Eels secure top 4 berth as Storm gear up for sudden death

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Parramatta Eels v Melbourne Storm

The Parramatta Eels have secured a top four berth for the first time since 2017, downing the Melbourne Storm by 22-14 in a fiery match to kickoff Round 25 of the NRL Telstra Premiership. It was billed as a finals dress rehearsal and with a lot on the line for both sides, it was imperative to get off to a fast start this evening.

It was the Eels who punished the Storm for their poor handling. An NFL-style pass from Jesse Bromwich was ruled forward and off the ensuing set, Dylan Brown showed and went, ducking underneath an ineffective tackle by Nelson Asofa-Solomona to cross for the first try. Melbourne's ill-discipline almost cost them immediately after Cam Munster's kick-off went out on the full. Marata Niukore was ruled to be held up by Ashley Klein and the ensuing bunker review failed to produce the angle to overturn the on-field decision.

Melbourne was up against it defensively for much of the first half, largely of their poor ball control and ill discipline. NAS was placed on report again following a late tackle on Mitch Moses. Parramatta was only able to add a penalty goal to extend the margin to eight when Munster's short dropout just failed to break the plane. The Storm had some chances late in the half but at the final moment, the movement failed when Justin Olam was thrown over the sideline then Xavier Coates put the ball down with the line wide-open to go into the sheds scoreless and down by eight.

The same problems reared their ugly heads for the Storm at the worst possible time. Another cheap penalty inside Parramatta territory gave the Eels prime attacking opportunity. Just a tackle after Shaun Lane was held up, great attacking shape from Moses and Gutherson saw Will Penisini spin his way out of two tackles to score which gave the Eels a vital three possession lead.

Melbourne were trying hard but ultimately the fatigue from last week's bone-crunching encounter caught up with them, the mistakes and ill-discipline would be pulling Craig Bellamy's hair out. Parramatta made light work of their opposition when Gutherson turned provider with a lovely cut-out pass to Maika Sivo and the flying Fijian winger raced the best part of 30 meters untouched to give the Eels an unassailable 20 point advantage. The Storm built some momentum and off a ridiculous short drop-out, Harry Grant ducked under some would be tacklers to avoid the duck-egg, Meaney missed a relatively simple kick and the margin remained 16. Another penalty for a failed short dropout gave Parramatta a gift two points and they'd prove decisive.

They'd prove decisive because Melbourne went on a scoring raid inside the final five minutes bagging two tries, one to Meaney off a Munster show and go. The second was from Nofoaluma stepping past some pedestrian Eels defence to set up a grandstand finish. But, Parramatta held off the Storm's final charge to finish inside the top 4 for the first time since 2017, while the Storm finish outside the second chance positions for the first time since 2014.