NRL: Duo dynamic as Eels devour Sharks

Justin Horo of the Eels celebrates with team mates. Photo / Getty Images

Eels 40 Sharks 6

The halves combination Parramatta coach Stephen Kearney scoured the entire NRL for may have been under his nose the whole time with Jeff Robson and Casey McGuire dominating in the Eels' 40-6 thumping of Cronulla last night.

Robson and McGuire set up four of the Eels' seven tries to crush the patchwork Sharks outfit weakened by the absence of NSW Origin representatives Paul Gallen and Kade Snowden and Kiwi international Jeremy Smith.

Wingers Jordan Atkins and Luke Burt scored doubles, the latter adding six goals to finish with a personal tally of 20 points to leave the home side just two points outside the top eight.

Eels fullback Jarryd Hayne gave NSW Origin coach something to ponder as he laid on two four-pointers for the home side, but it was Parramatta's lesser-known playmakers who tormented the Sharks as they displayed their full arsenal of tricks.

But while they stole the show last night, the futures of Robson and McGuire remain in limbo. The club has secured the services of Chris Sandow and Ben Roberts to wear the seven and six in 2012.

As good as Robson and McGuire were, they are sure to face sterner tests in coming weeks with Cronulla putting up meek resistance - halfback Scott Porter hooked with 20 minutes remaining in a sign of the visitors' struggles.

After drifting across field to put Ben Smith over in the 13th minute, Robson and McGuire turned to the boot as they toyed with the Cronulla defence - rookie winger Stewart Mills a favoured target as he endured a shocking night under the high ball.

Back-to-back fumbles from Mills left the Sharks with a mountain of defence, the ask too much as Hayne provided a face ball for Jordan Atkins to get the first of his two tries.

A McGuire kickin behind Mills saw Burt sneak in around the back, Chris Walker completing the first-half rout when he dived on a Robson grubber.

There was more of the same after the break as Burt and Atkins completed their doubles, the only sour note for the Eels being a potentially serious injury to Shane Shackleton, who was rushed to hospital with bleeding behind the retina.

- AAP