Eel’s stellar season continues as key no try call shifts momentum; Fijian flyer’s huge day – Big Hits

Despite Dragons’ winger Mikaele Ravalawa’s four-peat, the Eels have completed a second half comeback to save their season, defeating St George 26-20 in an entertaining, see-sawing clash at CommBank Stadium.

The Eels were trailling 20-10 in the 58th minute before Sean Russell crossed to bridge the gap to six.

The Eels then regained ascendency and finished all over the top of the Dragons after tries to Junior Paulo and Bryce Cartwright.

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After taking the lead, The Eels held their nerve in the final five minutes to secure a much-needed victory.

“If they didn’t win today, the finals would have been out of their reach,” Greg Alexander said on Fox League.

It was a terrific start for the Eels, and an ominous one for the Dragons.

19-year-old Eels debutant Arthur Miller-Stephen started his career in excellent fashion, with a try-saving tackle on Ravalawa and then an 8th minute try.

“Nine minutes into his NRL career, look at that smile. It would light up Comm Bank Stadium. What a moment. 19 years of age,” Warren Smith said.

“It’s a dream start.”

“What a story unfolding. A teenager,” Matt Russell said on Fox League.

The Eels raced out to a 10-0 lead soon after when Bryce Cartwright continued his stellar season, scoring his fifth try of the season after some athletic work in the right corner.

“What a try and what a set that was after their first try. They have a bee in their bonnet,” Steve Roach said of the Eels.

Ravalawa crossed for his first try in the 21st minute, adding two more in the first half at the 26th and 39th minutes, exposing Miller-Stephen who was caught out of position on a couple of occasions.

That forced Eels coach Brad Arthur to switch Sean Russell onto Ravalawa’s wing and Miller-Stephen onto the other side.

That didn’t matter much, with Ravalawa picking up where he left off to add a fourth try to the tally.

Ravalawa had to walk the tightrope along the right sideline to score his fourth, beating Eels fullback Clint Gutherson and winger Sean Russell in the process.

“Mikaele Ravalawa is in quite a mood,” Steve Roach said on Fox League.

The winger’s fourth gave the Dragons a 20-10 lead, but they just gave the Eels too many chances in the second half and Parra took advantage, scoring the last three.

It could have easily been 26-10 Dragons after 54 minutes but a Junior Amone try was disallowed when hooker Jacob Liddle was ruled to knock the ball on in the lead up.

The Bunker ruled it a loose carry even though Eels fullback Clint Gutherson’s hand was on the ball.

Read on for our three big hits…

FOUR-PEAT KEEPS FIJIAN FLYER IN HUNT FOR TRY-SCORING CROWN

Mikaele Ravalawa has ejected himself into the race for the 2023 try-scoring title, bagging all four of his side’s tries to move to 18 on the season.

That is good enough for equal-fourth on the list, two behind leader Dom Young (20).

After four career hat-tricks, this was the first instance he has scored four tries in a game.

Even though he scored four, you could argue the Fijian winger could have picked up one or two more on the afternoon.

He was thwarted by two try-saving tackles by debut winger Arthur Stephen-Miller and Dylan Brown in the first half.

So much was Ravalawa’s domination in the first forty minutes, Eels coach Brad Arthur switched Stephen-Miller over to the opposite wing in the second half.

CARTWRIGHT’S CAREER REVIVAL CONTINUES

Cartwright rewound the clock to his glory days at the Panthers where his flamboyant plays and touch passing saw him on the cusp of Origin selection.

His first of two tries down the short side caught the Dragons napping and his ball play at the line was a feature.

“They’ll keep scoring points if Bryce Cartwright keeps running from his own end the way he has this game,” Warren Smith said after Cartwright’s first try of the game.

“Five tries this season, the most he’s scored since 2016.”

Cartwright was in the right place, right time for his second try, which ended up being the match-winner.

In addition to his double, the 28-year-old ran for 145 metres, had four tackle busts, three offloads and made an important 37 tackles (with two misses).