The Parramatta Eels have defeated the Gold Coast Titans 30-8 in their Round 24 NRL Telstra Premiership clash at ANZ Stadium.
The Blue and Gold were looking for a strong performance following their last-start loss against the Newcastle Knights.
Tepai Moeora gave the Eels an early lead when Parramatta went to their right edge and Corey Norman put the barnstorming back-rower over with a nicely weighted pass close to the line.
Mitchell Moses converted and the Blue and Gold led 6-0 after 10 minutes.
The Titans quickly found themselves in attacking field position but turned the ball over when William Zillman was bundled into touch by Kirisome Auva’a.
The Eels winger was in the thick of the action only minutes later when he was sent down the left edge by Moses, only to plant the ball short as he was taken into touch by Tyrone Roberts.
In the 24th minute Daniel Alvaro crashed over for Parramatta’s second try of the match after taking a short ball from Cameron King close the line.
Moses added the extras from in front and the Eels had a 12-0 lead.
Parramatta enjoyed the bulk of possession towards the back of the first half but were unable to crack the Titans line and they went to the sheds with the Blue and Gold leading by 12 points.
Five minutes after half time and Will Smith sliced through on the right edge 30 metres from the Gold Coast line, beating four Titans defenders and crossing just to the right of the uprights.
Mitchell Moses made no mistake in converting the brilliant individual try from Smith and the Eels were out to an 18-0 lead.
In the 57th minute the Titans kicked towards their right edge with Anthony Don challenging Semi Radradra for the ball which ended up on the ground. The Eels winger scooped the ball up and despite the best efforts of Titans players Kane Elgey and Ryan James, Radradra raced 80 metres to give the Blue and Gold a 22-0 lead.
Mitchell Moses continued his strong form with the boot and Parramatta led 24-0.
The Titans broke the Blue and Gold wall in the 64th minute after seven consecutive sets on the Eels line when Ben Nakubuwai barged his way over. Tyrone Roberts was unable to convert and the Eels held a 24-4 lead.
In the 71st minute it seemed history repeated itself when Dale Copley knocked the ball back off a bomb and Semi swooped on the ball to race 90 metres and cross only for it to be called back for a knock on against the Eels winger.
The Eels thought they were in again in the 75th minute when Michael Jennings challenged for a Moses bomb and seemed to grab the ball and score however it was denied due to a knock-on in the contest.
In the 77th minute the Titans crossed for their second of the night through William Zillman. Kane Elgey was unsuccessful with his conversion attempt from the sideline and Parramatta had a 24-8 lead.
Off the ensuing kick off the Titans allowed the ball to bounce and it went dead, forcing a goal-line drop out. The Titans drop-out sailed over the touchline on the full and the Eels had a penalty 10 metres out and right in front.
Two tackles later and in the final minute Will Smith took a beautiful inside ball from Moses and danced through two tacklers while carrying two more over the line to give their Eels their fifth try of the night.
Moses finished with a perfect record for the night and the Eels won 30-8.
The win temporarily moves the Blue and Gold into the Top 4 and all but assures the side of finals football for the first time since 2009.
Parramatta Eels 30 (Tries: Moeroa, Alvaro, Smith (2), Radradra. Goals: Moses 5/5)
Def
Gold Coast Titans 8 (Tries: Nakubuwai, Zillman. Goals: Roberts 0/1, Elgey 0/1)
