The Eels obliterated the Dolphins in their first ever match against the NRL newcomers, flying to a phenomenal 48-20 win at Sunshine Coast Stadium.
On a picturesque afternoon in Queensland, the Eels blew the Dolphins off the park with a near perfect first half which finished 42-4. The Blue & Gold cruised through the second half to clinch their fifth consecutive win, consolidating their place in the top eight ahead of next week's bye.
Three days after representing NSW in Origin II, Mitchell Moses was electrifying as he set up several tries for Parramatta and kicked eight goals from eight attempts.
Penisini had a hand in three tries in the space of five minutes, while Hopgood assisted the Eels’ first try before scoring their second.
The mammoth victory consolidates Parramatta’s place in the NRL top eight and stretches their winning streak to five matches heading into next week’s bye.
The Dolphins got off to a strong start, as debutant Brayden McGrady scored the opening try.
But the Eels kept their cool in the Queensland sun, and quickly struck back when Hopgood put Andrew Davey through a hole and cruising to the try-line.
Davey damaging the Dolphins
Hopgood then took matters into his own hands to extend the Eels’ lead, storming onto a Moses short ball and dashing 20 metres to make it 12-4.
Too good from Hopgood
Parramatta showed their defensive prowess on the Dolphins’ next attack, as Maika Sivo, Bailey Simonsson and Brendan Hands dragged Felise Kaufusi over the sideline.
The effort proved pivotal in the grand scheme of the match, as the Eels took possession and dominated the remainder of the first half to take an enormous lead to the sheds.
In the space of five minutes and three consecutive sets, Will Penisini turned the match on its head with two tries and a try assist to put Parramatta up by 26 points.
The centre scored his first when he bumped off Euan Aitken and weaved his way into the right corner.
Penisni bulldozes the Dolphins
From the kick-off, Parramatta went back-to-back as Bryce Cartwright unleashed Penisini with a terrific offload and Clint Gutherson backed up for the Eels’ fourth try.
Moments later, the Eels scored yet another try with their next possession. Cartwright put Mitchell Moses into the backfield on this occasion, and the halfback sent Penisini on his way for a double.
The Dolphins could only contain Parramatta for another six minutes before the Eels clinched their sixth try.
The Eels turned their attention to the Dolphins’ right edge, as Daejarn Asi put Bailey Simonsson into a gap and streaking away for four points.
Simonsson streaks away
Parramatta completed their astonishing first half with a seventh try, with Sean Russell sliding over untouched at the end of a sweeping backline play.
Russell completes Parra's perfect half
In the midst of the Eels’ phenomenal first half, Mitchell Moses kicked seven goals from seven attempts to send Parramatta to the sheds with a 42-4 lead.
The Dolphins showed resilience to pull back three tries in the second half, including two long-range efforts by Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow, but Parramatta coasted to two competition points.
But it was the Eels' day, and they put the finishing touches on a dominant win with Clint Gutherson's second try deep into the second half.
The Eels will enjoy a bye next week before looking to secure a sixth consecutive win when they face the Warriors at CommBank Stadium in Round 19.
