ROUND-UP
TALK about peaking at the right time.
Parramatta have had its fair share of critics in 2022 so far, but no one can deny that Brad Arthur’s men are picking up momentum when it is needed most.
A victory against Melbourne would have underlined their potential title credentials and boy, did the Eels show just that!
Dylan Brown managed to weave his way through four defenders to shock the Storm on 12 minutes as Mitchell Moses converted.
And the halfback was on target again before the break to add a penalty for an 8-0 lead at half-time.
Melbourne had to score first following the resumption, but the Eels caught them hopping as Will Penisini was the beneficiary of some superb passing to cross.
14-0 became 20-0 on the hour as a brilliant looping pass from Clint Gutherson found its way to Maika Sivo, who put the pedal down from 30 metres out for a scintillating score.
The Storm did reply through a Harry Grant special six minutes later, but Moses added another penalty to make it 22-4.
Though Melbourne did rally with two late tries from Nick Meaney and David Nofoaluma – the first was a peach after Cameron Munster made a great break – the night belonged to the Eels.
COMETH the hour, cometh the man.
Matt Burton has been one of Canterbury’s shining lights in 2022 and he had ice-cold veins to slot over the winning one-pointer to end Mick Potter’s reign at Belmore with a win.