Parramatta today ended the Vodafone Warriors' hopes of making the quarter-finals at the Downer NRL Auckland Nines at Eden Park.
The young home side was resolute in the opening exchanges but the much more experienced Eels weren't about to gift the Vodafone Warriors the result they needed.
The contest started on the back of Manly registering its second straight win 23-20 over St George Illawarra. To stay alive in the hunt for a place among the last eight, the Vodafone Warriors had to beat Parramatta.
It was never going to be that easy. There was a ruthlessness about the Eels as they put together a 17-0 victory over the home side to ensure they advanced to the quarter-finals with the Sea Eagles.
Shaun Johnson again didn't play after being withdrawn from the club's first match against Manly. He complained of tightness in his groin in the warm-up before the opening game and wasn't going to be risked against the Eels.
The Vodafone Warriors kept the slick Eels in check early on but a stripping penalty proved their undoing. From the repeat set, the classy Corey Norman side-footed a deft kick in behind the defence for the fleet-footed Bevan French to collect for a bonus point try.
The score became 11-0 when New Zealander Honeti Tuha was able to spin out of a one-on-one tackle to score wide out.
A penalty right on halftime provided a slim chance of a Vodafone Warriors try but there were just seconds left. They couldn’t manufacture a hit-back try.
Facing a second straight defeat, the Vodafone Warriors needed something special in the second half. It didn’t come, though, with the Eels out to a 17-0 lead through a converted Semi Radradra try.
That would be the end of the scoring, the Vodafone Warriors now left to face the Dragons in their final Piha Pool game tomorrow.
Match details
Vodafone Warriors 0.
Parramatta Eels 17 (Bevan French, Honeti Tuha, Semi Radradra tries).
Halftime: 11-0 Eels.
