Parramatta are alive and kicking, but only just, and only after the mother of all scares from Mikaele Ravalawa and a Dragons outfit playing for pride and little else.
Three second-half tries in 12 minutes lifted the 2022 grand finalists back up to ninth on the NRL ladder. But for much of Sunday’s critical 26-20 triumph over lowly St George Illawarra, Parramatta looked anything but a finals-bound side as Ravalawa bagged four tries in 50 minutes.
Talismanic skipper Junior Paulo gave thanks to the heavens after he crossed for a 63rd-minute try that levelled proceedings, and the Eels needed all the help they could get.
It came from on high with nine minutes to play. Dylan Brown, playing his first game after a lengthy NRL suspension, chipped a crossfield kick onto the Dragons’ line.
Jack Bird flew with just one hand into the fray, dropping it down for Bryce Cartwright to score and keep the Eels in the fight for another day.
Times are tough for the blue-and-golds with Reagan Campbell-Gillard, Maika Sivo and Shaun Lane headlining their absentees.
Dragons winger Mikaele Ravalawa had a day out against the Eels.Credit: Getty
Those left standing; Paulo, co-captain Clint Gutherson and star halfback Mitchell Moses did all they could with a healthy portion of the club’s salary cap sitting in the stands.
The fightback was equal parts admirable and critical. But a patched-up Eels left edge will be kept awake all week given the bath Ben Hunt, Zac Lomax and Ravalawa gave them.
Especially with Brisbane’s Kotoni Staggs and Selwyn Cobbo awaiting on a five-day turnaround.
Ravalawa had himself a field day out on the Dragons right wing and could have taken his try tally even further if it weren’t for desperate tackles by Dylan Brown and debutant Arthur Miller-Stephen in the first 40.
A disappointed Ben Hunt looks to the heavens after Sean Russell’s try for Parramatta.Credit: Getty
And that was after Miller-Stephen waited just eight minutes for his first NRL try and Cartwright joined him on the scoresheet moments later.
But Ravalawa still finished the first stanza with a hat-trick in 19 minutes, Hunt looping what is most commonly known as an old-fashioned ‘granny pass’ for his winger’s third.
With the Dragons enjoying a 16-10 half-time advantage, Brad Arthur switched Sean Russell to Ravalawa’s wing and the Eels could have squared the ledger but for a late bobble by Russell diving for the corner.
Moments later Ravalawa was away down the right touchline again courtesy of a Lomax offload. Gutherson’s admirable attempted cover tackle remained just that, and Ravalawa’s fourth try made for a 20-10 Dragons lead.
The Eels skipper was at least able to do enough a few minutes later when his tackle dislodged a ball from Jacob Liddle, the NRL bunker ruling a knock-on rather than intentional strip that pulled back a try to Talatau Amone.
Russell had his revenge in the 59th minute, stepping back inside Ravalawa when the Dragons defence was stretched. It was the same story when Paulo strolled through and Cartwright claimed the match-winner.
Parramatta now face the high-flying Broncos with the Roosters and Panthers to come — the toughest run home of all finals contenders.
But at least, for now, they live to fight another day.
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