Moses in charge as Eels triumph

MITCHELL Moses has piloted Parramatta to a 24-12 NRL win over an undermanned Cronulla at ANZ Stadium to continue the Eels’ stellar start to 2019.

With his halves partner Dylan Brown out because of a back injury, Moses took the reins last night and had a hand in three of his side’s four tries.

At a time when NSW State of Origin incumbent halves Nathan Cleary and James Maloney are struggling for form, the often-maligned Moses turned in a performance which will do his representative ambitions no harm.

Moses was the orchestrator in the second half, setting up both of Michael Jennings’ tries to seal the win.

The Eels led 12-6 at halftime but the Sharks controversially evened up when Sosaia Feki crossed off a set play four minutes after the resumption.

The previous play, Josh Morris threw the ball inside and it was picked up by Moses, however the Eels’ No.7 was called back after his side was penalised for dragging the Sharks’ centre into touch.

But the Eels took the lead again when Josh Dugan made a mess trying to clean up a Moses grubber and Jennings grounded it.

The home side iced the game – their final at ANZ Stadium before their move to the new Bankwest Stadium – when Moses ran it down the short side and threw a cut-out pass to Blake Ferguson, who put Jennings over.

Ferguson continued his purple patch of form (229m, one try assist, two line breaks, three tackle busts), while Clint Gutherson (227 metres, three

Moses took the reins and had a hand in three of his side’s four tries

tackle busts) was also influential in the Parramatta victory.

After taking seven rounds to record their first win last year, the Eels are a different outfit in 2019 and are 3-1 through the opening month.

The result leaves the Sharks at 2-2, however they have been hit hard by injury.

Already missing skipper Paul Gallen (ribs) and Matt Moylan (hamstring), Cronulla were dealt a big blow before kickoff when halfback Shaun Johnson was withdrawn with a quad problem, giving Kyle Flanagan his second firstgrade game.

They also lost influential prop Aaron Woods midway through the second half with an ankle injury.

Sharks debutant Bronson Xerri showed plenty of promise and speed when he outran Gutherson, who looked likely to score after the Parramatta fullback toed through an open ball.