The Eels have cemented themselves firmly within the top eight with a record-breaking win over the Dolphins on the Sunshine Coast.
The Eels ran in seven tries to one in the first half to hit the sheds with a 42-4 lead. It was their biggest first-half points haul in the club’s history.
In kicking eight from eight, Mitchell Moses also moved past the 1000-point mark for the club.
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They’re now on a five-game winning streak that could see them sitting as high as fifth on the NRL ladder depending on other results.
But their second-half performance still leaves doubts over the Eels’ ability to play a full 80 minutes. They scored just one second-half try and conceded three, but still won the match comfortably, 48-20.
“We did the job in the first half, but it didn’t work out as well as we would’ve liked in the second,” coach Brad Arthur said.
“We came here chasing three wins in 13 days, that was our priority and we’ve won five in a row, which we haven’t done in my time at the club.
“We were in a bit of a hole at the start of the year in terms of results, so to turn that around and win five in this competition is a good effort.”
Sivo on report for raised forearm
The win was also soured by winger Maika Sivo raising his forearm into the head of Jamayne Isaako, for which he was put on report and could find himself sitting on the sideline.
The Eels get their second bye next weekend, and will host the Warriors in round 19.
Skipper Clint Gutherson said he believed his troops tried to force the issue too much in the second half, resulting in a string of errors and ill discipline.
“We know the team we are, and we’ve known since round one. We’ve just got to keep chipping away until we find it for the full 80,” he said.
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Arthur said he warned the team at half-time to not get complacent.
“We had high expectations (and) they walked in feeling a little bit flat because they knew they had probably missed an opportunity there,” he said.
“But that wasn’t our focus, which was to get that result and that’s what we did.”
Andrew Davey, J’maine Hopgood, Bailey Simonsson and Sean Russell got themselves on the scoreboard, while Gutherson and Will Penisini picked up doubles.
The Eels’ run home comes up against four clubs inside and four clubs outside the top eight as it currently stands.
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