Resurgent Eels claim Brisbane scalp

Parramatta have stunned the Brisbane Broncos with an upset 42-22 victory at Suncorp Stadium tonight in front of 22,626 fans.

The NRL's cellar dwellers did most of their work in the first half, blitzing the Broncos to the tune of 30-6 in the first forty minutes.

It was the Eels who opened the scoring, absorbing repeated raids from Brisbane before turning things around at the other end of the ground. Rookie hooker Nathan Smith charged down a Peter Wallace kick and wouldn't be beaten to the line from just 20 metres out.

Brisbane hit back not long after to even the scores and with continually changing momentum it seemed a close match was on the cards - then Parramatta exploded. Four tries in the last eleven minutes of the first half saw the Eels blow the score out from 12-6 to 30-6.

The Broncos had obviously had a rocket from coach Anthony Griffin at halftime - two quick tries in the opening eight minutes of the second half had the margin back to just 12 points, but that was as close as they got. Parramatta managed to wrestle back possession and later control of the match, scoring two tries before the final siren sounded at Suncorp.

The loss sees Brisbane out of the top four on for-and-against - and it won't get any better for them as they face Canterbury and Manly in the final five rounds of the competition. Another factor not helping them is the constant stream of injuries - added to tonight with Peter Wallace sustaining a head-knock.

For Parramatta it was just the tonic for new coach Brad Arthur. The Eels are now 2/2 against top eight sides in consecutive weeks, and gunning for 15th placed Penrith. Reni Maitua was a standout for the visiting side, with Fuifui Moimoi and Chris Sandow also strong performers.

Next week the Eels head to Campbelltown hoping to make it three against the out-of-form and injury-hit Wests Tigers. Brisbane will be hoping to reverse their slumping form against Canberra in the nation's capital.

Match Details
Brisbane Broncos 22 were defeated by Parramatta Eels 42
National Rugby League - Round 21 - Monday July 30, 2012 7:00pm
Venue: Suncorp Stadium
Referees: Ashley Klein and Tony De Las Heras
Video Referee: Chris Ward
Touch Judges: Grant Atkins and Peter Gough
Crowd: 22,626
Halftime: Brisbane Broncos 6 Parramatta Eels 30

Leagueunlimited.com players of the match:
3 Points - Reni Maitua
2 Points - Chris Sandow (1 Try)
1 Point - Fuifui Moimoi (1 Try)

Brisbane Broncos (22)
Tries: Andrew McCullough, Luke Capewell, Corey Norman, Lachlan Maranta
Conversions: Peter Wallace (3/3), Corey Norman (0/1)

Parramatta Eels (42)
Tries: Luke Burt, Fuifui Moimoi, Justin Poore, Chris Sandow (2), Nathan Smith, Ken Sio
Conversions: Luke Burt (7/7)

LeagueUnlimited.com Live Commentary We arrive at Suncorp Stadium for Friday Nigh... oops. It's MONDAY Night Football, unfamiliar territory for the Brisbane Broncos this season. They host the last-placed Parramatta Eels. Sadly they'll have to do it without Corey Parker - but they do get back Ben Te'o who was cleared at the judiciary mid-week. Te'o will start in the centres, moving Gerard Beale to the wing and Aaron Whitchurch to the bench. Josh McGuire will start in Parker's lock position. Parramatta are unchanged from the team named by debutant head coach Brad Arthur on Tuesday.
Toyota Cup has been run and won by the Brisbane Broncos at home tonight, 42-26 over the Eels. Earlier in the weekend the Eels' VB NSW Cup feeder club Wentworthville upset the first-placed Bulldogs 22-10, while Broncos feeder Wynnum Manly copped a 44-16 hammering from the Northern Pride in the QLD Intrust Super Cup.
Out come the Eels in their traditional yellow jersey, the Broncos follow them moments later in their signature maroon and gold.
The fire cannons are off the field, the teams are in position and we are UNDERWAY in Monday Night Footy - Broncos receiving first.
3 min: The Broncos are the first team to venture into the opposition half... they put up a big one and while Jake Mullaney fields it, he is dragged in-goal. Line drop out Eels, Brisbane will have the first chance of the night.
4 min: Brisbane building pressure now - Jake Mullaney forced to bat a grubber dead. Another line dropout.
6 min: Brisbane playing the ball short close to the line, Tim Mannah finds himself with his hands on the ball but he can't get a grip on it. Knock on - Broncos scrum.
7 min: Tackle 2 and Peter Wallace drops it cold with the Eels defence up and in his face. Parramatta have soaked up the pressure and will now advance up-field.
8 min: The Eels go down the short side, they are... pushed into touch! But it's a penalty, Broncos players never onside after the Eels made the break which put them within reach of the line.
8 min: HELD UP - Fuifui Moimoi is held up over the line for the Eels. Play on, tackle four.
9 min: The Eels' fifth tackle play sees Roberts duck left down the short side, finding Maitua who tries a useless grubber. Capewell submits in the tackle to start the Broncos set.
10 min: TRY
TRY Parramatta Eels
Scored by Nathan Smith. Conversion attempt by Luke Burt successful.
Wallace, deep in his own half looks to kick long but it's a CHARGE DOWN! Nathan Smith collects and scores the opener! Burt nails the extra two from in front.
Parramatta Eels 6-0
11 min: Oh Brisbane. Offside from the kickoff. Penalty Eels on halfway.
13 min: Ryan Morgan (Eels) almost crosses in the corner but is JUST stopped. Fifth tackle and Ben Roberts lofts it cross-field, Lachlan Maranta (Broncos) grabs it.
13 min: As an aside, the crowd looks particularly low at Suncorp Stadium tonight - an unfamiliar timeslot for the Broncos a likely contributor.
14 min: Reni Maitua almost through the defensive line on halfway, he looks to offload and it looks like a knock on by the Eels - but the Broncos are ruled to have played at it.
15 min: Third penalty of the night for Parramatta. They now start just ten metres out.
16 min: Tackle two and Ben Roberts throws an ordinary pass out to Ryan Morgan who spills it at his feet.
17 min: Turning tide perhaps? A Broncos penalty has them back on the attack 30m from the Eels' line.
18 min: Second penalty for Brisbane, the Eels taking the fifth tackle kick cleanly through Luke Burt but Ryan Morgan is ruled to have run a block on the chasing Broncos. Set starts inside the 10m line.
20 min: VIDEO REFEREE possible Broncos try to Corey Norman. Jake Mullaney's made a mess of a bouncing grubber.
21 min: TRY
TRY Brisbane Broncos
Scored by Corey Norman. Conversion attempt by Peter Wallace successful.
Norman grubbers in sight of the line and it bounces up into the arms of Eels fullback Jake Mullaney, who juggles it before Norman plucks it from him and scores the Broncos' first. Wallace levels scores with the conversion.
6 all
22 min: Tim Mannah loses the ball just short of his own 40m line. Broncos scrum.
23 min: Big drama here at Suncorp - first Sam Thaiday is forced off the field injured. Petero Civoniceva is benched as well. Now we've got a penalty against Paulo (Eels) for a high shot on Peter Wallace.
24 min: VIDEO REFEREE possible Broncos try to Ben Te'o. Checking obstruction by Ben Hannant.
24 min: NO TRY - Ben Hannant is penalised for obstructing Reni Maitua. Eels boot themselves off their own line.
26 min: Parramatta are tearing down the left edge with Reni Maitua, the defence allowing him plenty of metres. The Eels get within 20m again before conceding possession with a forward pass.
28 min: Parramatta again bearing down on the Broncos line... and it looks like they've scored! VIDEO REFEREE possible Eels try to Justin Poore.
29 min: TRY
TRY Parramatta Eels
Scored by Justin Poore. Conversion attempt by Luke Burt successful.
Justin Poore took the ball with 6 or 7 metres to run, carrying defenders to the tryline before slamming it down under the weight of several Broncos. Burt adds the extras from beside the posts.
Parramatta Eels 12-6
32 min: Another Eels foray into Brisbane territory ends in a fielded kick in-goal. Brisbane 20m restart.
33 min: Two superb runs from the Eels has them in superb attacking position... and it's another TRY!
35 min: TRY
TRY Parramatta Eels
Scored by Chris Sandow. Conversion attempt by Luke Burt successful.
Those two brilliant runs from Ryan Morgan and Ken Sio put the Eels within 30m of the Broncos line. The following tackle Ben Roberts turns the play around and finds Mullaney who puts Sandow in the clear, they won't catch him! Luke Burt makes no mistake with the conversion.
Parramatta Eels 18-6
37 min: TRY
TRY Parramatta Eels
Scored by Ken Sio. Conversion attempt by Luke Burt successful.
Parramatta seem to be channeling the Bulldogs and Rabbitohs at the moment! The ball goes wide early in the set - and it's Cheyse Blair who races along the touchline before finding Ken Sio... TRY! Luke Burt converts again and a stunning 24-6 scoreline looks likely to be the halftime score.
Parramatta Eels 24-6
40 min: Upstairs we go again! VIDEO REFEREE for the Eels... someone's scored - either Morgan or Burt. Amazing first half.
40 min: TRY
TRY Parramatta Eels
Scored by Luke Burt. Conversion attempt by Luke Burt successful.
Jake Mullaney is on the outside and he'll SCORE! No... it's knocked out of his hands by a Bronco... and grounded by Luke Burt and Ryan Morgan. Burt is awarded the try Benefit of the Doubt, and converts.
Parramatta Eels 30-6
No, I'm not messing you around. Yes, 30-6 is really the score! Parramatta are trouncing the Broncos at the moment - a great brand of attacking footy from the cellar dwellers combined with some weak, feeble defence from Brisbane has most of Suncorp Stadium left scratching their heads. Hard to see the Broncos come back from here, but stranger things have happened!
41 min: We're back underway for the second half here. Let's see if Parramatta can go on with this one...
41 min: Well, that's not the greatest start. Ben Roberts knocks on from the kickoff.
42 min: Brisbane's attack is still looking very disjointed, lots of erratic passing. They straighten up in the last couple of tackles... and they're over!
43 min: TRY
TRY Brisbane Broncos
Scored by Luke Capewell. Conversion attempt by Peter Wallace successful.
Luke Capewell has capitalised on an overlap as well as a slip from Chris Sandow... he crosses very quickly to start the half on a positive note for Brisbane. Wallace reduces the margin to eighteen points with the conversion.
Parramatta Eels 30-12
46 min: TRY
TRY Brisbane Broncos
Scored by Andrew McCullough. Conversion attempt by Peter Wallace successful.
Well haven't the Broncos come out full of running? Andrew McCullough crashes over to shorten the margin again. Wallace converts.
Parramatta Eels 30-18
Official Crowd: 22,626
48 min: Penalty Broncos toward the end of the set. They now start attacking 40m out...
49 min: Luke Capewell goes from dummy half on the last tackle and is held short of the line. Handover Eels - and now eight minutes into the second forty they FINALLY have the ball.
51 min: And another penalty for Brisbane, Eels ruled to have interfered in the play-the-ball through Nathan Smith. Brisbane attack from halfway.
53 min: Brisbane grubber it through on the last and Mullaney takes it before being stunned by a big hit from Norman. He stays in the field of play though and Parramatta will run it out of their own end.
54 min: This time it's a high ball to pressure Mullaney, he takes it and narrowly avoids being dragged back in-goal.
55 min: Sandow puts up a big bomb on the last but Beale takes it cleanly and makes good metres despite some chasing attention from the Eels.
57 min: For the third time Mullaney is put under immense pressure, another bomb and he not only takes this one but gets himself out wide and makes 15m from it. He's nearly dragged into touch for his troubles.
59 min: Ben Roberts into the clear! He's got Moimoi in support! He doesn't give it to him! What's doing!?!?!
60 min: TRY
TRY Parramatta Eels
Scored by Fuifui Moimoi. Conversion attempt by Luke Burt successful.
BANG! Fuifui makes up for Ben Roberts' selfishness a tackle later - Sandow the man feeding the big Tongan the ball in a yawning gap. That could be the game for the Eels. Burt continues his perfect record, converting his sixth of the night.
Parramatta Eels 36-18
62 min: Brisbane turn the momentum back with a deep kick, Mullaney cornered in-goal. Line drop-out.
64 min: Broncos earn another repeat set by kicking into the legs of Hindmarsh. Not sure he played at it but that's the ruling. Now Peter Wallace is down and groggy after his head hit the ground when tackled by "Hindy".
64 min: Corey Norman ruled to have lost the ball after bouncing off a Chris Sandow shoulder charge and going to ground. Eels scrum.
Peter Wallace has wandered off the field following the head knock a minute ago.
66 min: What the? Roberts puts a big punt in down the park - it bounces off the crossbar and back into the hands of Ryan Morgan... who drops it.
68 min: TRY
TRY Brisbane Broncos
Scored by Lachlan Maranta. Conversion attempt by Corey Norman unsuccessful.
A good cross-field kick from substitute halfback Ben Hunt finds Lachlan Maranta, who out-jumps his opposites to claim the ball and put it down for a try. Corey Norman becomes the first player to miss a conversion tonight.
Parramatta Eels 36-22
70 min: The ball goes through just about everyone's hands... Te'o is brought down - centimetres out! Ben Hunt then gets it on tackle five and SHANKS the kick badly! Chris Sandow collects and Parramatta get a penalty on the next tackle to relieve the pressure.
72 min: Parramatta force a line drop out, a grubber in-goal sees Corey Norman toe it dead.
73 min: VIDEO REFEREE possible try to Nathan Smith for the Eels!
NO TRY, knock on. Broncos scrum 10m out.
75 min: Brisbane's last chances have evaporated, the latest a grubber which held up in-goal for Mullaney.. but Mullaney gets back in the field of play!
77 min: VIDEO REFEREE again, this time for the Eels - Sandow in the corner! Looks good...
78 min: TRY
TRY Parramatta Eels
Scored by Chris Sandow. Conversion attempt by Luke Burt successful.
Sandow finds himself in the clear from a Nathan Smith offload, then backs his pace against Luke Capewell to score in the corner. Burt converts from the sideline to push the margin back out to 20 points.
Parramatta Eels 42-22
80 min: Parramatta's last attacking set ends with a kick that goes touch in-goal. Brisbane with the final plays of the game now.
That will do us - FULLTIME and it's been a stunner - Parramatta have defeated Brisbane 42-22 on home turf to keep their dreams of avoiding the spoon alive.