The Dyldam Parramatta Eels Holden Cup side has withstood a fighting finish from the Gold Coast Titans to come away 35-22 victors at Cbus Super Stadium.
With the score tied three times throughout the game, the Eels held on six tries to four victors.
Abbas Miski opened the Eels’ account with a barnstorming run over the top of the Titans’ defence in the fifth minute.
He repeated his effort only three minutes later, this time ending up right under the posts for his second try of the night.
Zach Dockar-Clay slotted the conversion giving the Eels a 10-0 early lead.
The Titans returned fire with Zac Spring scoring in the 14th minute, with Gold Coast halfback Brayden Torpy unsuccessful with the conversion.
Prop Oshae Tuiasau punched through the Eels’ defence minutes later, with Torpy not missing twice, equalising the score.
In the final play of the first half, Zach Dockar-Clay grubbered the ball 30 metres with fullback Bevan French managing to get his hands to the ball centimetres before going into touch, putting the visitors ahead 16-10 at halftime.
The lead was closed immediately into the second half, with forward Anthony Coleman slipping through the Eels’ defence and scoring under the posts.
Jamie Stowers scored a lucky try for the Eels, with Titans fullback Shaun Hudson knocking a high kick on, with the ball ending up in his hands with an easy run over the white line.
Tuiasau hit back with his second try of the night, tying the scoreline again 22-22.
Some more individual brilliance from French saw the Eels nudge ahead.
French looked to have knocked on an attempt to catch a Dockar-Clay high bomb, but managed to hold onto it and offload to Atini Gafa, who crossed on the right edge.
Zach Dockar-Clay kicked a field goal to seal the deal, but the Eels weren’t finished.
Atini Gafa picked up a loose ball in the final minute, offloading to French who ran 70 metres to score under the posts.
Parramatta Eels 35 (Miski 2, French 2, Stowers, Gafa tries, Dockar-Clay 5 goals, 1 field goal)
def.
Gold Coast Titans 22 (Tuiasau 2, Spring, Coleman tries, Brayden Torpy 3 goals)
