Sharks star facing nervous wait as poor season continues
The Sharks will have eyes on the match review committee’s judiciary report as their NRLW season goes from bad to worse after a 42-16 loss to the Eels.
Ellie Johnston and Jada Taylor were both placed on report in the match with Johnston’s coming first.
Ellie Johnston’s hip-drop tackle. Nine
Her indiscretion was in the first half for a hip-drop tackle on halfback Rachael Pearson, which led to the Eels kicking a penalty goal and extending their lead to 18-6.
Taylor’s report came in the second half for a crusher tackle. Both incidents led to points for the Eels with Zali Fay scoring a minute after the penalty.
Fay’s try made it 30-16 and sealed the win before she scored again three minutes later.
Jasmin Morrissey put the finishing touches on the win when she scored late which allowed the Eels to leap-frog Cronulla and go from 11th to 10th.
The Dragons sit below them in last place.
Both Cronulla and Parramatta have had awful seasons with the Sharks only winning once so far, while that was the Eels’ second victory. The first came last week against the Bulldogs.
Eels star Abbi Church admitted the late resurgence had come too late.
“Through pre-season we knew what we were capable of, and it’s a shame we couldn’t put in those performances earlier in the season,” she said on Nine.
“Unfortunately, it is a short season, and we don’t have the games to lose early on if we wanted to play finals. We’ve just been hanging in there and working on the basics, effort areas that will win you games.
“I’m stoked we’ve been able to pull it together, [but] unfortunately it might be a little too late.”
A win for the Eels came in Keilee Joseph’s 50th NRLW match, making her the first Parramatta player to achieve the feat.
“I’m really proud to be here with Parramatta celebrating my 50th and wouldn’t want to do it with anyone else,” she said on Nine post-match.
“I’ve got my mum, dad and in-laws [here] as well, so I’m happy to be able to do it in front of them.”
Cronulla’s next match will come against the red-hot Roosters, who defeated the Warriors 66-8. The Eels play the Broncos, who lost to the Titans.
