Last year’s finals series was viewed as the turning point for Parramatta, proof that Brad Arthur may have instilled a fighting spirit that can take the Eels all the way.
And now former Storm haflback Cooper Cronk has pinpointed a moment in Parramatta’s win over Melbourne on the weekend that proves that spirit is still there.
The moment in question was Ray Stone’s match-winning try, which came at a cost for the utility, who tore his ACL in the process of chasing after the Mitchell Moses field goal.
“He scored two tries in ten minutes, obviously the match sealer too and he is one tough dude,” Cronk said of Stone.
“To step off your right and do your ACL, that guy to be in that position he’s going to get a lot of credit, no doubt Raymond Stone should get a lot of credit for that effort.
“I think that’s an indication of what Brad Arthur’s got at Parramatta, because your coach sets the agenda, they set the tone and he would’ve moved because Brad Arthur would’ve said this is what you do at training.
“You have to keep moving and I thought that one there was a big play.”
A factor that Cronk had noticed with the Eels is there ability in capitalising the ‘big moments’, with Stone’s game winner being one example.
“Sean Lane’s charge down on Papenhuyzen was literally going to go between the sticks, that match sealer with the field goal.
“But I thought there was a couple of moments that Parramatta really stood up and they’ve done it three times now to the Melbourne Storm.
“Big moments, big games have beaten the Melbourne Storm.”
Later on, looking at Reed Mahoney’s poor decision to attack the Storm’s blindside in the dying moments, fellow ‘NRL 360’ panelist Braith Anasta touched on Parramatta’s inability to capitalise on big plays in the past.
“You talk about Parramatta and [how they] go from here to winning a Premiership. They’re close, but those moments there, they’re the ones that matter.” Anasta said.
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