Brown's stunner as Eels unearth hidden gem; star leads Cowboys ...
The Eels have held off a spirited Cowboys side with a Mitchell Moses try in the final two minutes sealing a 24-16 win.
The Cowboys needed to respond to last week’s horror loss to the Tigers and they did exactly that when Scott Drinkwater scored first points.
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A couple of solid hits in the sets following suggested a good battle was brewing — and it was as right as Eels prop Wiremu Greig scored.
The Cowboys went close to taking the lead when Townsend broke into clear space only for Dylan Brown to chop him down with a try-saving tackle.
Townsend returned the favour to the Eels when he tackled Maika Sivo over the sideline seconds before half time.
But Parramatta’s powerhouse winger eventually broke the deadlock when he cruised over midway through the second half.
Their other winger Sean Russell scored eight minutes later after having two tries disallowed earlier in the game.
But the Cowboys didn’t put their heads down. Instead they responded with a try of their own as Drinkwater floated a ball over Sivo to Kyle Feldt.
The silky skills of the fullback was on show again when he set up Feldt for his second try of the night. Townsend slotted the conversion to bring his side within two of the Eels.
But with just under two minutes left on the clock, Moses backed himself and came up trumps to lock in the win.
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GAMECHANGING PLAY SUMS UP EELS STAR’S FORM
Dylan Brown leads the competition in try assists having set up 16 in 12 games. But it was his defence that stole the show on Friday night.
The star five-eighth made 32 tackles — the second most of his team — and came up with one that left many stunned.
When Chad Townsend found some space he looked certain to score until Brown came in sideways and wrapped up his legs.
“It was like he jumped out of the first tow to make that tackle,” Fox League’s Dan Ginnane gushed in commentary.
“Look at the acceleration of Dylan Brown,” Michael Ennis added.
“(We’re) often marvelling at his footwork and his ball-playing, but his effort tonight, that’s his 19th tackle tonight. That’s a big play from Dylan Brown.”
Brown’s input in attack was integral to the Eels’ win too. He set up the first try, got two linebreak assists and ran for 94 metres.
“His ball-playing has been sublime this year,” Ennis said.
“I thought Dylan Brown was the best player on the field for the first 60 minutes, brilliant defensively and controlled things perfectly with his ball-playing.”
DRINKWATER LEADS COWBOYS RESPONSE
The Cowboys may not have gotten the two points, but they can hold their heads high after delivering exactly what coach Todd Payten and their fans needed to see – a response.
They were humiliated by the Tigers last week in a 66-18 bloodbath. It was the biggest talking point of Round 12 and there was a lot of curiosity about how they would recover.
“There’s got to be a bounce back, there’s got to be effort there tonight… I think they’ve got to show each other something,” Fox League’s Greg Alexander said before kick-off.
“You don’t get beaten by the Tigers by 60, it’s the Tigers – they’ve been battling themselves and put 60 on the Cowboys. That’s trouble.”
The Cowboys scored first to show from the get go they turned up as a completely different side.
The Eels eventually shot out to an 18-6 lead and as Michael Ennis said “it could’ve gone pear-shaped” for the Cowboys, but they dug in and scored two tries in the final 12 minutes to keep the game alive.
“That was a great battle, they put up a fight,” Alexander.
While Townsend showed a lot of improvement from last week, it was fullback Scott Drinkwater that inspired his teammates.
He scored the first try and then set up the next two, while also finishing with three linebreak assists, a linebreak, five tackle busts and 90 running metres.
“I thought he was strong,” Payten said after the game.
“What he said before the game I really liked. He wanted to have 20 carries and when he’s got his hands on the ball we’re a better team.
“He took some tough yardage carries, he took some good options — he’s a real threat for us.
“The kid cares about his footy goes and how we go as a team. I’ve really liked his intent and effort — particularly the last six to eight weeks.”
EELS BEAST THE SILVER LINING TO RCG’S INJURY
The silver lining to Reagan Campbell-Gillard’s injury has been the emergence of Wiremu Greig.
The 192cm, 124kg prop had played just three NRL games of his first two seasons with the Eels — now he’s a regular in Brad Arthur’s 17.
Greig was promoted to the run on side in the wake of Campbell-Gillard’s groin injury and has made the most of his opportunity.
The 23-year-old scored his first NRL try in Friday’s win — a game that Cooper Cronk believes was the “best of his career.”
Greig ran for 150 metres, got two tackle busts, a linebreak and came painfully close to scoring a second try. He also made 25 tackles with no misses.
“He’s been great for them over the past six weeks… when he played for the All Stars, you thought ‘oh I haven’t seen him yet’,” Greg Alexander said.
“He left the Cowboys, signed with Parramatta, when they do get Campbell-Gillard and Junior Paulo back in that pack and then have Wiremu Greig coming off the bench — if not starting — it is a very good middle.
“He’s been outstanding. They have turned Wiremu Greig from a player with potential into a player that can hold down a first grade spot, which is great.”
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TEAMS
Eels: 1. Clinton Gutherson 2. Maika Sivo 3. Viliami Penisini 4. Bailey Simonsson 5. Sean Russell 6. Dylan Brown 7. Mitchell Moses 8. Wiremu Greig 9. Josh Hodgson 10. Joe Ofahengaue 11. Bryce Cartwright 12. Matt Doorey 13. J’maine Hopgood 14. Ofahiki Ogden 15. Brendan Hands 16. Luca Moretti 17. Makahesi Makatoa 18. Daejarn Asi
Cowboys: 1. Scott Drinkwater 2. Kyle Feldt 3. Zac Laybutt 4. Peta Hiku 5. Robert Derby 6. Ben Hampton 7. Chad Townsend 8. Jordan McLean 9. Reece Robson 10. Coen Hess 12. Heilum Luki 14. Jack Gosiewski 13. Jake Granville 11. Luciano Leilua 15. Kulikefu Finefeuiaki 16. Jamayne Taunoa-Brown 17. Griffin Neame 19. Brendan Elliot
