Warriors break Eels hearts in Extra Time

The New Zealand Warriors have outlasted a resurgent Parramatta Eels 17-13 in golden point at Pirtek Stadium this afternoon.

The warriors raced out to a 12-0 lead in the first half courtesy of tries to Shaun Johnson and Solomon Kata. Jonathan Wright should have had a 3rd for the warriors but spilt it before the line. Parramatta looked out of sorts in the first half making countless errors and often looking rudderless when attacking the warriors line. That all changed at half time as Brad Arthur motivated them to get back into the game in the second half.

It started barely after the whistle had been blown for the second half when Anthony Watmough grounded a loose ball that had been spilled by warriors winger Jono Wright off a towering bomb By fill in Half Luke Kelly. Minutes later they were over again when cult figure Semi Radradra crashed over after some smart work from Corey Norman who was also the Eels best on ground, created an overlap for Brad Takarangi to send big Semi over in the corner. The dropping of Chris Sandow meant Luke Kelly took over the goal kicking duties, that didn't work out too well as he missed all three attempts.

The game turned into a grind for the next 15 mins as both side tried to wrestle back the ascendency. The eels were the next to score when talented back rower Manu Maú created an overlap with a nice crabby run across field sent Ryan Morgan over in the corner, Kelly's third miss made it 12-12.

Both sides traded field goals in the final ten mins, however neither side could get the victory in the regulation 80 mins.

In extra time, a Shaun Johnson field goal was deflected when it looked for all money to be going over, from the repeat set an attempted field goal by Johnson was shoveled off to Bodene Thompson who broke 5 tackles on his way to the line albeit controversially. The video referee upheld the on field referee's decision and the warriors got the win in thrilling fashion for the 2nd consecutively week by the tune of 17-13.

Next week the Eels will be guests at ANZ Stadium where they'll face reigning premiers South Sydney on Friday niht, while the Warriors enjoy the bye before resuming their 2015 campaign at Mt Smart Stadium in Round 12 against the Newcastle Knights.

Match Details

Parramatta Eels 13 Warriors 17
Venue: Pirtek Stadium
Crowd: 11,152
Halftime Score: Parramatta Eels 0 Warriors 12

PARRAMATTA EELS (13)
Tries: Anthony Watmough, Semi Radradra, Ryan Morgan
Field Goals: Luke Kelly (1/1)
Conversions: Luke Kelly (0/3)

WARRIORS (17)
Tries: Shaun Johnson, Solomone Kata, Bodene Thompson
Field Goals: Chad Townsend (1/1)
Conversions: Shaun Johnson (2/2)

LeagueUnlimited.com Players of the Match:

3 points - Shaun Johnson
2 points - Bodene Thompson
1 point - Corey Norman

LeagueUnlimited.com Live Commentary

Good afternoon ladies and gentleman and welcome to a sun soaked Pirtek Stadium in Parramatta for the continuation of Round 10 of the NRL. Today we have the Eels taking on the Warriors in what is shaping as a must win game for the home side. Parramatta have lost 3 of their last 4 so desperately need the 2 points.
Just the one change for the warriors today, who are buoyed after a last minute win over the Sharks last week. The Beast Manu Vatuvei is out, which is a blow for the visitors. He is replaced by Ken Maumolo. Whilst Parra are 1-17 folks.

Can Semi Radradra continue his phenomenal try scoring record at Pirtek Stadium? He has 15 tries in 13 games here. The Warriors outside men will need to be on their toes for the whole afternoon.

Not a huge crowd at Pirtek Stadium at the moment, a lot of fans here are here out of hope more than anything else I think. They will be hoping that their hope translates into 2 competition points.

Today also marks the Warriors 500th game since coming into the comp in 1995. can they celebrate in style? Or will Parra wreck the party?
We're about 10 minutes away guys and gals, so get yourself comfy and make any late fantasy team changes if you need to!

Here come both teams, walking shoulder by shoulder out to the middle

It's time for some FOOTBALLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL!!!!! Strap yourself in!!

Shaun Johnson gets us underway and Tim Mannah charges back into the grey and black wall of jumpers

2: Decent opening set, Kelly puts it high, ball taken well by the debutant Maumolo, who is then promptly hammered to the ground by three Gold jerseys.

2: Penalty to the Warriors who were only 2m out from their own line, Watmough the offender by going in for a second effort.
Meanwhile Hoffman Is knocked out after clashing heads. He is in la la land poor Ryan...

2: Hoffman looks gone for the afternoon

2: Sione Lousi the replacement player for Hoffman.

4: Hopoate climbs high to collect a Townsend bomb, however he is bundled into touch by some energetic warriors defence, good play by the Kiwi's.

5: Warriors on the attack now folks, 5 metres out...

6: Johnson beats 1 defender and drops in a grubber, Hopoate cleans up but is grounded In goal. Line drop out Parra.

7: Error by the Warriors after some strong Parra defence, Danny Wicks was in there first.

7: The Eels now with an opportunity 20m out from the NZ line, what can they do?

9: Deary me. There is panic on the last tackle for the Warriors. Townsend knocks on after the ball was passed through three sets of hands. Parra 30m out and more opportunity to attack and post points

10: Error Parra! They spread it left and it looks promising, but Takarangi doesn't look and passes, but there is no Radradra! Over the touchline. What was the winger doing???

12: Solid enough set from the Warriors, gaining 50 odd metres, Townsend puts it high but there are no problems for Robinson who collects it in the air 20m out

12: Game is turning into a bit of a grind at the moment. End to end stuff. Needs some magic to open it up!

14: Forward pass by Moeroa, silly stuff from the young bloke. Warriors get the ball via a scrun on the halfway line.

15: Eels have completed 3/7 sets so far today. Not pretty viewing for Brad Arthur...

15: Penalty to the Warriors, they are on the attack again, 15m out.

17: Last tackle option is pretty predictable by the warriors, chip/bomb by Johnson, Morgan leaps high to defuse it, 20m tap.

17: Parra throwing it around left, right and centre! Trying to spark something

20: TRY WARRIORS
Scored by Shaun Johnson. Kick to come.
SHAUN JOHNSON! You freak! Runs it on the last, dodges and weaves, fires it to Wright who races down the wing, grubbers inside, Johnson collects with one hand, goes in, away, in, away and plants it down! Look liked a move out of Saturday Night fever!

21: SUCCESSFUL CONVERSION WARRIORS
Conversion attempt by Shaun Johnson successful.
Johnson steers it home, 6-0!

22: Big Shot Alert!! Matulino smacked by Manu Ma'ü! Hammered to the turf

23: Fantastic kick from Peats which refuses to go dead, Lolohea has to run it out and is tackled 5m out, about a gain of 60m from the Eels, good play

23: We have a time out as Thomas Leuluai looks like he has a serious injury. Don't wanna say ACL injury but it looks that way...

24: Leuluai fell into a heap when there was no one near him, carried up to the sheds. Nathan Friend comes on but the Warriors are down to 15 men.

26: Johnson sends a towering, swirling bomb, Radradra is equal to the task though and two tackles later they get their first penalty of the afternoon! Relief

27: Another error by the Eels.. A recurring them. 7/12 completion rate now.

29: Just for those that might have recently joined us. Both Ryan Hoffman and Thomas Leuuai are done for the afternoon

30: TRY WARRIORS
Scored by Solomone Kata. Kick to come.
Townsend with a bullet pass to Kata who has time and pace to race into the corner to plant down! 10-0!

30: SUCCESSFUL CONVERSION WARRIORS
Conversion attempt by Shaun Johnson successful.
Beautiful strike from the touchline! 12-0

30: Penalty to the Warriors, strip by the Eels. Just silly stuff from Parra

33: Another high bomb by the warriors, pins Parra inside their 20 for the 1,000th time this afternoon. Warriors kicking game has been on point all afrvo

34: Knock on warriors! Parra have the ball 15m out!

35: Johnson hits Ma''u with a cracking hit that jolts the ball free, the Warriors boys are pumped!

37: Radradra is forced back into the in goal by three Warriors after a lovely kick by Johnson, Warriors showing so much more passion at the moment.

38: A try goes begging!! Johnson hits a lovely cut out pass to Wright who just needs the catch and fall over the line! Dropped!

39: I hear the English cricket team are looking for fielders Jono Wright???

39: Warriors have the ball, 30 secs to half time.

40: Half time here folks, Warriors in command up 12-0, they have been better than the Eels in almost every department. Poor completion has hurt the Eels who have looked a tad threatening when they have got inside the Warriors half.
Andrew McFadden will be happy with the warriors first half whose kicking game hasn't given the Eels a sniff. Although how will they deal with being down 2 players for the next 40 mins??
Join us in 10 mins to find out!

40: Second half is underway, Warriors have the ball

41: Isaac DeGois has now gone straight up the tunnel with an injury. Walking wounded here at Parramatta!

41: We're going upstairs for a possible try for Anthony Watmough!

42: TRY PARRAMATTA EELS
Scored by Anthony Watmough. Kick to come.
Try to the Eels! Kelly bombs it high, Wright drops it cold and Watmough gets there first to get his had on it and get the try!

42: UNSUCCESSFUL CONVERSION PARRAMATTA EELS
Conversion attempt by Luke Kelly unsuccessful.
Kelly misses from almost in front, oh dear. That could be costly

44: Penalty to the Eels for offside and all of a sudden the Eels have some momentum!

45: Another Penalty and the Eels are only 20m out!

46: TRY PARRAMATTA EELS
Scored by Semi Radradra. Kick to come.
It's that man again!! Semi Radradra! Strolls in after some smart work by Corey Norman and Brad Takarangi. 16 Tries in 14 games at parra!!

47: UNSUCCESSFUL CONVERSION PARRAMATTA EELS
Conversion attempt by Luke Kelly unsuccessful.
Kelly's kick is left of the uprights, no good.

47: Parra are coming folks. What did Brad Arthur say at half time??

48: The Warriors finally get the ball and get a penalty as well which they'll be relieved to get. Parra offside from the kick.

49: Error by Lolohea! They're stumbling here NZ. Eels scrum 45m out from the Warriors line.

51: Grubber from Norman is played at by Townsend and goes into touch, repeat set here for the Eels. So much pressure for the Warriors! What a change we have seen in this second half

52: Parra 10m out

53: Robinson has been driven into touch by some amazing defence by the Warriors there

54: Warriors have the ball now, vital they get to their kick and complete their sets

55: Norman's kick is poor and bounces touch in goal, great kick pressure by NZ.

56: We're going upstairs for a possible try to radradra!

56: NO TRY! Radradra foot has gone into touch, great tackle by Lolohea! Try saver

56: Warriors need something here, very flat and no passion at the moment..

58: Game starting to develop into a grind again like we saw in the first 15 mins of the first half.

59: Takarangi with a vital stop to avoid a Warriors raid on the right hand edge. Vital stop there, Warriors looked threatening...

59: Warriors on the attack, just 20m out, some Johnson magic again?

61: The warriors kick twice on the last tackle, both kicks were poor, easily fielded by Radradra and the Eels have 7 tackles up their sleeve.

63: TRY PARRAMATTA EELS
Scored by Ryan Morgan. Kick to come.
Try Time! it's 12-12!! Ryan Morgan dives over after Manu Ma"ú gets on the outside of his man to create an overlap, its then catch and pass with Hopoate and Morgan

64: UNSUCCESSFUL CONVERSION PARRAMATTA EELS
Conversion attempt by Luke Kelly unsuccessful.
Across the face by Kelly, another miss! 12-12 it remains. Maybe Parra need to switch kickers?

65: Final 15 mins, It's been all Parra in this half. Will fatigue play a part?

66: Knock on by Radradra in the play the ball! What a chance for the Warriors!

68: Knock on by Radradra in a sea of bodies, this is another set of 6 for the Warriors, will the back to back sets do Parramatta in?

69: Shepherd by the Warriors! Oh dear! Poor mistake when you're only 15m out! Penalty to Parra, very handy spot to be in now for the blue and Gold's

70: Warriors survive and clean up the Norman kick 10m out from their own line.

71: The crowd is becoming very vocal now and is cheering the home side on, will they get their team over the line?

72: With only 8 mins left field goals are becoming a good option if you can get in position

73: Johnson is collared and his kick is dreadful, Parra get the ball on halfway, that could be a big play by the Eels, only 30m out!

74: Lousi has stripped the ball from Parra! What a play, but was there more than 1 player in the tackle?

75: SUCCESSFUL FIELD GOAL WARRIORS
Field goal attempt by Chad Townsend successful.
Townsend nails the field goal from 25m out! 13-12!

76: Johnson now puts in a smart kick after a good set by the Warriors, very smart play. Parra have 4 mins to draw level or take the win

77: 6 again! after the ball go through 12 sets of hands! Parra 10m out!

78: 90 seconds, 4th tackle!

78: SUCCESSFUL FIELD GOAL PARRAMATTA EELS
Field goal attempt by Luke Kelly successful.
Kelly has done it! Despite the Pressure he nails it! 13-13, what a game!

79: Crowd is erupting here!

79: 45 seconds folks, can either team steal it before full time? Or do we have Golden point??

80: We are going to Golden Point! 13-13, what a crazy game of footy!

80: Eels have first use of the football here folks

81: Kelly hits it high, Lolohea gets under it and carries it just shy of the 20 metre line

82: Johnson buries I deep into Parra territory. Both sides playing high percentage footy. Parra working it out from their own end

82: Error Eels! 30m out from the warriors line! Could that cost them the game?

83: Johnson goes for the drop goal but it's deflected! Line drop out!

85: Warriors 20m out!

85: We're going upstairs! This could be a try to Bodene Thompson! Barnstorming run by the big boy!

85: TRY WARRIORS
Scored by Bodene Thompson. Kick to come.
TRY!! Thompson has done it! Tragedy for Parramatta! 17-13 Full Time!