Parramatta prevailed over North Queensland to leave them vulnerable in their finals race, winning a game that had absolutely everything from the start to finish, full of highlights, and will be remembered for a try that will be hard to beat for the best all season.
It was a highlight of a match that deserved more than the 12,804 who turned up at CommBank Stadium to watch the 32-30 result.
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The contender for try of the season started with Jaxon Purdue, who had the ball on a string at number seven for the Cowboys and it was his tackle break 25 metres out from the Parramatta line that started the unforgettable series of events.
Purdue’s pass to Jake Clifford which he threw out the back was then picked up by Englishman John Bateman amidst clashing bodies, a kick then put through by Purdue was picked up by winger Murray Taulagi who brought it in-field basketballed to Reuben Cotter who passed to Bateman with a cross-field kick taken by Braidon Burns with a flick pass – to be seen to be believed – cutting out Heilum Luki to put Tom Chester over in the opposite corner.
“Rugby League is undefeated, razzle dazzle,” Andrew Voss called on Fox League.
“Rugby league you beautiful thing,” Michael Ennis replied.
But as was the case all night, Parramatta were not be denied, they kept fighting. From the opening whistle with an incredible break from the kick-off, the Eels replied again five minutes after the stunner from Chester.
As they had done a little earlier in the second half to tie the scores, Jordan Samrani scored and Mitchell Moses made it 30-all.
Earlier in the second half, the Cowboys regained the lead at 24-18 through Reuben Cotter, but a penalty try awarded to Da Silva three minutes later, due to off-side defender Cotter getting involved and the Bunker ruling the try would have been scored but for his involvement and scores were tied again.
Moses was having as much influence as Purdue on the result and but for an ankle tap with six minutes to go by Luki, a try may have broken the deadlock and looked like the game was headed to Golden point.
But heartbreakingly for Cowboys’ supporters head high contact by Chester, in a crushing blow minutes after his try, meant a penalty to Parramatta and Moses converted to give them the two-point advantage.
“It’s not the reason it cost us a game. I mentioned why we’re sitting here disappointed. It’s our own fault,” Todd Payten said post-game.
“I would hate a big game to be decided by that call. The fact that he’d actually dropped the ball, and the play was essentially dead or over, and for the Bunker to intervene like that, it’s hard to cop… but we had several chances to ice the game. You get what you deserve.”
North Queensland had one last roll of the dice two minutes to go with a two-point field goal attempt from Scott Drinkwater to force extra time, but two try hero da Silva charged down to win the game for Parramatta.
