Eel Hoodoo Continues

With the Brisbane Broncos moving back to Lang Park next season, Parramatta played their last match at ANZ Stadium barring a Broncos home final in week one of the finals. While Brisbane's win percentage at the ground is over 70%, the Eels have a remarkable record of 6 wins, 2 losses and a draw from 9 matches after an enthralling 22-18 victory tonight.

The Broncos, with 8 players backing up from Origin just 48 hours earlier, were out on their feet almost from the outset and it was little surprise that 15 minutes into the second half they trailed 22-6. But with the match seemingly heading toward a lopsided end the Broncos dug deep and found something in reserve, mounting a remarkable fightback.

Parramatta's defence, which had been rock solid all night, finally gave Brisbane something 15 minutes before full time when prop Shane Webcke pounced on a grubber kick that went between the legs of Eels fullback Adam Mogg to score. Lote Tuqiri's conversion in the absence of the injured Scott Prince put the Broncos within 10.

Darren Lockyer took the Eels' kick off while one foot was ruled dead in goal giving Brisbane a penalty on halfway, despite replays suggesting Lockyer had not grounded his foot over the line before touching the ball. From the penalty, Shaun Berrigan stormed through to score beside the posts to have the Broncos suddenly back within four points. Their forwards had found something from somewhere and were mounting a relentless roll forward and when Berrigan sent an inside ball to Gorden Tallis it seemed inevitable the match breaking try was coming. Tragically, Tallis couldn't handle the pass, the Eels off the hook.

With time to regroup the Eels fought back and held on to a dramatic win which moves them within a point of fourth placed New Zealand Warriors and just two points behind the Broncos. Brisbane will likely slip from equal first to outright fourth if the Bulldogs, Knights and Warriors win as expected over the weekend.

While the Broncos forwards were inspirational with their courage, it was the flamboyant fullback Lockyer that both kept them in the game and ultimately cost them the game. With the match hanging in the balance and the Broncos ahead 6-4 just before half time, Lockyer speculated with a kick looking for the flying Chris Walker out wide. The kick was too short, allowing Luke Burt to get the ball on the full, finding Jamie Lyon in support. Lyon pushed off a tired Lote Tuqiri before finding Origin teammate Jason Moodie inside to score under the posts. Burt's conversion gave the Eels a 10-6 lead at half time which proved the turning point.

The Eels came out firing in the second half, having a try to Burt disallowed after he was ruled offside after a speculator from Lyon. Soon after Andrew McFadden sliced through from 10 metres out, seemingly certain to score before Lockyer grabbed him in a brilliant cover defending tackle that grounded the former Canberra halfback just inches short. But the Broncos could not hold on forever. A beautiful grubber kick from Adam Dykes sat up just long enough for Ian Hindmarsh to ground the ball inside the deadball line, Burt's conversion extending the lead to 10 points.

And with the Broncos seemingly beginning their revival with some outstanding offloading midfield, Webcke fumbled a difficult inside pass, Dykes swooping on it and sprinting 60 metres and despite a gallant chase from Queensland second rower Dane Carlaw who made tremendous ground to tackle Dykes, the former Shark bounced over for what seemed the matchwinning try, extending the lead to 16 points.

Former Toowoomba and Redcliffe fullback, Adam Mogg, got the ball rolling for the Eels, slipping through tackles as he made a customary feature of his appearances for the Dolphins, scoring out wide for an early 4-0 lead. Carlaw, continuing his fine form from Origin two, gave the Broncos a boost whne he brushed through the defence out wide after a pressure pick up of a loose offload, finding Casey McGuire in support to score his fifth try of the season. Scott Prince landed the conversion from near the sideline for a 6-4 lead. But tragedy struck the luckless Prince later in the half when he limped off with a knee injury. The talented former Cowboy was taken to hospital for x-rays on his knee. Prince had just played 100 minutes since his comeback from a terrible broken leg he suffered late last season.

The Eels once again had the game plan to win and were switched on. Brian Smith loves nothing more than a win over a Wayne Bennett-coached team and his side again executed his plan to perfection. Parramatta constantly looked for the sidelines when kicking late in the tackle count while keeping the big Brisbane forwards on the back foot with darting runs from dummyhalf. The Eels also made the most of referee Tim Mander's awful interpretations of the holding down and offside rules. In the opening 20 minutes of the second half the Eels received four piggyback penalties in a row, hammering a long nail into the exhausted Broncos' coffins.

Adam Dykes was outstanding for the Eels, but the real hero was captain Nathan Cayless, who made a surprise comeback from injury. Cayless made fantastic ground, sent the offload for Mogg's opening try and looked dangerous whenever he ran at the line. He was well supported by New South Wales interchange prop, Michael Vella, who was devastating in the first half. Ian Hindmarsh, Andrew Ryan and Dean Widders were also powerful up front. McFadden and Dykes provided excellent service to their outside backs who, led by Mogg, carved the Broncos up at times.

Once again the words courageous and gritty apply to the Broncos, who despite losing, can be proud that they managed to fight back after such a dreadful opening hour of play. Poor ball security in their own half cost them dearly and some poor final tackle options were the difference between an unlikely victory and a heartbreaking loss. Webcke showed his heart is as big as his frame with a powerhouse performance with 33 tackles and 10 hitups just 48 hours after being Queensland's best forward in their epic 26-18 win over New South Wales. He was well supported by Carlaw (22 tackles, 7 hit ups), Brad Meyers (23 tackles, 17 hit ups), Corey Parker (23 tackles, 6 hit ups) and Gorden Tallis (14 tackles, 13 hit ups). Michael Coorey, who played just over 25 minutes of the match, contributed strongly with 16 tackles and 8 hit ups, continuing his fine form shown against the Tigers last week. Shane Walker with 26 tackles and some dangerous runs from dummyhalf continues to warm to the hooking role. Phil Lee also provided some much needed spark with his nimble footwork and quality offloads.

Out wide Darren Lockyer kept the Broncos in the game with some scintillating runs from inside his own half and desperate cover defence. Casey McGuire, Stuart Kelly and Scott Minto also provided good value, supporting the obviously tired Tuqiri and Chris Walker who failed to have any real impact. Shaun Berrigan was solid at five-eighth and halfback and Prince looked good before going off injured.

So the Broncos suffer their second loss of the season and face a danger game against North Queensland at ANZ Stadium before their second bye. The Broncos must win or risk slipping out of the top four. The acid test for the Eels comes over the next four weeks as they play Newcastle twice, Sydney Roosters and the Bulldogs.

Play of the Day

Dane Carlaw (Brisbane) continued his payback on Greg Dowling for his "pretty boy" comment, setting up a brilliant try for Casey McGuire and all but preventing a certain intercept try to Adam Dykes. Carlaw showed remarkable pace to mow Dykes down just short of the line but the momentum carried him across for the matchwinner.