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Undermanned Penrith defeat a near full-strength Parramatta 32-12 in trial at CUA
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By Patrick Caruana
February 20, 2010
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An undermanned Penrith upset a near-full strength Parramatta 32-12 in their NRL trial match at CUA Stadium.
On a night the NRL went head-to-head with an AFL pre-season cup game at Blacktown, an impressive crowd of 11,113 watched the Panthers cruise to victory.
>
The Panthers win came despite the absence of representative stars Petero Civoniceva, Michael Jennings, Luke Lewis and Trent Waterhouse.
>
Early premiership favourites Parramatta were almost at full strength, with Nathan Hindmarsh and Timana Tahu, the only absences from the side likely to line up for the season-opener with St George Illawarra on March 12.
>
Eels coach Daniel Anderson said the decision to play all his big names had backfired.
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We're a bit of a casualty ward from it, which is never good from a trial,'' he said.
>
Ben Smiths probably the worst, he looks to have done something to his cheekbone.
>
"Daniel Mortimer's got a massive zipper, he had at least a dozen stitches.
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"Jarryd (Hayne) hurt his sternum in the All Stars game and it flared up a little bit.''
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But Anderson said said all three are likely to be fit for next Saturdays trial against the Roosters at Bluetongue Stadium.
>
Penrith coach Matt Elliott said it was pleasing to see some of the lesser lights shine.
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"The fact that a lot of those guys were stuck into those positions and how they contributed was a real positive,'' he said.
>
"We're not getting carried away, but that was a nice platform to build on, for sure.''
>
The Panthers had all the early play, hitting the front in the fifth minute when Shane Elford crossed in the left corner, put in by a sizzling pass from Wade Graham.
>
They scored their second try nine minutes later, when Jarryd Hayne made an uncharacteristic blunder, dropping the ball in goal while fielding a Luke Walsh kick, with the halfback reacting quickest to pounce and put the Panthers 8-0 in front.
>
The Eels were sluggish throughout, with the exception of Fuifui Moimoi, who evidently hadn't been told the game was just a trial, making his impact felt when he came off the bench in the first half.
>
Parramatta's first try came when Ben Smith rose highest to touch down after great kick from Matt Keating in the 26th minute.
>
Leading 14-6 at half-time, the Panthers continued where they left off in the second stanza, with Travis Burns scoring two tries in 10 minutes to ensure Penrith claimed the Battle of the West Cup.
>
Luke Burt put some respectability back on the scoresheet when he combined cleverly with Shane Shackleton for Parramatta's second try.
>
However the win came at a cost for Penrith, who lost David Simmons through a shoulder injury and Brad Tighe with a leg complaint.
>
Eels five-eighth Daniel Mortimer left the field with a head injury midway through the first half and played no further part, but Eels officials were confident he hadn’t sustained any serious damage.
Full strength Eels side.........touched up by a Resevre grade Penriff........... :laughing:
Quote:
Undermanned Penrith defeat a near full-strength Parramatta 32-12 in trial at CUA
>
By Patrick Caruana
February 20, 2010
>
An undermanned Penrith upset a near-full strength Parramatta 32-12 in their NRL trial match at CUA Stadium.
On a night the NRL went head-to-head with an AFL pre-season cup game at Blacktown, an impressive crowd of 11,113 watched the Panthers cruise to victory.
>
The Panthers win came despite the absence of representative stars Petero Civoniceva, Michael Jennings, Luke Lewis and Trent Waterhouse.
>
Early premiership favourites Parramatta were almost at full strength, with Nathan Hindmarsh and Timana Tahu, the only absences from the side likely to line up for the season-opener with St George Illawarra on March 12.
>
Eels coach Daniel Anderson said the decision to play all his big names had backfired.
>
We're a bit of a casualty ward from it, which is never good from a trial,'' he said.
>
Ben Smiths probably the worst, he looks to have done something to his cheekbone.
>
"Daniel Mortimer's got a massive zipper, he had at least a dozen stitches.
>
"Jarryd (Hayne) hurt his sternum in the All Stars game and it flared up a little bit.''
>
But Anderson said said all three are likely to be fit for next Saturdays trial against the Roosters at Bluetongue Stadium.
>
Penrith coach Matt Elliott said it was pleasing to see some of the lesser lights shine.
>
"The fact that a lot of those guys were stuck into those positions and how they contributed was a real positive,'' he said.
>
"We're not getting carried away, but that was a nice platform to build on, for sure.''
>
The Panthers had all the early play, hitting the front in the fifth minute when Shane Elford crossed in the left corner, put in by a sizzling pass from Wade Graham.
>
They scored their second try nine minutes later, when Jarryd Hayne made an uncharacteristic blunder, dropping the ball in goal while fielding a Luke Walsh kick, with the halfback reacting quickest to pounce and put the Panthers 8-0 in front.
>
The Eels were sluggish throughout, with the exception of Fuifui Moimoi, who evidently hadn't been told the game was just a trial, making his impact felt when he came off the bench in the first half.
>
Parramatta's first try came when Ben Smith rose highest to touch down after great kick from Matt Keating in the 26th minute.
>
Leading 14-6 at half-time, the Panthers continued where they left off in the second stanza, with Travis Burns scoring two tries in 10 minutes to ensure Penrith claimed the Battle of the West Cup.
>
Luke Burt put some respectability back on the scoresheet when he combined cleverly with Shane Shackleton for Parramatta's second try.
>
However the win came at a cost for Penrith, who lost David Simmons through a shoulder injury and Brad Tighe with a leg complaint.
>
Eels five-eighth Daniel Mortimer left the field with a head injury midway through the first half and played no further part, but Eels officials were confident he hadn’t sustained any serious damage.
Full strength Eels side.........touched up by a Resevre grade Penriff........... :laughing:
