Moses field goal lifts Eels as Parra fire up over Cowboys trainer

A Mitchell Moses field goal – followed by a crucial no-try ruling from the video referee – has helped Parramatta put some much-welcomed breathing space between themselves and the wooden spoon with a 19-18 win against North Queensland at Commbank Stadium on Sunday.

With the scores locked at 18-all and five minutes to play, Moses landed a booming one-pointer from more than 30 metres out to put the Eels within sight of victory.

But their hopes appeared to have been dashed when North Queensland playmaker Jake Clifford crossed the line in the final minute. Referee Liam Kennedy awarded the try, but the bunker intervened and ruled Moses had been obstructed by Cowboys back-rower Jeremiah Nanai.

North Queensland coach Todd Payten said with a straight face at the post-match media conference: “I thought the on-field ref got it right. I’ve seen Mitchell dive plenty of times over the years.”

He then clarified with a chuckle by saying that comment was “in jest”.

“I think it was the right call in the end … I know Mitchell. He’s cheeky. He’s been doing it for a long time,” he said.

Moses smiled when told of Payten’s remark. “His back-rower ran the wrong line, so maybe he should be talking to his back-rower,” he quipped.

The win, Parra’s seventh this year under rookie coach Jason Ryles, lifted them four points clear of last-placed Gold Coast, with four rounds remaining. They climbed to 13th on the ladder, leapfrogging the Cowboys in the process.

When asked if he was relieved that his team have distanced themselves from last place, Ryles replied: “I didn’t even know that, but now that you say it, it is [a relief], I suppose. Our focus is always getting better every day, and every week. The results like that will start to drop.”

There was drama in the 67th minute, when Braidon Burns threw a pass on a kick-return that bounced off the North Queensland trainer, before it was dived on by Zac Laybutt. Parramatta protested, but referee Kennedy ruled play on.

Nine sideline reporter Danika Mason revealed the Cowboys trainer had been “absolutely sprayed” by the Parramatta bench, “who were obviously upset with it all”, when he came off the field.

Penrith were fined $50,000 and trainer Corey Bocking banned for five matches last week after Bocking ran in front of Gold Coast’s Jayden Campbell as he lined up a conversion. It was the sixth incident involving a Penrith trainer since 2021.

The Eels led 12-8 at the half-time break after two tries from crowd-pleasing winger Josh Addo-Carr.

Parramatta posted first points through a Zac Lomax penalty goal in the fifth minute, but the Cowboys grabbed the lead nine minutes later when Clifford grubber-kicked, the ball evaded Lomax, and centre Jaxon Purdue pounced.

Laybutt converted, then added a penalty goal soon afterwards, to give the visitors an 8-2 advantage.

Then Addo-Carr stamped his class on the contest. First he was on the spot to receive a freakish offload from five-eighth Dean Hawkins and score in the 28th minute.

Five minutes later, the former NSW Origin and Kangaroos flyer flashed past a host of Cowboys defenders and won the race to regather a grubber from Moses and score.

Four minutes into the second half, Moses sparked an attacking raid and fullback Joash Papalii threw a sweet ball that sent centre Will Penisini over. Lomax converted to nudge the Eels 10 points ahead.

The Cowboys hit back in the 52nd minute when Semi Valemei intercepted and appeared certain to score a long-range try, only to be chased down by Addo-Carr.

From the ensuing play-the-ball, North Queensland swung the ball to the opposite flank, where Braidon Burns scored. Laybutt’s unsuccessful conversion attempt left the Eels clinging to an 18-12 lead.

Two minutes later, it was back to all-square after Clifford launched a bomb, Papalii fumbled and Purdue raced over to score between the posts. Laybutt converted to level the scores.

A long-range Moses drop goal in the 75th minute broke the deadlock.

Two big names – one from each team – made notable returns to action. Parramatta recalled Newcastle-bound Dylan Brown for his first game in almost a month, naming him in the centres to replace injured Sean Russell.

Cowboys champion Jason Taumalolo, meanwhile, made his first appearance since he tore a calf muscle on May 3. Playing in only his seventh game of the season, the veteran forward lasted 22 minutes in his first stint.

He returned to the action midway through the second half.

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