Eels back to winning way

Daejarn Asi proved the difference in a tense battle, scoring a crucial try and field goal in the final 20 minutes to get the Eels across the line.
Clint Gutherson, Dylan Brown and Joey Lussick were also immense, as the Eels’ spine steered the side to victory.
Asi and Lussick were joined on the scoresheet by Joe Ofahengaue and Morgan Harper, while Gutherson kicked five crucial goals.
The Cowboys started strongly and looked threatening all night, but Parramatta demonstrated tremendous determination to earn their third win of 2024.
North Queensland opened proceedings but the Eels bounced back just five minutes later.
J’maine Hopgood played the ball to Ofahengaue, and the Eels prop powered through four defenders .
Gutherson converted, and then kicked a penalty goal, to hand the Eels an 8-6 advantage.
The Cowboys retook the lead but a sensational piece of play saw the Eels hit the front in the 26th minute, with Lussick on the end of it.
Gutherson’s third goal of the first half bumped the Eels into a 14-10 lead, which they took into the break.
A deft kick by Brown rolled deep into the in-goal, and a persistent Morgan Harper tracked down the ball to score just inside the dead-ball line.
However, the Cowboys quickly ate into the Eels’ lead but Asi stood tall in the final 20 minutes to help deliver an important win for Parramatta.
Eels coach Brad Arthur described his side as “courageous”.
“This win shows the boys do care but it’s hard to be our best every week,” he said.
“Tonight they just kept fighting and fighting and scrambled really well.”
The Eels hope to carry their momentum into this week’s match against the Dolphins, in Parramatta’s annual trip to Darwin, from 8pm on Friday.