EELS TRIUMPH OVER TITANS IN HIGH-PACED CONTEST AT COMMBANK STADIUM
In a thrilling Round 16 clash at CommBank Stadium, the Parramatta Eels walked away with a convincing 36-20 win over the Gold Coast Titans, turning around recent form and securing a much-needed two points as the NRL season heats up. The match showcased moments of brilliance, attacking flair, and defensive grit, with the home side ultimately proving too clinical for the visiting Titans.
The Eels crossed the stripe six times to the Titans’ four, with Will Penisini bagging a double and Zac Lomax perfect off the tee with six goals from six attempts. The match had all the hallmarks of a modern NRL contest—momentum swings, individual brilliance, and some physical intensity that pleased the Parramatta faithful.
Fast Start, End-to-End Footy
It was the Titans who drew first blood, with Jaimin Jolliffe crashing over just three minutes into the match. Jayden Campbell added the extras, giving the visitors an early 6-0 lead. However, Parramatta responded swiftly and with force, orchestrating a dominant 15-minute spell that saw tries to Sean Russell (11’), Joey Lussick (15’), and Charlie Guymer (20’)—each of them converted by Zac Lomax to swing the scoreboard to 18-6 in the Eels’ favour.
But the Titans wouldn’t lie down. Chris Randall’s effort in the 28th minute, followed by Alofiana Khan-Pereira’s scorching 34th-minute try, narrowed the gap to just two points at the break. Lomax’s consistency from the tee kept Parramatta narrowly ahead 18-16 going into halftime.
Eels Take Control in Second Half
The second half saw Parramatta lift their intensity and focus. Dean Hawkins started the resurgence with a slick try in the 48th minute, capping off an impressive individual performance. Once again, Lomax added the extras, pushing the margin to 24-16.
Though Khan-Pereira’s second try in the 62nd minute gave the Titans a sniff of a comeback at 24-20, the Eels dug in and countered swiftly. Will Penisini’s back-to-back tries in the 66th and 70th minutes snuffed out any hopes of a Titans fightback. Both were converted by Lomax, taking his personal haul to 12 points and sealing a decisive 36-20 win for the Eels.
Statistical Highlights Show Parramatta’s Edge
Across the board, the stats revealed Parramatta’s dominance in key areas. The Eels made 205 runs compared to the Titans’ 187, and outgained them in running metres (1945m to 1864m). Line breaks (8 to 3), offloads (14 to 4), and missed tackles (22 to 38) all tilted heavily in Parramatta’s favour—clear indicators of their ability to both create and prevent opportunities.
The home side also showed a strong kicking game, clocking up 672 kick metres to the Titans’ 665, while maintaining control and discipline with just five penalties conceded.
Key Performers:
Zac Lomax (Eels) – A standout on the wing, Lomax led from the front with 211 running metres, two linebreak assists, one try assist, and six conversions from six attempts. He also registered 25 runs and two offloads, making his presence felt in both attack and transition.
Will Penisini (Eels) – Bagged a brace in the second half to swing the momentum firmly in Parramatta’s favour. He also tallied five tackle busts, showing strength and timing in the centres.
Isaiah Iongi (Eels) – Delivered three try assists and five tackle breaks, while also recording 21 runs for 186 metres. Iongi’s vision and link-up play at fullback were instrumental in setting the tempo for Parramatta.
Alofiana Khan-Pereira (Titans) – A constant danger out wide, scoring two tries and racking up a match-high 229 run metres. His pace was electric, and he remained a threat every time he touched the ball.
Jaimin Jolliffe & Sam Verrills (Titans) – Both finished with 43 tackles apiece, highlighting the workload the Titans had to endure in defense.
Eels Bounce Back After Tough Stretch
This win was a significant response from the Eels following back-to-back losses to the Bulldogs and Panthers. The return to form comes at a crucial time as the team looks to consolidate its position on the ladder heading into the business end of the season.
Recent form had placed pressure on Parramatta, especially following their 30-12 loss to the Bulldogs and an 18-10 defeat to the Panthers. But the convincing nature of their performance against the Titans suggests a renewed sense of urgency and confidence in the camp.
Titans Inconsistency Remains
For the Titans, it’s another frustrating night of football, where periods of promise were again undone by lapses in defense and execution. Despite big metres from Khan-Pereira (229m), Josh Addo-Carr (220m), and Phillip Sami (189m), the Titans were unable to consistently apply pressure or hold their defensive line when it mattered.
Coach Des Hasler will be left scratching his head, as his side has now slumped to four losses in their past five games, including heavy defeats to the Broncos and Raiders. Their next few matches could determine whether they remain in finals contention or fall further adrift.
What’s Next
With the Eels returning to winning ways, coach Brad Arthur will look to build on this momentum in the coming rounds. Their next clash will provide a tougher challenge, but the signs are there that Parramatta has rediscovered some of the fluency that marked their early-season success.
For the Titans, the road ahead doesn’t get any easier. Defensive issues and inconsistency in the spine continue to haunt them. Unless they can tighten their structure and improve their completion rate, more pain could be on the horizon.
Final Score:
Parramatta Eels 36 def. Gold Coast Titans 20
Tries: Russell, Lussick, Guymer, Hawkins, Penisini (2) | Jolliffe, Randall, Khan-Pereira (2)
Conversions: Lomax 6/6 | Campbell 2/4
Halftime: Eels 18 – Titans 16
It was a statement win from the blue and gold at CommBank—one that not only delivered a valuable two competition points but also sent a reminder to the rest of the league: the Eels aren’t done yet.
