Key posts
Poll: Who wins this one?
Pengilly: Fa’alogo will break this contest open
Try: Simonsson gets Parra on the board
A knock on under the high ball by Will Warbrick gives Parramatta another sniff after Talagi was shut down on the last in their previous raid. Still very clunky from the Eels with a lot of passes missing their mark. Until they stick a play. And score from it.
J’maine Hopgood – in the frame for a Queensland Origin call-up – combines with Dylan Brown to compress Melbourne’s line down the right. Hands will do it from there for Bailey Simonsson to dot down inside the corner post. Sean Russell’s sideline conversion hits the post and just bounces away.
Storm 4 Eels 4
Try: Tui barges over for Storm
Another Eels error has Melbourne hunting their first try and eventually Parramatta wilt. Harry Grant is in ominous touch early and he engineers this one close to the try line. Just drifts out of dummy-half, draws Campbell-Gillard in and then bullets Tui Kamikamica into the hole left behind. First try after 10 minutes and if Parramatta give Melbourne this much possession and field position, it will be the first of many.
Storm 4 Eels 0
Eels get us going against warm favourites Melbourne
And we’re underway in game seven of Magic Round. Suncorp turf is holding up well. Parramatta kick us off and Harry Grant is already finding a bit of space around the ruck. Looks to be a knock-on by young Blaize Talagi under the high ball and the Storm are pressing their line already.
From side-to-side, Sua Fa’alogo is threatening on both edges and only a couple of try-savers stop him from scoring. Good defence by the Eels, ominous stuff from the young gun. An error by Will Penisini puts Parra back under the pump straight away. And again, the Eels have to pull out all the stops to deny Melbourne. Bailey Simonsson with some important defensive reads there.
Storm 0 Eels 0
Pengilly: This is one of the great rounds of the NRL era
Can Hynes finally be NSW’s saviour?
With his coronation as NSW halfback almost complete, Nicho Hynes says the lessons of the past two years – including being dropped by coach Brad Fittler following a costly mistake on debut for Blues – has him steeled for the State of Origin blowtorch.
Fresh from leading the Sharks to a stunning win over the Roosters during Magic Round, Hynes is on the cusp of his first run-on appearance for the Blues due to his stellar form and injuries to Nathan Cleary and Mitchell Moses.
Sharks halfback Nicho Hynes greets fans at Magic Round.Credit: Getty
Hynes admitted it was a small risk to play in Brisbane after barely training during the week with a minor calf strain, but he only needs to survive 80 minutes against the Panthers next week to win his second Origin cap.
His first game came as an interchange player in Adelaide last year, when he was forced out of position and was part of a crucial missed tackle on Cameron Munster, which inspired one of the most unlikely comeback wins in Origin history.
“I’ve learnt a helluva lot,” Hynes said. “I’ve had to eat shit and learn from it the last couple of years.
“It put me in a position to be where I am now and perform for this club, this team … I wouldn’t be in this position if it wasn’t for my teammates and club and the lessons I’ve learned.
“There’s going to be people saying I’m not the man for the job, there will be people saying I am the man for the job. Right now, I’ve got to focus on getting this calf as good as it can be for the Panthers [game next Saturday].
“If I’m ready, the coaching staff will pick me.”
Read the full story here.
Poll: Who wins this one?
Late Mail: Eels lose Ryan Matterson to illness
A few changes for Melbourne – Tui Kamikamica starts at lock with Trent Loiero dropping back to the bench. Grant Anderson comes into the 17 in place of Jack Howarth too.
Parramatta have lost Ryan Matterson to illness, Bryce Cartwright replaces him in the back-row and Luca Moretti is onto the bench. The Storm welcome back Xavier Coates from injury.
Storm: 1. Sualauvi Faalogo 2. William Warbrick 3. Reimis Smith 4. Nick Meaney 5. Xavier Coates 6. Cameron Munster 7. Tyran Wishart 8. Christian Welch 9. Harry Grant 10. Josh King 11. Shawn Blore 12. Eliesa Katoa 15. Tui Kamikamica 13. Trent Loiero 16. Nelson Asofa-Solomona 17. Alec MacDonald 18. Grant Anderson. 18th man: 20. Bronson Garlick
Eels: 1. Blaize Talagi 2. Maika Sivo 3. Viliami Penisini 4. Sean Russell 5. Bailey Simonsson 6. Daejarn Asi 7. Dylan Brown 8. Reagan Campbell-Gillard 9. Joey Lussick 16. Joe Ofahengaue 11. Shaun Lane 14. Bryce Cartwright 13. J’maine Hopgood 10. Junior Paulo 15. Makahesi Makatoa 17. Kelma Tuilagi 22. Luca Moretti. 18th man: 18. Brendan Hands
Game two, let’s go
Well, just quietly, up the Wahs. That’s one of the biggest upsets of the season. A quality haka exchange between DWZ and his mates, at least I assume they’re his mates, in the stands.
And now to Parramatta and Melbourne. The Eels would love a boilover of similar proportions. We’ll know soon enough if they’ve got it in them, kick off in 20 minutes.
