The Parramatta Eels have staged an incredible comeback to defeat the Wests Tigers 26-24 in the NSW Wheelchair Rugby League NSW Cup Grand Final at Menai Indoor Sports Centre.
It was a high-quality start to the match, with the Eels moving the ball well and the Tigers attack getting themselves into position early. After plenty of back-and-forth, the Tigers opened the scoring in the 11th minute when veteran and Tigers skipper Brad Grove sliced through the middle and found support. Grove converted to put the Tigers ahead 6-0.
Some ill-discipline from the Eels gifted the Tigers attacking field position and they were able to capitalise through Toby Popple, who put the Tigers ahead 10-0.
The Eels started to gather back some momentum and it was the individual brilliance of international Diab Karim who got the Eels on the board and a successful conversion reduced the deficit to four.
Karim’s early kicks started to swing momentum back in the Eels favour and they were unlucky to not tie things up when he caught the Tigers defence napping, and the always dangerous Liam Luff looked to have scored in the corner but was called offside.
With the Tigers under pressure, Grove pulled off some evasive manoeuvres to race down the touchline, before finding a pinpoint pass to Popple who scored under the sticks. Grove converted to put the Wests Tigers ahead 16-6.
The Wheelaroos captain couldn’t be kept out of the game, saving a certain try not long after and scoring one more of his own on the stroke of halftime to extend the lead to 20-6.
The Tigers opened the scoring in the second half after a quick change of direction from Grove stripped the Eels for numbers and put Jason Attard over for a try in the corner.
The Eels needed to be next to post points, it was Karim who produced something when his side needed it to score next to the posts. Karim converted his own try bringing the score to 24-12
In a sweeping left-to-right play, the Eels scored in the left corner through Joey Abboud who brought the deficit to 24-16 after 50 minutes.
The Eels started to turn it on and again, it was Karim to Abboud, as Abboud scored his second bringing the score to 24-22 after a successful Karim conversion from the sideline.
The Eels threw everything at the Tigers and their goal-line defence managed to hold strong until Liam Luff scored over on the right, securing a 26-24 Grand Final victory for Parramatta.
Play was held up late in the second half when Tigers player Stephen Rochecouste needed treatment for a back injury.
In the earlier NSW Plate final, Many-Warringah Sea Eagles overwhelmed a valiant Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks 36-16.
