The Parramatta Eels have emphatically won the Spoon Bowl, avoiding last position with a ruthless 60-26 victory over the Wests Tigers who have won their third successive wooden spoon.
Spoon Bowl brought the rugby league community much joy. But we soon remembered why these teams were playing for this valuable prize as the first half consisted of some disappointing mistakes. It was a poor start to the game, especially from the Tigers with several careless errors. As a result, Parramatta didn't waste their third successive set inside the Tigers 20m zone. Some nice work from the departing Blaize Talagi got Maika Sivo one on one with Charlie Staines who Sivo trucked over on his way to the line after eight minutes.
Three minutes later, after earning a penalty and building some sustained possession, the Tigers were able to hit back. Great light-footed runs from Latu Fainu and Heath Mason got the Tigers on the front foot. It was then the green light for the Lachlan Galvin show, clever grubber by Galvin found Josh Feledy on the bounce and the Tigers hit back. Parramatta continued giving the Tigers quality field position after the kick-off went out on the full. Galvin continued his terrorising attacking raid with a second try-assist in as many sets as he fired a bullet ball to Junior Tupou who crossed to give the Tigers a 10-6 lead after 15 minutes.
Parramatta didn't let the two successive tries get in their way. After building pressure of their own, Daejarn Asi took advantage of some disappointing edge defence to cross out wide for the Eels and we were evenly poised midway through the first half of Spoon Bowl 24'. Parramatta regained the lead just before the half-hour mark. Dylan Brown caused all sorts of issues for some fatigued defenders before getting the ball away to Brendan Hands who gets off the nudie run for 2024.
Right before half-time, a terrifying Asi bomb caused all sorts of problems for the Tigers at the back. Heath Mason let it bounce, Reagan Campbell-Gillard recovered it and was in dire straits with what to do. He found Will Penisini who breaks his way through some tackles to score and Parramatta led 22-10 at the break.
The Tigers started the first half poorly as they looked to throw the footy around. An inside ball from Latu Fainu was intercepted by Bryce Cartwright, he thought better than to run the length and found Penisini to cross for his double. Following a speculator bomb from Mason, he got revenge as Sivo lost the ball and the Tigers built some pressure. A bounce pass from Koroisau landed in the lap of Latu Fainu and the Tigers got back into this ball game.
The comeback was put on ice after Api Koroisau was pinned and sin-binned for a spear tackle on Clint Gutherson. On the ensuing set, Asi's cross-field kick is a contest initially between Penisini and Feledy. Feledy looked to be taken off the ball in the aftermath of the contest, however it was cleared by the Bunker after a lengthy review. Cartwright was jolly on the spot to score and the Eels immediately capitalised on being down to 12 men.
On the next set, Parramatta charged through the Tigers reduced middle and the home side had their hands on a third straight spoon. A late offload from Kelma Tuilagi allowed Sivo to redeem his earlier sin and he charged across for his second try. Parramatta sealed the game just after the hour mark, a poor pass from dummy half allowed Gutherson into space. The brave Parra fullback went straight through to put the exclamation point on this fixture.
Parramatta were running out of players with Asi, Brown and Penisini all coming off the field injured in the second half. The Tigers were also down Latu Fainu who went for a HIA. The home side got the first of many tries needed for an unlikely miracle when Isaiah Papali'i charged across from short-range after a good carry from debutant Tony Sukkar. However, the next set put any end to that as the Eels capitalised on a cheap turn-over and it was Reagan Campbell-Gillard who scored in what could be his last match. Joey Lussick added some late score-board inflation after a brilliant grubber from Cartwright. Wests finished 2024 in style with a late try to Charlie Staines but it was in vein as the Tigers were thrased emphatically in this fixture.