'80 minutes of their lives they will never get back'
NRL fans have taken to social media to slam the Thursday night fixture between Parramatta Eels and Canterbury Bulldogs.
In the less than inspiring matchup that saw the 16th place Eels go up against the 14th ranked Dogs, Brad Arthur’s men prevailed 14-8.
However barely anyone was cheering.
Instead, footy fans were taking to Twitter to complain about what they had just watched.
Crowd at ANZ Stadium tonight – 8,437. This is 80 minutes of their lives they will never get back
— Brent Read (@brentread_7) July 19, 2018
If you’re a neutral watching #NRLEelsBulldogs What are you doing with your life?
— Mike M (@michaeldarren79) July 19, 2018
Sad seeing these two clubs like this. This really should be a marquee fixture in the calendar#NRLEelsBulldogs
— Mr_Brown (@Mr_Brown__) July 19, 2018
Five good things about tonight's #NRLEelsBulldogs game
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5.— NRL CONSPIRACIES (@NrlConspiracies) July 19, 2018
If anything, I think we need more one out, boring forward hit ups in our red zone. You know, just to mix it up. -M#NRLEelsBulldogs
— The Cumberland Throw (@EelsTCT) July 19, 2018
#NRLEelsBulldogs This is not about winning, it's who can make fewer dumb mistakes.
— Cate Ellink (@CateEllink) July 19, 2018
Where’s the attack we were watching at the start of this game? Been absolutely awful ever since Holland’s try. #NRLEelsBulldogs
— β R A D 🤙🏻 (@bradfogarty95) July 19, 2018
#NRLEelsBulldogs What a low game. 2 teams with nothing. Parra are mad if they resign Hayne. Does nothing.
— Roger Dodgerson (@ReferenceBad) July 19, 2018
It’s not really a surprise these two sides are where they are. Some pretty average footy on show at the moment #NRLEelsBulldogs
— Matt Trodden (@trods2906) July 19, 2018
Eels win leaves wooden spoon race open
The race to avoid the NRL wooden spoon is well and truly alive after Parramatta ground out a dour 14-8 win over Canterbury at ANZ Stadium on Thursday night.
The Bulldogs burst out of the blocks in the opening 15 minutes but fell in a heap in the second-half as the Eels ran over the top of them to break a three-game losing streak.
Parramatta remain in last spot, however it moved them to 10 points, equal with the Dogs and North Queensland, who take on St George Illawarra on Saturday.
In front of a disappointing crowd of 8437, there were few highlights in a game marked by errors and penalties.
The Dogs’ fifth tackle options in particular were woeful in the second half as halves Lachlan Lewis and Jeremy Marshall-King failed to impose themselves on the game.
The Eels took the lead for the first time in the 53rd minute when a Lewis grubber ricocheted off Nathan Brown and Mitchell Moses ran 90 metres untouched.
A Moses penalty goal in the 69th minute gave the Eels an eight-point buffer before two points from Rhyse Martin with seven minutes to play set up a tense finish.
The Eels held on to secure just their second win in their last 10 starts and fourth victory of the season.
Earlier, the Dogs opened up a 6-0 lead when Kerrod Holland shot through a gaping hole close to the line in just the seventh minute.
But the Eels were back on level pegging by halftime after Brett Morris was sin-binned for holding back Bevan French.
Kaysa Pritchard blew a golden chance the set immediately after Morris went for 10 when he lofted a forward pass.
However the Eels No.9 atoned just minutes later when he finished off a Tepai Moeroa break.
The Dogs also have concerns over forward Clay Priest, who left the field in the second half with what appeared to be a right hand injury.
