Parra move from equal last with important win over the Titans

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Parramatta Eels v Gold Coast Titans

The Parramatta Eels have put themselves clear of equal last spot on the NRL ladder with an emphatic 36-20 win over the Gold Coast Titans in front of 8,000 fans at Commbank Stadium.

It wasn't the best start for the Blue and Gold who had one of the all time butcher jobs on a certain try when a Dean Hawkins kick was left to bounce and it favoured the Eels heavily but nobody could get to it for the certain four-pointer. Instead, it was the Titans down the other end who strolled through the middle and Jaimin Joliffe had the opening four pointer.

The Blue and Gold then hit back with three rapid fire tries with Sean Russell going over in the corner before Joey Lussick went over under the posts from dummy half and then Charlie Guymer scooped up a loose ball to score. Unlike, Wednesday night in State of Origin, Zac Lomax was able to convert all three for an 18-6 lead.

Things weren't looking good for the Titans as Jayden Campbell was taken from the field after being deemed to have Category 1 symptoms by the independent doctor but the Titans were able to hit back twice. Chris Randall was able to go through close to the posts whilst Alofi Khan-Pereira took a 90m intercept to score. Beau Fermor became the unlikely kicker for the Titans being only able to slot one of the two conversions and the Eels lead 18-16 at the break.

Parramatta were able to extend their lead almost 10 minutes into the second half when Dean Hawkins was on the spot after Isaiah Iongi ran into the line, kicked ahead for himself only for his kick to hit the upright and Hawkins was able to get to it first. Lomax's conversion pushed the score out to 24-16.

Just shy of the hour mark, Alofi Khan-Pereira was able to score his second of the night after Parramatta struggled to hold the ball and handed the Gold Coast a lifeline back into the game. Fermor's kicking was off again and the margin remained 8.

A four minute double for Will Penisini put the game beyond doubt with the two tries coming in very different circumstances, one saw Zac Lomax outjump the Gold Coast defence for the ball and had his pass knocked into the path of Penisini for an easy try and the second he had to fight his way to the line and despite being denied initially on field, the replays showed the ball on the line.
It wasn't all good though for the Parramatta centre after he was sin binned and put on report for a lifting tackle that went wrong.

The Eels win will give them confidence as they take on the Dragons next week ahead of the bye whilst the Titans will need to find something as they take on the out of form Cowboys.