Anderson keeps lid on the Eels - Sports News - Fanatics - the world's biggest events

Anderson keeps lid on the Eels

By Adrian Warren 16/08/2009 12:54:48 PM Comments (0)

Parramatta NRL coach Daniel Anderson says the Eels can't yet entertain the possibility of playing in the finals.

But he admits they are getting "a bigger sniff" after the latest win in their remarkable late-season resurgence.

Parramatta's 40-4 demolition of the struggling Warriors at Parramatta Stadium on Saturday night lifted them at least temporarily into the top eight.

It was their fifth straight win and the scintillating nature of their seven-tries-to-one performance is bound to cause some ripples of concern among the teams above them on the ladder.

Sparked by another magnificent performance from fullback Jarryd Hayne, Parramatta also got contributions from several other players and still have captain Nathan Cayless and utility Feleti Mateo to fit back into the team.

The Eels face a potential winner-take-all clash next week against the Tigers, another team making a late-season surge.

Ever the pragmatist, Anderson downplayed the prospect of an unexpected finals appearance by Parramatta when asked if he was now at least thinking about the possibility of playing in September.

"I wouldn't think so, we are just getting a bigger sniff every week," Anderson told reporters.

"We've got two really big matches. The Tigers next week is a huge game and then we have the Panthers at home the week after.

"But every game in probably the last six weeks has been our biggest match of the year."

Winger Luke Burt, who has piled up 44 points in the last two weeks, says the Eels have regained their confidence.

"We are working for each other, we are playing a lot as a team," Burt told AAP.

"There's not many nowadays trying to do their own thing.

"We are all working every play as a team. I think that's a big difference."

Burt, who is one of four Parramatta backs now with a double-figure tally of tries this season, felt Parramatta's attack was now functioning as well as at any time during his time in first-grade, which started way back in 1999.

"It's up there with the best and there's no worries at all about that," Burt said.

"It's a shame that we put ourselves this far back so early in the season, but we're functioning pretty well and you can tell we're all enjoying our football."

Burt said Parramatta's improved defence, which has conceded only 20 points in the past four games, was also down to teamwork with the players "scrambling for each other".

He acknowledged their new-found defensive unity and resolve would be tested by the dangerous and unpredictable Tigers.

"It's going to be a tough game because they enjoy throwing the ball around, so if your defence is not on, they can really put some points against you," Burt said.

Warriors' coach Ivan Cleary said he was happy with the efforts of his men and they were simply outplayed by the Eels.

Brought to you by AAP AAP © 2024 AAP

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