We don't fear Olympic Park: Eels
Saturday Sep 9 12:46 AEST
They face the toughest road trip in the game, but Parramatta players have declared they can succeed where others have failed and win the qualifying final against Melbourne at Olympic Park.
The Storm has been almost unbeatable at home, winning 16 of their last 17 NRL games to blitz the minor premiership by eight points. But the Eels have won three of their six matches at Olympic Park, including a 26-14 win in their last encounter at the ground last year.
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"We've had some good memories down there," Eels captain Nathan Cayless said."I remember last year we played down there after we were flogged by Brisbane the week before and had a good win, it was probably our best win of the year.
"It's tough travelling in the NRL these days, with Melbourne losing only one game this season obviously makes it a bit tougher. "But if you want to go anywhere in this competition obviously you've got to beat the best teams and there's no better place to start than Melbourne.
"Obviously they're a different team (to last year) but it just gives you a bit of confidence in the back of our minds that we can go down there and win. "We've got the same group of people that can do it ... we give ourselves a good chance."
While some teams are beaten before they arrive at Tullamarine airport, super-sub Dean Widders said his side weren't "terrified" of playing on Victorian soil. "We've had victories there in the past, so it's not a place I'm terrified of going to," Widders said.
"It doesn't count for much when you go there on Sunday and they're going out there to play their hardest, we're just looking to go out there with the right attitude and give it our all." Test backrower Nathan Hindmarsh added: "They're a different team to what they were last year, but we enjoy playing there. "We've had a bit of luck down there in recent years and the boys enjoy the trip."
Meanwhile, the Storm has identified Eels sensation Jarryd Hayne as the man they must stop to prevent an upset. Named Dally M rookie of year this week, 18-year-old Hayne has equalled Greg Inglis' 17 tries this season, only he's done it in 15 games - two less than the 19-year-old Storm centre.
Veteran Melbourne winger Matt Geyer said the team had spoken of Hayne's precocious talent, which included a four-try haul in just 29 minutes against Newcastle. "He has scored 17 tries in 15 games, it probably took me 15 games just to get my first one," Geyer joked of Hayne, who is the son of former Souths player Manoa Thompson.
"He's really had some momentum lately and definitely cemented his position in the team and is probably the first one picked out of the back three at the moment. "He's definitely not flying under the radar for us."
Saturday Sep 9 12:46 AEST
They face the toughest road trip in the game, but Parramatta players have declared they can succeed where others have failed and win the qualifying final against Melbourne at Olympic Park.
The Storm has been almost unbeatable at home, winning 16 of their last 17 NRL games to blitz the minor premiership by eight points. But the Eels have won three of their six matches at Olympic Park, including a 26-14 win in their last encounter at the ground last year.
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"We've had some good memories down there," Eels captain Nathan Cayless said."I remember last year we played down there after we were flogged by Brisbane the week before and had a good win, it was probably our best win of the year.
"It's tough travelling in the NRL these days, with Melbourne losing only one game this season obviously makes it a bit tougher. "But if you want to go anywhere in this competition obviously you've got to beat the best teams and there's no better place to start than Melbourne.
"Obviously they're a different team (to last year) but it just gives you a bit of confidence in the back of our minds that we can go down there and win. "We've got the same group of people that can do it ... we give ourselves a good chance."
While some teams are beaten before they arrive at Tullamarine airport, super-sub Dean Widders said his side weren't "terrified" of playing on Victorian soil. "We've had victories there in the past, so it's not a place I'm terrified of going to," Widders said.
"It doesn't count for much when you go there on Sunday and they're going out there to play their hardest, we're just looking to go out there with the right attitude and give it our all." Test backrower Nathan Hindmarsh added: "They're a different team to what they were last year, but we enjoy playing there. "We've had a bit of luck down there in recent years and the boys enjoy the trip."
Meanwhile, the Storm has identified Eels sensation Jarryd Hayne as the man they must stop to prevent an upset. Named Dally M rookie of year this week, 18-year-old Hayne has equalled Greg Inglis' 17 tries this season, only he's done it in 15 games - two less than the 19-year-old Storm centre.
Veteran Melbourne winger Matt Geyer said the team had spoken of Hayne's precocious talent, which included a four-try haul in just 29 minutes against Newcastle. "He has scored 17 tries in 15 games, it probably took me 15 games just to get my first one," Geyer joked of Hayne, who is the son of former Souths player Manoa Thompson.
"He's really had some momentum lately and definitely cemented his position in the team and is probably the first one picked out of the back three at the moment. "He's definitely not flying under the radar for us."
