Storm 16, Eels 10
If you want an idea of how much improvement Parramatta have made under first-year head coach Jason Ryles, cast your mind back to round one.
That day, the Eels travelled to Melbourne, trailed 46-6 at half-time, and went on to lose 56-18.
It was a good old-fashioned hiding, and for a split second, Ryles must have wondered if he should have just stayed in Melbourne and continued to work as an assistant coach to Craig Bellamy.
Fast-forward to Thursday night, and the Eels were a different side. They were sharper in attack and on the same page defensively. They were in the contest all night before losing 16-10.
“The fight and effort in the group at the moment is outstanding,” Ryles said after the match.
“Not for a second are they happy we’ve been beaten, and neither am I, but at the same time, the improvement we’ve shown week-on-week, it’s there.
“I honestly think we lost that game tonight, they didn’t beat us.”
The Eels had their chance to win the game more than once late in the game. Ryles knew that, judging by the way he was riding a wave of emotion in the coaches’ box.
In the end, the Storm held their nerve to keep their top-two hopes alive.
They are not as sharp as they have been in recent years, but maybe they don’t have to be this year.
This was always a building year for Ryles and Parra. Finals football was always a pipedream, especially with so many new, young faces, including a rookie fullback in Isaiah Iongi, and his current replacement No.1 Joash Papalii. They will improve again in 2026.
Charlie Guymer scored their only try in the second half – only the big fella will ever know if he got the ball down – before a Zac Lomax penalty goal locked the scores up.
A cross-field kick from Cam Munster was weighted perfectly for Xavier Coates to then score in the 70th minute.
The Storm have plenty of attacking threats, including Papenhuyzen, Munster and Grant. Jahrome Hughes should be back from a shoulder injury in time for the finals, with Jonah Pezet given the final 10 minutes to show what he can do after Tyran Wishart started in the No. 7 jersey.
The Storm led 10-4 at the break, with Eli Katoa leaping for a Munster kick to score, and Grant drifting across the field to put Tui Kamikamica over from close range. Those fans who tuned in last week would have noticed Grant produce an identical play and try for Utoikamanu against the Roosters.
Parramatta got one back through Josh Addo-Carr, who did well – again – to stay in the field of play and make it career try No. 151.
Aside from a few dropped balls early in sets from both sides, the quality of football was high.
The Storm were too good. The Eels are on the up.