The Parramatta Eels have been beaten in an entertaining yet controversial affair that puts an end to their finals hopes for 2010.
With the chance to tie the game up at 20-20 all in the dying minutes, Eels winger Luke Burt missed an easy kick and was still distraught an hour after the game.
“He had a chance to level the scores for us but unfortunately missed,” said Eels co-captain Nathan Hindmarsh, obviously feeling for his likeable teammate.
“The worst thing is Burty would kick them blindfolded any other day.”
Today just wasn’t Burty’s day, and the Eels are left to dwell on what has been a poor season by their standards. Grand finalists last year, they now need a miracle to make it to the finals in 2010.
“He’s taken it pretty hard. It can be a cruel game,” Eels coach Daniel Anderson said.
“It’s going to be bitter for him, that memory.
“Maybe we should have taken opportunities before that. It’s difficult to put the blame at one person’s feet for a game like that.”
The Eels staged a late fightback to very nearly take the game to extra time scoring 12 unanswered points to bring the game back to 20-18 in the dying moments.
It was two bench players (former I should add in Horo) that sparked the Eels mini-revival with both Anthony Mitchell and Justin Horo scoring four pointers to get the Eels back into the game.
Tigers coach Tim Sheens was relieved after the win and believed that the better side had come out victorious.
“We got a little bit of luck with him missing the goal but I thought overall we were the better side,” Sheens said.
“I was pleased to see we got away with what is a great win for the club.”