The Dyldam Parramatta Eels have defeated the Canberra Raiders 18-10 in Darwin in a game that saw Jarryd Hayne become just the third Eel to reach 100 career tries.
It was also a night that saw the Blue and Gold overcome frustration after being denied not once, but five times, by the video referee.
With an early try to Bill Tupou in the 11th minute, the Raiders drew first blood, and halfback Josh McCrone kicked cross-field for winger Edrick Lee to hand off to Jarrod Croker for a 10-point lead.
The Raiders were denied a Jordan Rapana try for obstruction, and at last the Eels broke the drought with a huge run from Semi Radradra, who broke two tackles and offloaded to Jarryd Hayne for the fullback’s 99th career try.
The second half saw the Eels battle to put points on the board, with tries disallowed to Chris Sandow held up over the line, Bureta Faraimo for a double movement, both Tim Mannah and Jarryd Hayne for knock on rulings, and Ryan Morgan late in the game.
But with eight minutes on the clock, Hayne found just enough space to step through the Canberra line from a David Gower offload, and run 50 metres for a brilliant solo effort and the Eels’ second try of the night.
It puts him in the company of Luke Burt and Brett Kenny as one of only three Eels players to score 100 NRL tries, and with the help of Sandow’s conversion, also put Parramatta in front for the first time in the match.
Sandow took control again in the final minutes, putting in a swift kick for Tepai Moeroa to score and secure the win for the Blue and Gold in the Territory.
Dyldam Parramatta Eels - 18 (Hayne 2, Moeroa. Sandow: 3/3)
Canberra Raiders - 10 (Tupou, Croker. Croker: 1/2)
