The Pirtek Parramatta Eels NYC side has come back from an 18-point deficit in the first half to post a 38-24 victory in an cracking encounter against the Melbourne Storm Thunderbolts at AAMI Park.
The Thunderbolts came out firing from the whistle, sending Richard Kenner in for a try to open the scoring, followed by crisp attacking displays that sent Dane Chang and Niua Finau Puaka over the line to join him on the scoreboard.
Thanks to the pinpoint kicking of halfback Matt McGahan, the Thunderbolts built up an 18-0 lead twenty minutes in, but with a neat kick in goal earning a repeat set for the Eels, the Blue and Gold took advantage and began a comeback.
Halfback Zach Dockar-Clay provided spark up the middle before sending James Tuitahi over in the right hand corner, while fullback Corey Makelim came perilously close to adding his own four-pointer.
The young Eels ended the half with momentum as Connor Broadhurst leapt on a loose ball to score Parramatta's second try of the afternoon, and Erick Aukafolau followed his lead right on the siren.
The roll on continued for the Blue and Gold, with Tuitahi needing less than two minutes to score his second of the afternoon.
While Thunderbolts flyer Denny Solomona didn't return after the break, Melbourne centre Niua Finau Puaka took advantage of an overlap provided by Matt McGahan to keep Melbourne in the lead.
Both sides had their opportunities on the back of opposition handling errors, but it was the Eels who capitalised.
Tuitahi bagged a hat trick as he collected a neat chip kick in the right hand corner, and Sean Jackson burrowed through the Melbourne defence to score right under the goal posts.
With just over ten minutes on the clock, Brasington landed a penalty goal to put the Eels more than a converted try ahead.
The five-eighth then secured the game within the last two minutes, converting his own try for a 38-24 victory.
Eels - 38 (Tuitahi 3, Broadhurst, Jackson, Aukofolau, Brasington. Goals: Brasington - 4/7 Penalty Goals: 1/1)
The Thunderbolts came out firing from the whistle, sending Richard Kenner in for a try to open the scoring, followed by crisp attacking displays that sent Dane Chang and Niua Finau Puaka over the line to join him on the scoreboard.
Thanks to the pinpoint kicking of halfback Matt McGahan, the Thunderbolts built up an 18-0 lead twenty minutes in, but with a neat kick in goal earning a repeat set for the Eels, the Blue and Gold took advantage and began a comeback.
Halfback Zach Dockar-Clay provided spark up the middle before sending James Tuitahi over in the right hand corner, while fullback Corey Makelim came perilously close to adding his own four-pointer.
The young Eels ended the half with momentum as Connor Broadhurst leapt on a loose ball to score Parramatta's second try of the afternoon, and Erick Aukafolau followed his lead right on the siren.
The roll on continued for the Blue and Gold, with Tuitahi needing less than two minutes to score his second of the afternoon.
While Thunderbolts flyer Denny Solomona didn't return after the break, Melbourne centre Niua Finau Puaka took advantage of an overlap provided by Matt McGahan to keep Melbourne in the lead.
Both sides had their opportunities on the back of opposition handling errors, but it was the Eels who capitalised.
Tuitahi bagged a hat trick as he collected a neat chip kick in the right hand corner, and Sean Jackson burrowed through the Melbourne defence to score right under the goal posts.
With just over ten minutes on the clock, Brasington landed a penalty goal to put the Eels more than a converted try ahead.
The five-eighth then secured the game within the last two minutes, converting his own try for a 38-24 victory.
