Darwin trip good for Parramatta

The Parramatta Eels trip to Darwin was a successful one with a 10-4 victory over the Penrith Panthers in front of just over 8,000 territorians.

The game could fit into the category of the worst game in Rugby League's history with neither side managing to hit any high notes with drop ball, drop outs and not much else happening up north.

The Panthers looked to open the scoring first through Waqa Blake and despite it being sent up as a try it was clear on replays that Blake's knee was down on the ground well over the sideline.

After Soward forced repeat sets five teams, the Panthers finally cracked the Eels line through Waqa Blake and the Panthers lead the majority of the first half until Luke Kelly took a 40^th minute penalty goal attempt that missed and the Panthers took a 4-0 lead.

The second half had more points but wasn't full of more quality with plenty more errors coming from both sides but it was the Eels who were fortunate on the points front with two tires coming for Parramatta, the first was an easy try to Semi Radradra straight from the scrum after one of the Panthers many errors and the second was an 80m effort from Reece Robinson who went through some really weak defence from the Panthers in the final five minutes to save us all.. I mean prevent us from the thrills of golden point.

The loss for the Panthers effectively ends their season as they had a mathematical chance of making the finals but essentially neither side was in contention.

Next week, the Eels have a big task down at Allianz Stadium against the Roosters meanwhile the Panthers return to Pepper Stadium up against the Warriors.

Match Details

Parramatta Eels 10 Penrith Panthers 4
Venue: TIO Stadium
Crowd: 8340
Halftime Score: Parramatta Eels 0 Penrith Panthers 4

PARRAMATTA EELS (10)
Tries: Semi Radradra, Reece Robinson
Field Goals:
Conversions: Luke Kelly (1/2)
Penalty Goals: Luke Kelly (0/1)

PENRITH PANTHERS (4)
Tries: Waqa Blake
Field Goals:
Conversions: Jamie Soward (0/1)
Penalty Goals:

LeagueUnlimited.com Players of the Match:

3 points - Semi Radradra
2 points - William Smith
1 point - Waqa Blake

LeagueUnlimited.com Live Commentary

Both teams are lining up side by side for a good cause in trying to prevent family violence.. a scourge of our community

UNFORCED ERROR PARRAMATTA EELS
Manu Ma'u makes an unforced error.
Tackle 2 and Manu Ma'u can't handle an offload and the Panthers go on the attack

2: UNFORCED ERROR PENRITH PANTHERS
Josh Mansour makes an unforced error.
Josh Mansour out on the wing can't catch a bouncing pass and the Panthers also fail to complete their first set

2: UNFORCED ERROR PARRAMATTA EELS
Nathan Peats makes an unforced error.
Nathan Peats loses the ball and now the Panthers are back on the attack

3: Repeat set coming up for the Panthers after Junior Paulo is forced to push a Segeyaro grubber dead

6: PENALTY PANTHERS - Eels penalised for being too slow from the ruck

8: PENALTY PANTHERS - Corey Norman comes in and is penalised for a flop on Will Smith... pressure relieved on the Panthers

9: Repeat set coming for the Panthers after Bureta Faraimo couldn't handle the kick across field

11: Another penalty to the Panthers followed by another and now they really do need to turn it into points

12: Another dropout forced by the Panthers and they are good at getting restarts but not as well at points

15: Dropout, Dropout, Dropout thats how the game is going at the moment as the Panthers force their 5th in 15 minutes

17: TRY PENRITH PANTHERS
Scored by Waqa Blake. Kick to come.
Panthers finally turn all their pressure into points with a good catch and pass play for the Panthers to see Waqa Blake score in the corner on the left

18: UNSUCCESSFUL CONVERSION PENRITH PANTHERS
Conversion attempt by Jamie Soward unsuccessful.
Jamie Soward can't get enough fade on the ball and he pushes the conversion wide

20: PENALTY EELS - A needed penalty for the blue and gold and they can go on the attack for the first time

21: Eels come up with one of the most confusing last tackle plays ever... Panthers now working the ball away

24: UNFORCED ERROR PENRITH PANTHERS
Josh Mansour makes an unforced error.
Josh Mansour gets the ball knocked out by David Gower... but referees Devcich & Noyen rule a loose carry

25: Time out in this one with Lewis Brown being treated for a bloody nose after a head clash with Manu Ma'u

26: PENALTY PANTHERS - Isaac De Gois penalised for a slow ruck by Matt Noyen.. Panthers working it afterwards from their own 40m line

32: Panthers blow a good opportunity with Segeyaro putting an average kick in but 2 plays later Takairangi gets taken into touch

39: Eels try to run the ball after 10 tackles on the Panthers line and they throw it to the touch judge.... this game is well average

40: UNSUCCESSFUL PENALTY GOAL PARRAMATTA EELS
Penalty goal attempt by Luke Kelly unsuccessful.
Luke Kelly somehow misses a conversion from close range and that takes us to HT

40: Back underway in Darwin and this game has to be said as a passionate Panthers fan here updating... the game has been rubbish

41: Decent set for the Panthers and the Eels are working it out from their own 20m zone

43: Eels go on the attack now thanks to poor defence from Isaah Yeo for the Panthers

45: TRY PARRAMATTA EELS
Scored by Semi Radradra. Kick to come.
Semi Radradra scores after getting more open space down the edge for the Panthers after the Panthers were unluckily ruled to have knocked on

46: UNSUCCESSFUL CONVERSION PARRAMATTA EELS
Conversion attempt by Luke Kelly unsuccessful.
Luke Kelly has missed another relatively easy conversion tonight

48: UNFORCED ERROR PARRAMATTA EELS
Bureta Faraimo makes an unforced error.
Bureta Faraimo smashes Soward and forces the ball out but Devcich rules a touch by Faraimo as it was on its way out

50: Will Smith pulls out a great kick return and finds the 30m line of Parra then next play Panthers get a penalty

52: UNFORCED ERROR PENRITH PANTHERS
Isaac John makes an unforced error.
Panthers in prime position for a good attacking raid and Isaac John loses the ball

53: PENALTY PANTHERS: Eels get penalised in the ruck again and its now 8-4 in the count

55: Panthers go attacking and can't do anything then get pinned for being offside 2 tackles later

57: UNFORCED ERROR PENRITH PANTHERS
Waqa Blake makes an unforced error.
Waqa Blake ruled to have lost the ball in the air and Parra attack 10m out

60: UNFORCED ERROR PENRITH PANTHERS
James Segeyaro makes an unforced error.
James Segeyaro throws a clearly forward ball to Latimore and it gets called by Devcich

62: UNFORCED ERROR PENRITH PANTHERS
William Smith makes an unforced error.
Will Smith loses the ball in a tackle with 2 of Parra's big men

63: Good kick from Jamie Soward finds touch 15m out....

70: UNFORCED ERROR PENRITH PANTHERS
William Smith makes an unforced error.
Great set up for the Panthers and.... execution as expected is shocking

73: UNFORCED ERROR PENRITH PANTHERS
Jamie Soward makes an unforced error.
Panthers create a half chance but Jamie Soward loses the offload

75: Could we be heading to golden point at 4-4?

76: TRY PARRAMATTA EELS
Scored by Reece Robinson. Kick to come.
Panthers defenders show nothing and Reece Robinson sprints downfield and breaks the deadlock

77: SUCCESSFUL CONVERSION PARRAMATTA EELS
Conversion attempt by Luke Kelly successful.
Kelly nails the conversion and the Eels will somehow get away with a win here in Darwin.