Gritty Eels help put a smile on coach's dial
By Michael Cockerill
February 15, 2004
The Sun-Herald
A new-look Parramatta side gave coach Brian Smith plenty of encouragement heading into the new season with a gritty win over Cronulla in last night's trial match.
Before 8000 fans, a ground record, at Kingsford Smith Oval, the Eels overcame some spirited resistance from the Sharks before grinding out a narrow win.
Both teams scored five times, but Parramatta's goalkicking got them home.
"It was tough, you want a tough game. Both teams really ripped in, without a doubt," Smith said.
Smith singled out prop Aaron Cannings for special mention, praising his new recruit from Manly.
"His try showed what he can do," Smith said. "He's about 116 kilos, and when he makes a break like that no one can run him down. He's got good leg speed for his size."
Despite the defeat, new Cronulla coach Stuart Raper was pleased with his side's performance, not least the effort from fullback David Peachey, returning after his well-chronicled absence from training.
Raper agreed with Smith that it had been a physical encounter.
"That's what I wanted, and especially it was what the players wanted," Raper said.
"I thought five tries each was a good guide to what the game was.
"We did some very enterprising stuff. On the fringes we looked dangerous, going forward we looked dangerous. We showed what we can do."
On Peachey, the coach added: "Mentally and physically he's been right all week. Even when he went away he was all right. That's behind him, it's behind all of us. I thought he looked very good tonight."
For Parramatta, fielding four new faces, the win was welcome after last season's tribulations. Smith used three different halfbacks during the four quarters, and both Michael Witt and Adam Dykes scored tries, while Englishman Chris Thorman's grubber kick laid on a try for fullback Luke Burt.
Ultimately, Parramatta's go-forward from the ruck took its toll on Cronulla's smaller pack of forwards, and James Webster crossed for the clincher midway through the last quarter.
