Jarryd Hayne
The pressure was on both embattled coach Stephen Kearney, as well as the team themselves, and they delivered in some style – with the Parramatta Eels coming from 14 points down at half-time, to score 23 unanswered points against the Cronulla Sharks – eventually winning 29-20.

As per script, it was influential fullback Jarryd Hayne that sparked the comeback, as he score two tries and had a hand in 2 others – with the airplane celebration making its return.

Whilst Hayne was the match-winner for the Eels, there may be some concerns over one of his NSW team-mates in Paul Gallen, who failed to play the final 20 minutes of the game – due to a tweaked knee that was heavily bandaged.

Despite that however, Gallen said that he should be fine to play in the State of Origin game next Wednesday.

“I was about to go back on, then they got that (Hayne) try … so Flanno (coach Shane Flanagan) said ‘don’t worry about it’,” Gallen said after the match.

The game really was a tale of two halves, with the Sharks on top for the majority of the first half, with the Eels defending their line set after set – with the Sharks scoring three times, Carney the enforcer for the team.

In the second half however, it was as different story, as the Eels clicked into gear on the back of some Hayne magic – with Luke Burt, Nathan Hindmarsh, Ryan Morgan, Matt Keating and Ben Roberts also playing solidly.

“It’s been in the maintenance room for a while – it was a good feeling,” Hayne said of post-try celebration.

“I’m feeling really good and I’m starting to feel really free the way I run and play.

“With the pressure and the criticism we’re all copping, that’s huge tonight’s win.

“For us to win the way we did and come back and fight was awesome.”

With their second win of the season all wrapped up, Eels coach Stephen Kearney admitted to feeling both frustration and relief, as his side showed just what they can do as a unit when on song, following 6 straight losses.

“It’s nice to be smiling,” he said.

“That doesn’t make a season for us but it’s a wonderful start for us from where we’ve come from.”

For the Sharks, who have now suffered back-to-back losses, there is no need for immediate panic – at least not according to coach Shane Flanagan.

“It was more us rather than what they did I thought,” Flanagan said.

“We knew at some stage they were going to get back-to-back sets and we had to handle it and we just didn’t.”

By ricky

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