Terrific Hayne inspires Parramatta to victory

A Jarryd Hayne inspired Parramatta Eels side has come away with a scrappy victory at Parramatta Stadium.

The Cowboys looked good early, getting away to a 6-0 lead. Before letting their early work come undone

Parramatta then put on 30 unanswered points to streak away. The Cowboys came back late to put some respectability into the scoreline.

The game was highlighted by some fantastic work by Jarryd Hayne scoring three tries and taking a freakish catch off an Anthony Watts kick showing amazing reflexes.

It was a perfect night of goalkicking from both Luke Burt and Johnathan Thurston also, with each kicker converting difficult sideline opportunites.

Jarryd Hayne was the pick of the 34 men, bringing his great Origin 3 form into this game, while Johnathan Thurston was his usual tireless self for the Cowboys, despite being responsible for what is a contender for dumbest conceded try of all time after making a meal of a nothing grubbed in the in goal to hand Joel Reddy a try.

For the Cowboys, despite looking good in patches, the period of collapse before half time was indicative of their season so far while the Eels will be buoyed by their performance. It might not look like much, but the Cowboys were very competitive and the Eels should value that win more than any average win over competition cellar dwellers.

Match Details
Parramatta Eels 36 defeated North Queensland Cowboys 24
National Rugby League - NRL - Round 18 - Monday July 12, 2010 7:00pm
Venue: Parramatta Stadium
Referee: Ashley Klein and Jared Maxwell
Video Referee: Tim Mander
Touch Judges: Adam Devcich and Luke Phillips
Crowd: 11,177
Halftime: Parramatta Eels 24 North Queensland Cowboys 6

Leagueunlimited.com players of the match:
3 Points - Jarryd Hayne (3 Tries)
2 Points - Johnathan Thurston (4 Conversions)
1 Point - Nathan Cayless

PARRAMATTA EELS (36)
Tries: Joel Reddy, Jarryd Hayne (3), Krisnan Inu, Jeff Robson
Conversions: Luke Burt (6/6)

NORTH QUEENSLAND COWBOYS (24)
Tries: Arana Taumata, Willie Tonga (2), Will Tupou
Conversions: Johnathan Thurston (4/4)

LeagueUnlimited.com Live Commentary Parramatta go into this game in shocking form. The Cowboys are even worse. The winner will most likely be the team who pray before the game. Flip a coin. Then put $100 on Parramatta because the Cowboys are dead set woeful, whereas, the Eels are just bad.
Steve Rapira is out with Dane Hogan into the starting lineup and Ben Harris coming into the side on the bench.
Parramatta are as per program.
3 min: Parramatta looking good in their first set but spill the ball after charging downfield.
4 min: North Queensland immediately spread it to the left and Tonga breaks downfield. Inu concedes a penalty coming across in cover. Cowboys on the attack now.
5 min: Looks like a try here for the Cowboys through Will Tupou. Video referee decision pending.
5 min: No try. Inu had his arm under the ball and then forced Tupou over the sideline. Good work from Inu but the Cowboys look good at the moment.
12 min: The Cowboys look great at the moment but just can't put a point on the board. This game is much higher quality than the teams ladder positions suggest.
19 min: A desperate Krisnan Inu kick forces Bowen to batter the ball did giving Parramatta a chance inside the Cowboys half.
20 min: Jarryd Hayne puts an inside ball down under no pressure. Cowboys off the hook.
24 min: TRY
After a mistake defending a kick, Parramatta concede a try through Willie Tonga. A blatantly forward 'round the corner Johnathan Thurston ball gives Tonga an untouched run over the line. The referee misses it and a try is awarded.
North Queensland Cowboys 6-0
25 min: Carl Webb knocks on from the kick off.
27 min: TRY
Jeff Robson hits straight back, dummying at the line and finding a gap, crossing under the posts.
6 all
30 min: Suddenly the game has devolved into a dropfest.
34 min: TRY Media Mantarays
Jarryd Hayne scores a great try after Matt Keating offloads to Jeff Robson who with an inside ball gets Hayne into space who does the rest getting around the Cowboys cover. Matt Keating is injured in the process and is taken off on the medicab. Fingers crossed he's okay. Leeson Ah Mau is on report for the high shot after the offload.
Parramatta Eels 12-6
39 min: TRY Media Mantarays
Hayne has crossed again after attempting to knock it back to teammates but Bowen instead got his hand there and knocks it back into the hands of the forward moving Hayne. Video ref confirms it and Parramatta skip ahead.
Parramatta Eels 18-6
40 min: TRY
Smart work from Inu puts Reddy into space. Reddy draws the fullback and gives the ball back to Krisnan who crosses right on full time to blow this game open. Burt continues his impeccable kicking display. Half time and what looked like a good showing from the Cowboys has turned into yet another poor Cowboys performance.
Parramatta Eels 24-6
40 min: The completions from both sides have left a lot to be desired. The Cowboys have completed less than half and the Eels have had 8 incomplete sets themselves.
41 min: Cowboys spill it in the first set after the kick off. Parramatta back on the attack.
43 min: TRY
That is the dumbest try I have ever seen conceded. After what looked like a pretty harmless grubber is put into the in goal. Bowen and Thurston combine to kick it into the hands of Joel Reddy.
Parramatta Eels 30-6
49 min: TRY
Arana Taumata crosses for his first try of the season and first for the Cowboys. Good strength shown after a Parramatta kick is charged down by Ah Mau.
Parramatta Eels 30-12
55 min: Luke Burt forces a line drop out.
57 min: Cowboys right on the attack at the moment.
58 min: The Eels concede another penalty. Bordering on sin bin I'd say.
59 min: Cowboys force a line drop out. Parramatta defending well.
61 min: TRY
Tonga crashes over after enormous pressure. Cowboys coming back.
Parramatta Eels 30-18
65 min: TRY Media Mantarays
Jarryd Hayne shows great strength to force his way over under the pressure of three defenders. Hayne has brought his Origin 3 form into this game.
Parramatta Eels 36-18
70 min: TRY
Johnathan Thurston throws an amazing pass, cutting out two and lands into the winger Will Tupou's hands on the fly who crosses unmarked. Cowboys hit back again. Not long to go but they aren't without a chance. Especially since he kicked it from the sideline. Great display of kicking from Burt and Thurston.
Parramatta Eels 36-24
71 min: Crowd tonight at Parramatta Stadium: 11,177
72 min: Parramatta cough up possession in their own 20 to give the Cowboys a late sniff.
72 min: Cowboys put it down. Parramatta ball and subsequent penalty to get them out of the danger zone.
74 min: Justin Horo comes onto the penalty tap at 100 miles an hour and makes a break only to offload to nobody to give the ball straight back to the Cowboys.
75 min: Wow. Hayne just caught an Anthony Watts kick on the full about two metres in front of the Cowboys replacement hooker. I implore you, see the replays, that was unbelievable.
77 min: The Cowboys go within inches of scoring but the offload ends up in Parrmatta hands. It looks in the bag now for the Eels.
80 min: Anthony Watts is on report for a high shot right at the end here. Parramatta with the ball in hand forty seconds remaining. They will win.
80 min: After a funny finish the Eels finally hear the siren and record a much needed win.