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The Dyldam Parramatta Eels have suffered a tough 56-4 defeat against the Sydney Roosters at Allianz Stadium on Saturday.

In their first away outing of the season, the Eels held a run of early possession, locking up defenders in goal and taking advantage of some pin point kicking from Luke Kelly to roll through repeat sets in the Roosters’ half.

But with the Blue and Gold unable to find points, it was the Roosters who struck first. Halfback Mitchell Pearce ran with the ball from a penalty and nailed a short pass to send Mitchell Aubusson in the clear and let skipper Anthony Minichiello score untouched. 

The tricolours seized on their field position again when big prop Sam Moa dragged two defenders over for a try, and fullback Anthony Minichiello found the gap on the right edge to score his second of the night. 

It was the Eels’ kicking game that kept the match in the balance in the first half, and it was new recruit and five-eighth Corey Norman’s cross-field grubber that Semi Radradra pounced on to get the Blue and Gold onto the scoreboard.

The four points on the board sparked a resurgence from the Eels with Manu Ma’u breaking through on the left edge and Will Hopoate and Jarryd Hayne looking deadly on the left. 

And the Eels had the Blue and Gold sections of Allianz Stadium on their feet to finish the second half when the late replacement for hooker Kaysa Pritchard, Kenny Edwards, muscled the ball out of a tackle, and flying winger Semi Radradra, centre Willie Tonga and fullback Jarryd Hayne had the ball flying across the field to almost bag an on-the-siren try. 

But in the second half, Roosters winger Roger Tuivasa-Sheck showed his footwork to step through the Eels defence and score from a Mitchell Pearce pass, and the home side gained momentum to run away with the match.

Veteran fullback Anthony Minichiello scored his first ever career hat-trick, while Mitchell Aubusson and Tuivasa-Sheck both ended the match with a double.

Eels lock Darcy Lussick drew the referees’ attention for a tackle on Jared Warea-Hargreaves, and was placed on report.

Roosters - 56 (Minichiello 3, Tuivasa-Sheck 2,  Aubusson 2, Moa, Tupou, Cordner. Maloney: 8/10)

Eels - 4 (Radradra. Norman: 0/1)

Acknowledgement of Country

Parramatta Eels respect and honour the Traditional Custodians of the land and pay our respects to their Elders past, present and future. We acknowledge the stories, traditions and living cultures of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples on the lands we meet, gather and play on.

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