Titans will have to go short here. Campbell will kick off. It goes the 10 but it is batted back to Isaiah Papali'i who is in open space. Eels will win! FULLTIME.
Moses adds two more after milking the clock like a farm cow.
Oh my! Patrick Herbert tries a short dropout but it only hits the corner flag. Yep. You heard that right. EELS PENALTY!
Gutherson stabs through a kick on fourth and Fifita is swarmed on. Dropout.
Fotuaika loses it as he tried to get rid of it.
Mahoney tries to get another 40/20 but this one rolls deep in goal. Seven tackle set.
Some smart work there from Joseph Paulo on the kick-off. The ball was bouncing but he let it hit the legs then scooped it up. Replays suggest it might have touched him.
Moses will take another gift two points. Eels are back in the lead.
PENALTY EELS! Gutherson is taken out after he kicks through.
Will Smith decides on run it on last. He is wrangled by Regan Campbell-Gillard and it will be a handover.
Eels point to the sticks. Moses has it on the tee. He ties the game up.
Ray Stone with hands similar to his name in that tackle. Guess what?! Another CHALLENGE. Hat-trick of challenges for Eels. PENALTY.
Another early kick from the Eels but Sami is there again! Dropout.
Will Penisini kicks on first tackle and somehow gets a result. Sami is taken in-goal but is protesting it was two movements. Dropout.
RED LIGHTS.. NO TRY! It only took one look. Papali'i lost it.
BUNKER TIME! Mahoney dives over after the ball hits the ground. Lets see how it came out.
Some madcap madness to end that set! Eels kick it high, Gutherson taps it back then the ball is given air. Gutho puts in a second kick and David Fifita is there to cover.
Bailey Simonsson tries to dive over but he is held up.
Patrick Herbert spills it coming out of his own half. CHALLENGE from the Titans. Herbert got up incensed that it was called. No stripping motion. UNSUCCESSFUL.
Arthur with a deep kick that is easily marked by Will Smith. Seven tackle set incoming for the Titans.
Makatoa makes an error. CHALLENGE from the Eels. PENALTY EELS! It will be a strip against the Titans. SUCCESSFUL.
Patrick Herbert makes a bust for the Titans. They are on the attack now. But the final pass from Herbert goes forward. Changeover.
Eels attack looked fluid in attack in the first half. Second time in this half the final ball hasn't gone right.
RED LIGHTS.. NO TRY! Yep he bounced it. Relief for the Titans.
BUNKER TIME! Waqa Blake doing an NBL audition there. He flies in the air but has he got it down?
PENALTY EELS! Taking out the man before he caught the ball.
PENALTY EELS! Laying on the tackler. Eels surging now.
PENALTY TITANS! Ruck interference from Moses. CHALLENGE from Moses straight away. SUCCESSFUL. It will be an error to Will Smith. Bunker determined there was no touch from the Eels halfback.
PENALTY TITANS! Too long on the tackled player.
Sexton puts the Titans in front.
Phillip Sami from the top rope! Sexton put a huge kick up, it hung in the air and Sami leaps high and strolls in.
KICK-OFF! Here we go again.
Hope everyone caught their breath! We're back on for the second half. One note before kick-off though. Eels winger Sean Russell won't be back with broken ribs.
Sexton tries to get Kelly a hat-trick before half-time. He dribbles a kick through but Clint Gutherson is there to gather. HALFTIME.
Sexton with another kick to bring them within two.He sprays it right.
Titans go bang bang! David Fifita is in open space! He just steamrolls three defenders before he is taken by Gutherson. Titans quickly shift it through the hands left and Kelly finishes it off.
Sexton from mid range converts.
Erin Clark finds a gap! He takes a dart from dummy half, the defenders stand off and he dives over.
The King with a pauper's error there off the kick-off. Chance for the Titans to strike back.
Russell is up and walking off fine. Moses has another tough kick from out wide. He puts it over.
HAT-TRICK Sean Russell! What a ball from Mitch Moses. He unfurls a long pass while copping a hit for Russell to complete the treble. He is in a bit of discomfort after scoring.
Mitch Moses will want his team to score closer to the posts. This is the third kick from wide. He slots this one though.
Waqa Blake scores.
PENALTY EELS! Waqa Blake was taken out as he chased the kick.
Sexton pilots over another.
Titans hit back! They stretched it right through Fifita and Campbell. It opened up space on the left and they strip numbers for Brian Kelly to stroll in.
Reed Mahoney tries a chargedown but it goes straight back to Sexton. Set is wiped for the Titans.
The Lane Train is steaming forward again but he forgets the ball this time. Let off for the Titans.
Momentum is rolling for the Eels now! Mahoney drills a 40/20.
Moses sprays his conversion.
The Lane Train is back on the tracks! The rangy second rower strides onto the short pass and eventually gets the football down.
Will Smith almost leaps above the pack to retrieve Sexton's kick but he spills it.
Sexton is on fire! He sneaks the conversion inside the left post.
Some pass from Sexton that! He floats a wonderful pass onto the chest of Phillip Sami who strides over.
The crackdown continues! Paulo doesn't make an effort to use his foot to play the ball and is pinged.
Moses goes into his rhythm, swings his arms and puts it over.
Wow! The old adage about never letting it bounce strikes again! Mitch Moses puts up a huge kick which thunders off the upright, it is toed through and Russell has a double!
Titans have a chance to attack the line for the first time. They don't throw much at the Eels with a soft kick from Sexton which is well taken.
Moses pushes his first attempt wide.
Lovely work down the short side and the Eels score first! Gutherson with a fantastic cut-out ball which sends Sean Russell in for the four pointer.
Both teams have completed their first sets. Safety first from both as they feel their way into the contest.
KICK-OFF! Here we go!
Here come the Titans! They get a razz from the locals as they trot out onto Parramatta Stadium in their white away jersey. Next, it is the Eels. A huge roar goes up around the stadium as the blue and gold emerge from the sheds. Can they get their season off to a good start? or will the Titans continue the trend of Round 1.
Happy Sunday! It has been a smorgasbord of fantastic Rugby League thus far in Round 1 and we have another fabulous contest to finish off the triple header in Parramatta. The Eels coming off another season of disappointment look to finally get over the hump in 2022. It is also the last dance (I know) for much of this squad before change is needed. For the Titans, their big spending got them a finals appearance where they lost a cracker to the Sydney Roosters. Now it hopefully won't be a sophmore slump for them and they can move themselves further up the ladder. Today shapes as an amazing contest so grab your snacks, drinks and whatever else you need and enjoy!
Referees & scorers:
Referee: Grant Atkins
Touch Judges: David Munro, Wyatt Raymond
Video Referee: Matt Noyen
PARRAMATTA EELS (32)
Tries: Sean Russell (3), Shaun Lane, Waqa Blake
Conversions: Mitchell Moses (3/5)
Penalty Goals: Mitchell Moses (3/3)
GOLD COAST TITANS (28)
Tries: Phillip Sami (2), Brian Kelly (2), Erin Clark
Conversions: Toby Sexton (4/5)