2025 UK Pre-Season Friendlies
28 days ago | LeagueUnlimited Media
A try on debut to Jakob Arthur and a fast start have helped the Parramatta Eels to a comfortable 34-18 victory at Suncorp as day three of NRL Magic Round got underway against the Warriors.
The first 20 minutes saw the Eels keep pace with the clock - Nathan Brown opening the scoring off a superb flick ball from Mitch Moses. Next to power over the line was prolific winger Maika Sivo, using his size and strength to go over in the corner.
What followed was an incredible five-minute double from prop Reagan Campbell-Gillard - the first seeing him force his way over from short range before the other saw Moses break into the backfield, eventually finding RCG in support to put the Eels up 24-0 by the quarter-match mark at 20 minutes.
Starved of possession - just 26% to that point - the Warriors recalibrated and were eventually rewarded through Josh Curran scoring in the 33rd minute, the Nikorima conversion ensuring a 24-6 scoreline which would be kept the same until the siren sounded for halftime.
After the break, Ryan Matterson was there off the back of a wide play which followed a tap back - debutant Arthur finding Matto out wide to get the Eels off to a great start after the break. While Moses' conversion attempt was wayward for the first time in the match, the 28-6 lead had the Eels looking solid.
The injection of Reece Walsh provided a bounce-back factor for the Warriors - between the 50th and 60th minute both Ben Murdoch-Masila and Reece Walsh got over the stripe to close the margin to just 28-18.
After a half-hour try drought, the Eels got into celebration mode inside the last ten minutes, with Arthur scoring his much-publicised try, taking on the line before climbing past defenders to slam it down. A late injury to Moses meant Gutherson nailed the extras to finalise the 34-18 scoreline.
The win is Parramatta's fifth on the run, while the Warriors sink out of the top eight after that loss. The Warriors are back at Gosford to host the Tigers on Friday while the Eels host Manly at Bankwest next Sunday.
Warriors 18 - Parramatta Eels 34
Venue: Suncorp Stadium, Milton / Yuggera-Turrbal
Crowd: 43537
Halftime Score: Warriors 6 Parramatta Eels 24
LeagueUnlimited.com Players of the Match:
3 points - Mitchell Moses
2 points - Reece Walsh
1 points - Ryan Matterson
WARRIORS (18)
Tries: Josh Curran, Ben Murdoch-Masila, Reece Walsh
Conversions: Kodi Nikorima (3/3)
PARRAMATTA EELS (34)
Tries: Nathan Brown, Maika Sivo, Reagan Campbell-Gillard (2), Ryan Matterson, Jakob Arthur
Conversions: Mitchell Moses (4/5), Clinton Gutherson (1/1)