Dyldam Parramatta Eels Team Captain Kieran Foran has pin-pointed the early defensive effort, repelling the Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs from their try line, as the Blue and Gold match winner in last night’s 20-6 victory.
In an fast paced, high quality opening 40 minutes, the Eels entered the half time sheds with a 6-0 after their toiling 189 tackles in the opening stanza.
Click here to view the Bulldogs v Eels Match Highlights
The Blue and Gold defensive line showed they could soak up a mountain of pressure early, defending three repeat sets on their try line as the Bulldogs camped down one end of the field.
And after some scrambling, the Eels were able to find the energy to charge down field and open the scoring through some brilliance from winger Semi Radradra and centre Michael Jennings.
“I think they set the game for us,” Foran said of the early defensive efforts.
“To hold them out early in the game there, with repeated sets on our line, I think that was a real confidence builder for us.”
“You could feel that once we held them out there that we had the belief we could go on and win the game.”
“Defence two weeks in a row now has been the most pleasing part.” Foran added.
Eels winger Radradra secured the game for the Blue and Gold with two tries of his own late in the game, adding to his 240m, 1 line break and try assist, and the winger earned himself Man of the Match honours.
Foran had nothing but praise for his winger.
“Pretty bloody good.” Foran said of playing alongside Radradra, rather than against.
“He is a phenomenal athlete and really smart footballer. He trains his backside off, and really puts the hard yards in at training and it pays off in the games.”
“We needed him at his best tonight and he certainly was.”
Radradra’s double saw the winger’s career try scoring tally reach 50 four pointers from 52 First Grade appearances.
