably "torpedoed" the Eels' premiership hopes last year.
"Hopefully we've learnt a bit from last year and can do a bit better, but in losing a player of that calibre, the truth is you can't replace him," Widders said.

Last year the Tigers stormed home in the regular season before defying the odds to lift the NRL premiership. Considered 150-1 no-hopers after slumping to 12th on the ladder in round 15, the Tigers - playing an irresistible style of attacking football - won 12 of their last 14 matches, including a club-record eight straight, to claim the title after finishing the minor premiership in fourth.

Parramatta also kickstarted its dramatic season-revival in round 15 this year, winning its past six games to jump from second-last to the edge of the eight.

Scott Prince, the Tigers' captain in 2005, said the Eels were giving him flashbacks.

"They're playing really well," Prince said.

"Their scramble defence really won them that game (against Manly) towards the end of the game.

"They worked hard for one another and once you've got that self-belief and the faith with the guy inside and outside you in defence it's very hard to lose."

Widders, though, believes the path ahead for the Eels is far more treacherous than what the Tigers faced in 2005.

"There's a huge difference, last year when the Tigers had their run they had all their players available and everyone to choose from," he said.

"We've got about 10 blokes out injured ... (we're) still walking the tightrope because it could all go wrong at any minute."

Meanwhile, the Eels have announced Ian Hindmarsh, the brother of Test star Nathan, will return to the club on a one-year deal after stints with Canberra and English Super League club Les Catalans.

Chief executive Denis Fitzgerald said reuniting the brothers "wasn't any deciding factor".

"It was a matter that he's a good player and he knows the Parramatta set-up and he always gives 100 percent every game," he said.

Eels prop Moimoi is not a thug: Taylor

Parramatta coach Jason Taylor has leapt to the defence of Eels forward Fuifui Moimoi, saying the suspended prop had been unfairly branded a thug by people who don't know him. Moimoi pleaded guilty to a grade three reckless high tackle charge and was suspended for seven weeks by the judiciary due to his poor NRL disciplinary record.

Moimoi was sent off in the Eels' win over Manly last Saturday night for his sickening high tackle on Sea Eagles prop Brent Kite.

Earlier this year the 26-year-old New Zealander was cleared by the NRL Judiciary of a biting allegation made by Melbourne prop Brett White.

Moimoi's season ended prematurely in 2005 with a nine-week suspension for a grade two reckless high tackle and he also copped a six-match ban earlier in the year.
But Taylor said Moimoi's on-field aggression combined with his media-shy personality meant he had earned an unfair tag.

"I really feel for him," said Taylor.

"The general public don't know what he is really like as a person because he is shy and does not like to talk in the media and that is why he has probably been branded a thug.

"He has practised so hard on his tackling to try to avoid that (suspension) happening again and he has done well for most of the season.

"He has been a big part of our team ... it is really disappointing for him.

"I would be happy to have him on any team I coach anytime."

Taylor added Moimoi often missed Sunday's team recovery sessions to attend church and was heavily involved in the club's community activities.

However, the club agreed with the NRL's grading of the tackle and took the early plea option as the possible 10-game ban if he unsuccessfully fought the charge would have ended his season regardless of the Eels making the finals.

Now the prop is available if the Eels survive until the penultimate weekend of the finals.

"At the moment he has got a bit of sniff of playing again this year," said Taylor.

"It's a long shot, don't think I'm saying that it's a big chance but it gives him some hope.

"If we fought and he was found guilty then it would have been 10 games and that would mean his season is completely over.

"We probably thought the grading was pretty fair too.

"It was four weeks plus his history.

"It was the loading on it which in the end we decided was probably fair enough."

New Zealand Warriors prop Ruben Wiki also entered an early guilty plea for his careless high tackle charge. Wiki will miss just the one match.

Sydney Roosters winger Amos Roberts pleaded not guilty to a grade one dangerous throw charge and will front the NRL judiciary on Wednesday night.

Roberts' not guilty plea means he has forfeited a one-week suspension and will instead be banned for two weeks if the judiciary finds him guilty.

Ian Hindmarsh comes back home

Ian Hindmarsh, older brother of Parramatta, New South Wales and Australian representative Nathan, will be returning to his former club for the 2007 season, after stints with the Canberra Raiders and his current club, English Super League outfit Les Catalans.

Ian had previously played 4 seasons with Parramatta, and was a vital member of the record breaking 2001 squad that ultimately fell at the last hurdle against Newcastle. His return should be a welcome one for the Eels, as their back row depth is certain to be tested next season, with the established Dean Widders and Glenn Morrison heading out at the end of 2006.

Gasnier ruled out for Dragons

ST George Illawarra suffered a blow to its season-defining clash with Parramatta this Friday night with centre Mark Gasnier today told to rest his injured calf muscle.Gasnier has carried a calf strain for the past couple of matches, but this week's short five-day turnaround from Sunday's loss to Melbourne has forced the world's best centre to take a much-needed break.

Dragons back rower Ben Creagh will play centre while the Eels have named Daniel Wagon in the back row with Chad Robinson moving to prop after Fuifui Moimoi today accepted a seven-week suspension for a reckless high tackle.

Moimoi will miss the rest of the NRL regular season and will only play again in 2006 if the Eels reach the preliminary final.

Eels coach Jason Taylor said despite Gasnier not being on today's team sheet, he will still prepare to face the NSW and Australia centre.

"I know (Dragons coach) Nathan (Brown) didn't want him to play last week and he played. We will just prepare for him to be playing again," said Taylor.

"You can spend too much time worrying, so we will just prepare for him to be there. If he is not there then it is a bonus for us."

Across the ditch the Warriors' season turned from bad to worse with forward Sione Faumuina today ruled out for the rest of the NRL season with a broken left wrist.

Faumuina was left stranded one game short of his 100th NRL game with an eight-week stint on the sidelines expected and possibly surgery.

Prop Ruben Wiki will also miss Saturday's game in Auckland against the Sharks after entering an early guilty plea to a careless high tackle charge. Prop George Tuakura, 30, is in line to become one of the NRL's oldest debutants after being named on a five-man Warriors bench.

Sharks hooker Kevin Kingston returns from suspension to take on the Warriors with Reece Williams named in the run-on side for the injured Greg Bird (ribs). Hutch Maiava has been dropped to premier league.

NSW prop Mark O'Meley returns from a two-week rest for the Bulldogs side to play North Queensland on Saturday with Nate Myles shifted to the bench alongside superstar Sonny Bill Williams.

Queensland Origin centre Josh Hannay was dropped from the Cowboys outfit to allow Paul Bowman to revert from lock to centre. Penrith coach John Lang named injured former Australia forward Trent Waterhouse on a five-man bench for the match against South Sydney at Telstra Stadium on Sunday. Luke Swain moves into the run-on side to replace the injured Matthew Cross.

Souths named Shane Walker at hooker to play his 150th first grade game in place of the injured Stuart Webb. Shane Perry returns to the Brisbane side to solve the Broncos' halfback dilemma for Saturday's clash with Canberra, while the Raiders named David Howell on a five-man bench in the only change to the team which lost to the Rabbitohs last week.

Melbourne named an unchanged starting line-up for its clash with Wests Tigers at Olympic Park on Saturday, rising star Greg Inglis again named on a six-man bench.

The Tigers hope to unearth another prodigious teenage talent this weekend with 18-year-old centre Keith Eshman to make his NRL debut from the bench.

Eshman is a NSW under-19 representative player and has starred for the Tigers' premier league side this year. AAP

Panthers, Eels have form for playoffs

PENRITH and Parramatta appear most likely to emerge from the traffic jam of five teams on 22 points trying to secure a finals berth.

The clubs, of which two are inside the eight on percentage (Cowboys and Sharks) and three outside (Eels, Panthers and Raiders) will ensure the final five rounds of the regular season are fascinating.

The yardstick for making the finals has usually been 28 points, so these clubs will need three wins from the remaining five matches to secure a place.

From 'Club 22', Parramatta and Penrith have the best form and John Cartwright, coach of 2007's new club Gold Coast Titans, believes that is the platform necessary to make the eight.

"Parramatta is definitely in red-hot form at the moment and at this time of year you're looking for sides that are consistently playing well," Cartwright, who toured with the 1990 Kangaroos, said.

The Eels are on the hottest streak from 'Club 22', winning six on the trot, while the Panthers have won four of their past six.

"You'd think they (Eels) would get one of the spots and the Panthers, too, are in really good form.

"They demolished the Warriors last Saturday and had a bit of bad luck against Manly the week before.

"I think the Panthers are starting to hit real form and not winning by chance."

The Eels, however, seem to have the toughest run home. They only have two home games and face two teams in the top four. But at least both those matches (Dragons and Broncos) are at Parramatta Stadium.

On the other hand Penrith looks to have the best run home, playing only one top four side (Bulldogs) in round 26 at Penrith. The Panthers could secure their three wins before that because they face the two bottom teams (Rabbitohs and Roosters) over the next two weeks and then the out-of-form Sharks in round 24.

But Cartwright, a veteran of 200 games for Penrith including two grand finals and a premiership in 1991, said his former club would draw on the experience of 2005 when it failed by two points, or one win, to make the eight.

"I think last year they were behind the eight ball a bit at this time trying to keep pace," Cartwright said.

"But this year they've got themselves into a position to really make a raid on the eight."

However, there's no talk at the club of Penrith being the smokey of the 2006 competition.

"How we're looking at it, and it's an old cliche, is realistically we're concentrating on this weekend only," Penrith general manager Mick Leary said.

"We've got to concentrate on ourselves and not worry about anyone else, except Souths because that's who we're playing next.

"I know it sounds like a well-used line but we can't get ahead of ourselves."

From the five in 'Club 22', only two (Cowboys and Sharks) have three home games, which is usually a help in bidding for competition points, while Canberra is the only side from the five with a bye - a certain two points, leaving it to secure just two wins.

But Canberra, like the Eels, meets two top four teams (Broncos and Storm) in its quest for those wins.

The two teams clinging by their fingernails to the eight, the Cowboys in 7th and Sharks in 8th, have a similar run home. They both have three home games and face only one top four team.
But they are both struggling. North Queensland has notched just two wins from the past eight rounds while Cronulla has lost its past five.