Jarryd Hayne was once again the inspiration for in-form Parramatta as the Eels chalked up a 30-0 victory over an injury-hit Cronulla at Toyota Stadium this evening to keep alive their NRL finals aspirations.
Hayne and Joel Reddy ran in two tries apiece with Krisnan Inu also crossing the in
whitewash as Daniel Anderson's side sealed a third successive win in front of a crowd of 12,246. The NSW fullback had a hand in the Eels' opening score after just seven minutes when his offload to Eric Grothe found its way into the hands of Reddy who did well to dive over and score in the corner.
The Sharks welcomed back Paul Gallen after a month-long injury layoff but the absence of injured five-eighth Trent Barrett proved telling as they failed to find a way past some brilliant Parramatta defence.
The home side repelled a wave of Parramatta attacks for the next 30 minutes until Hayne darted over from dummy half for his 11th try of the season.
Burt's kick gave the Eels a 10-0 lead at the break.
The Eels scored the first points of the second period, somewhat against the run of play, when Matt Keating's kick outfoxed Nathan Stapleton and fell into the path of Inu who strolled over the line in the 46th minute.
That try knocked the stuffing out of the Sharks and the Eels extended their lead further when Hayne (63rd minute) grabbed his second try after powering his way past three tacklers to score with Burt adding the extras.
Burt's penalty goal made the score 24-0 by the 67th minute but the Eels weren't finished with the irrepressible Hayne once again the creator for Reddy's second after a 90-metre run five minutes from time.
A miserable day for the Sharks was compounded with more injuries with Stapleton, Reece Williams and Scott Porter all limping off.
- AAP
