The Parramatta Eels have taken their second victory of the NRLW season with their 24-14 win over the Gold Coast Titans in front of a home crowd at Commbank Stadium.
Strange is the only description for the first half that was essentially two halves in one with the Eels dominating one half and the Titans dominating the other. The Eels started quickly and Maddie Studdon was able to get on the board first when the Parramatta attack wasn't conventional but was effective when a low pass was kicked forward and regathered by Tiana Penitani who found Maddie Studdon who scored for the Blue & Gold.
Parramatta were able to add another try inside the first ten minutes when rookie Abbi Church was able to fight her was over the line in the corner after being set up by Tiana Penitani who had her second try assist of the game. Both conversion attempts from Maddie Studdon were waved away after coming off the posts.
Things continued to go against the Titans when Tazmin Gray was put on report and given ten minutes in the sin bin by referee Kasey Badger for a crusher tackle. Strangely though, things actually fell nicely for the Titans who actually were able to dominate during the ten-minute period Gray was off the field.
Celebrating her 40th birthday during the week, Steph Hancock kept the celebrations going with the veteran scoring her first NRLW try for the Titans and the Titans were back within just four points.
If 12 players was meant to be a disadvantage, the Titans didn't show it as they levelled the scores when rookie Hailey-Jay Maunsell scored out wide as they managed to build an overlap and score out wide. The conversion was waved away and the scores were level.
At the half-hour mark, the true strangeness really hit when the Eels were disallowed a try for an obstruction that was originally awarded but after bunker review it was knocked back. The strangeness continued when despite having more than five minutes remaining the siren went around the stadium. Thinking it was half time, Kimiora Breayley-Nati tapped the ball and kicked it out on the full, only for it to not be half time and the Eels had the ball inside the Titans 10m zone. A penalty in front of the posts meant that the Eels were able to level the scores at 10-10 which left Titans fans a bit frustrated.
The Titans were able to take the lead early in the second half when Destiny Brill continued her starring season when she was able to fight her way over the line and the Gold Coast lead 16-10.
Things changed for the Eels when they were able to dominate thanks to Botille Vette-Welsh and ran in three unanswered tries started by an effort from Emily Curtain to fight her way to the line and get the ball down. The Eels continued their dominance when Botille Vette-Welsh was able to get her way over the line. The Eels sealed the victory with a beautiful angled run from Christian Pio to score and seal the victory for the Blue & Gold.
Next weekend, the Eels take on the Roosters in Newcastle whilst the Gold Coast get their first home game when they host the Broncos in the first NRLW Queensland Derby.