The Pirtek Parramatta Eels have posted their third win of the Holden Cup season with a gutsy 16-10 victory over the North Queensland Cowboys at Parramatta Stadium.
The young Eels outfit showed plenty of ticker, particularly in defence, and managed to repel the fast finishing Cowboys to remain unbeaten at Parramatta Stadium this season.
Replacement five-eighth Mark Daoud opened the scoring for junior Eels in the 18th minute with a superb individual try, cutting a swathe through the Cowboys with a blistering show of speed and some fancy footwork.
That was quickly followed up by another four-pointer to Sam Manuleleua off a Mitchell Brasington bomb. The lanky fullback added the extras as the Eels went to the break leading by 10-nil.
The second-half mirrored the first with both sides failing to crack each other's defensive line until the Cowboys scored back-to-back tries through interchange player Jorden White and centre Javid Bowen.
With scores now locked up at 10 apiece the Eels regained their composure and launched a solid attacking raid which saw blockbusting centre Takai Moeakiola score what turned out to be the match winner. Brasington again converted to seal the six point victory.
Andrew Webster's side will take plenty of confidence into next week's NYC clash at home against the highly regarded Brisbane Broncos.
Parramatta Eels 16 (Mark Daoud, Sam Manuleleua, Takai Moeakiola tries; Mitchell Brasington 2 goals)
North Queensland 10 (Jorden White, Javid Bowen tries; Zac Mackay goal)
The young Eels outfit showed plenty of ticker, particularly in defence, and managed to repel the fast finishing Cowboys to remain unbeaten at Parramatta Stadium this season.
Replacement five-eighth Mark Daoud opened the scoring for junior Eels in the 18th minute with a superb individual try, cutting a swathe through the Cowboys with a blistering show of speed and some fancy footwork.
That was quickly followed up by another four-pointer to Sam Manuleleua off a Mitchell Brasington bomb. The lanky fullback added the extras as the Eels went to the break leading by 10-nil.
The second-half mirrored the first with both sides failing to crack each other's defensive line until the Cowboys scored back-to-back tries through interchange player Jorden White and centre Javid Bowen.
With scores now locked up at 10 apiece the Eels regained their composure and launched a solid attacking raid which saw blockbusting centre Takai Moeakiola score what turned out to be the match winner. Brasington again converted to seal the six point victory.
Andrew Webster's side will take plenty of confidence into next week's NYC clash at home against the highly regarded Brisbane Broncos.
Parramatta Eels 16 (Mark Daoud, Sam Manuleleua, Takai Moeakiola tries; Mitchell Brasington 2 goals)
North Queensland 10 (Jorden White, Javid Bowen tries; Zac Mackay goal)
