Led by an unlikely Ray Stone double, Parramatta Eels defeated Melbourne Storm 28-24 in a thrilling contest at Melbourne Rectangular Stadium on Saturday twilight.
It was billed as a heavyweight clash and it lived up to the billing. Parramatta Eels and Melbourne Storm played out a beauty which had brilliant performances from all the star names but it was interchange forward Ray Stone who stole the show. He scored two late tries for the Eels to snatch the win in Melbourne.
Things just aren't meant to be easy between the Storm and Eels. The scores were level four times in the epic contest where a late Papenhuyzen four-pointer sent it to Golden Point. In the extra period, it was a missed Field Goal from Mitch Moses which fell perfect for Stone to step inside a defender and win the game 28-24.
In the sunshine of Melbourne, both these sides looked to promote the football. There were plenty of offloads in the first half and open space for the sides to exploit. Melbourne crossed the stripe twice through wingers Reimis Smith and Nick Meaney but both were chalked off.
Storm would find the first points through another Smith. The returning Brandon Smith. He took an offload, burrowed low and got himself over the line, making it 6-nil.
The Eels were a bit errant to start the contest but found their groove. Points quickly followed. First Dylan Brown cut open the defense before he sent Clint Gutherson across for 6-6 then Waqa Blake turned himself into a cannonball to find the left-hand corner to complete the turnaround. 12-6 Eels.
The hosts sent us to the break level after a late error from the Eels. They ran another set play down the left between Kenny Bromwich and Meaney which this time wasn't taken off the winger. 12-all at the break.
Melbourne retook the lead quickly after the break. Some smart thinking from Cam Munster. The halfback saw the Eels defense hemmed in, kicked for Meaney again, he won the race and touched down to make it 18-12.
Eels don't seem to fear the Storm side like many do. The visitors scored twice through kicks, once through centre Tom Opacic then an inventive effort from interchange forward Ray Stone put them up 24-18 with five to go.
You can't count out a champion side though. Brandon Smith poked through, found Cam Munster, who in turn sent away a flying Ryan Papenhuyzen to make it 24-all.
Both sides tried to punch through a field goal to win it. Papenhuyzen had his effort charged down by Opacic in a huge effort then Mitch Moses' radar was off for his effort. We were off to Golden Point - where Stone's magic was weaved.
Melbourne have a third straight home game at AAMI next Sunday when Canterbury come to town, while the Eels are back home to host the Dragons on Sunday night.