Parramatta’s injury crisis has worsened with new recruit Joe Ofahengaue’s debut lasting just 10 minutes before he became the latest Eel to be struck down.
After having his switch from the Wests Tigers delayed, Ofahengaue lined up for the Eels against the Cowboys, but was forced off the field after just 10 minutes with a calf injury.
The Eels survived a massive late stutter against the Cowboys to eventually run out 18-6 winners courtesy of tries to Wiremu Greig, Maika Sivo, Sean Russell and Mitchell Moses.
Ofahengaue’s injury is a blow that the Eels can ill-afford, with Brad Arthur’s side already without Andrew Davey, Ryan Matterson, Reagan Campbell-Gillard and Shaun Lane due to injuries. The Eels are also without Junior Paulo due to his State of Origin selection.
He wasn’t the only Eels player to come out of the match under an injury crowd, with veteran hooker Josh Hodgson ending the match on the bench in a tracksuit.
Ofahengaue’s injury came in a tightly contested first half, with Greig’s try cancelling out Scott Drinkwater’s seventh-minute opener.
The Eels exploded after the main break, with tries to Sivo and Russell putting Arthur’s side in the driver’s seat before a massive scare in the final 12 minutes.
With the Eels leading 18-6, Sivo let the Cowboys back into the game with a brainsnap on defence.
The Eels winger came off his line attempting to intercept a pass, only to severely misjudge it, allowing Feldt to score easily.
Sivo would have been sweating bullets seven minutes later when Feldt doubled up, bringing the Cowboys within two points of a game-changing robbery.
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However, Mitch Moses demonstrated why the Eels pay him top bucks by brilliantly controlling the game in the final five minutes before sealing the deal with a try.
In round 14, the Eels had a bye, while the Cowboys host the Melbourne Storm.
