Match Details
Match Date	18th Mar, 2016
Opponent	Parramatta
Result	Loss 6-20
Coach	Des Hasler
Captain	James Graham
Venue	Homebush (ANZ Stadium)
Crowd	30,018
Referee	Matt Cecchin Alan Shortall

Semi Radradra went tryless in the opening two rounds of the season. It was never going to last.

Radradra, last season's leading try-scorer, ended his personal drought with a spectacular flood at ANZ Stadium last night, scoring two tries and setting up another for teammate Michael Jennings.

The Eels, a club under siege amid salary cap allegations, made it consecutive wins over North Queensland and Canterbury. They did it with a steely performance in defence and clinical effort in attack.

They also got a helping hand from the video bunker as a try to Canterbury winger Sam Perrett midway through the second half the Eels led by eight points at the time proving a decisive turning point.

Barely 10 minutes after Perrett's try was denied. Radradra scored his opening try when he hacked up a break by five-eighth Corey Norman Rather than a two-point deficit. the difference was an unassailable 14

Radradra then rubbed salt into the wounds with six minutes, remaining as he sliced through the Canterbury defence and brushed off the defence of Will Hopoate. A late consolation try to Hopoate did little to mitigate the damage.

Parramatta made their last finals appearance in 2009. On this evidence. they can start planning fora long-awaited return.

As impressive as they were in attack, the most eye-catching.

"Two good strong wins. Do we get comfortable or are we liking winning games of football, that's the question.

" After taking a six-point lead into the break, the Eels extended their 1ead with a penalty goal. Then the video bunker had its moment in the sun. The innovation has enjoyed a charmed run thus far but 17 minutes into the second half it was engulfed in controversy.

Sam Kasiano's miraculous offload was picked up by Perrett and the New Zealand winger looked to have crossed for his Second try of the season, a view reinforced when referee Matt Cecchin awarded the try despite his touch judge suggesting the ball had travelled for-ward. Cecchin was concerned the pass had been touched by a Parramatta player and sent the decision to the video bunker, where it was reversed.

Canterbury captain James Graham was apoplectic, his mood darkened barely 10 minutes later when the Eels went the length of the field to put the result beyond doubt.

"Maybe it is a different game," Graham said. I don't believe it is the reason we lost. Parramatta are a good side. Sometimes you come off scratching your heads.

" The Eels were put under early pressure, forced to defend  desperately on their line for three successive sets in the early exchanges. Last season they would have capitulated but this year's unit is made of sterner stuff as they repelled wave after wave of blue and white jerseys.

"You could feel that once we held them out there we had the belief we could go on and win the game." Parramatta captain Kieran Foran said.

After showing their defensive steel, the Eels then unleashed an attacking sensation. Radradra scored 24 tries in 18 games last season and he turned provider in the 13th minute by creating a breathtaking opener for Jennings.

Foran's bomb looked innocuous enough but Radradra turned nothing into something as he flew over the top of Will Hopoate and managed to fling the ball back with his left hand as he hit the ground.

Jennings was on hand to accept the gift and score his first try in Eels colours. There were audible gasps from the grandstands as replays were shown on the big screens. It wasn't Radradra's only highlight of the first half.

"He's a phenomenal athlete and a really smart footballer." Foran said. We needed him at his best tonight and he certainly was."

Source: The Australian

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