The Dolphins’ fairytale start to the season is turning into a nightmare after Parramatta flexed their muscles as NRL premiership contenders in a 48-20 thrashing at Sunshine Coast Stadium on Saturday.
Both teams entered the clash on 18 competition points and with the Dolphins coming off a bye, the sold-out crowd settled in to what most expected to be a close contest.
Instead they copped an early eyeful of the electric Eels and diabolical Dolphins.
The Eels scored seven tries in the first half to lead 42-4, the most first-half points they had scored in their 77-year history.
Halfback Mitchell Moses was in magic touch, orchestrating the rout and landing seven from seven goal kicks in the first half to become the third Eels player to notch 1000 points, behind Michael Cronin (1971 points) and Luke Burt (1793).
The Dolphins have now lost three games in a row and the Eels have marched up the NRL ladder with five wins on the trot.
The Dolphins’ edge defence in the first half was all at sea as the Eels ran riot.
Lock J’maine Hopgood continued his blockbusting start to the season and centre Will Penisini scored a double.
Eels second-rower Bryce Cartwright had three line-break assists with three trademark offloads that all led to tries inside the opening 25 minutes.
Dolphins winger Brayden McGrady scored in the fourth minute on debut and could have had a second inside 10 minutes when he tried a flick pass when he could have scored under the sticks himself.
The ball went to ground and from that moment the Eels ran riot.
Minutes later Maika Sivo was put on report for a raised elbow before a Hopgood try but the Dolphins did not receive a penalty.
The Dolphins started the year playing with grit and flair but the resilience has disappeared from their recent performances.
They conceded 58 points in their most recent loss to Manly and that lack of defensive resolve was on show again.
They did play a lot better in the second stanza with fullback Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow scoring a stunning trademark double and centre Valynce Te Whare crashing over as the Eels took their foot off the gas.
Eels skipper Clint Gutherson finished with a double and Moses, backing up after NSW’s 32-6 loss to Queensland, finished the afternoon with 1005 career points for the Eels.
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