Wantaway Parramatta teenager Blaize Talagi showed Eels supporters what they’ll be missing next year by playing in a surprising 30-20 victory over the Warriors in Auckland.
The 19-year-old centre, who is slated to join Penrith in 2025, scored one try and assisted on another on Friday night.
The second-from-bottom Eels put on one of their most convincing performances of the season to snap a six-game losing streak and effectively extinguish the Warriors’ playoff aspirations.
The 12th-place Warriors are still three points behind the top eight, with their finals opponents yet to play.
Parramatta, meanwhile, had just dignity to play for and were coming off a disastrous week in which Talagi was lost, and promising forward Charlie Guymer requested permission to negotiate with other teams.
But Talagi is not yet gone.
He put up the first try of the night, making the final pass to winger Jake Tago in a sweeping play to the left.
Joey Lussick extended the Eels’ lead before the Warriors responded through Roger Tuivasa-Sheck, with Shaun Johnson contributing to the build-up in his comeback from injury.
Clint Gutherson, the Parramatta captain, also performed well after a poor season.
The fullback scored one try and assisted on another, but his most remarkable moment may have been a sensational one-on-one strip on Dallin Watene-Zelezniak in the final minutes, when the Warriors winger appeared destined to score.
Halfback Daejarn Asi snuck past the Warriors’ defence to close the first period, and Talagi stretched the lead to 26 points shortly after halftime.
Even with Johnson back in charge of the line, the Warriors’ assault appeared to be out of ideas until the 71st minute.
The Warriors ultimately responded with fullback Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad, before Tago was sent out for a professional foul with five minutes remaining.
The home side capitalized on their numerical advantage with tries from Marata Niukore and Watene-Zelezniak, but it was too late.
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