2005: ROUND 23

vs Parramatta

Match Details
Match Date 12th Aug, 2005
Opponent Parramatta
Result Loss
4-56
Coach Steven Folkes
Captain Andrew Ryan
Venue Parramatta (Parramatta Stadium)
Crowd 20,289
Referee Paul Simpkins

The Parramatta Eels smashed the Bulldogs 56-4 in their NRL round 23 opener against the Bulldogs at Parramatta Stadium on Friday evening.

The home side held the Bulldogs scoreless in the first half, and it took until the 77th minute for the reigning premiers to put points on the board through a lone try to rookie Cameron Phelps.

The 10-tries-to-one win will see the Eels consolidate their grip on second place on the ladder and distance themselves from a chasing pack led by Dragons (third) and Wests Tigers (fourth).

But it deals a potentially crippling blow to the Bulldogs' hopes of reaching the finals, as they could now slip from ninth to 10th place if the Raiders beat the Rabbitohs on Saturday, while their for-and-against ratio slides further into the red.

Centre Timana Tahu led the charge for the Eels, scoring three tries, while Eric Grothe bagged a pair.

The Eels signalled their intent from the opening minute, when Nathan Hindmarsh crossed for the first of their 10 four-pointers.

Tahu and Grothe then swapped tries to give the Eels a 26-0 lead at half-time.

The Eels continued to dominate after the break, with Dean Widders, Nathan Cayless, Joel Reddy, Tahu and Mark Riddell - in the final minute - all scoring tries.

The stats showed the Eels claiming a huge 12-2 margin in line breaks while they also dominated the hitups (161 to 134) and completions (43-21).

The match marked the NRL debut of young Bulldog Luke Young, who stepped in for suspended winger Matt Utai.

Source: www.abc.net.au

LINE UP
Player Position Tries Goals F Goals Points
Luke Young Fullback 0 0 0 0
Cameron Phelps Wing 1 0 0 4
Jamaal Lolesi Wing 0 0 0 0
Dallas McIlwain Centre 0 0 0 0
Reni Maitua Centre 0 0 0 0
Braith Anasta Five Eighth 0 0 0 0
Corey Hughes Half Back 0 0 0 0
Tony Grimaldi Lock 0 0 0 0
Willie Mason Second Row 0 0 0 0
Andrew Ryan Second Row 0 0 0 0
Roy Asotasi Front Row 0 0 0 0
Mark O'Meley Front Row 0 0 0 0
Adam Brideson Hooker 0 0 0 0
Nate Myles Replacement 0 0 0 0
Chris Armit Replacement 0 0 0 0
Ben Czislowski Replacement 0 0 0 0
Daniel Irvine Replacement 0 0 0 0
Total: 1 0 0 4