PARRAMATTA 36 WARRIORS 16

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Eels stun Warriors

Parramatta begin the 2014 NRL Season with a convincing 36-16 victory over the New Zealand Warriors.

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This was meant to be a yarn about William Hopoate. Or Brad Arthur. Or that penalty try or Sam Tomkins' first NRL game.

Instead it belongs to Semi Radradra. Before joining Parramatta, the Fijian rugby Sevens international had never played league and supplemented his income by working down a mine. He did have bigger plans, though – to one day run his own kava farm. Instead he ran amok for the Eels.

Hat-trick: Semi Radradra of the Eels on the way to one of his three tries against the Warriors.

Hat-trick: Semi Radradra of the Eels on the way to one of his three tries against the Warriors. Photo: Getty Images

Time
80.00
Team
PAR
Score
36
Team
NZW
Score
16
Parramatta versus Warriors
View Match Statistics
Players Radradra(3), Hayne, Toutai(3) Tries 7 Tries 3 Players Fisiiahi, Tuimavave, Vatuvei
Players Norman 2/5 (40%), Paulo 1/2 (50%) Conversions 3 Conversions 1 Players Johnson 1/3 (33%)
Players Paulo 1/1 (100%) Penalty goals 1 Penalty goals 1 Players Johnson 1/1 (100%)
Players Field goals 0 Field goals 0 Players

There were the three tries he scored. The one he prevented. And Jarryd Hayne was so excited by the one he set up for him he ditched the usual "Hayne Plane" theatrics to instead pretend to rip off his jersey, Superman style, as his new post-try celebration. How many could put their hand on their heart and say they picked him in their Ultimate League fantasy team? They have their reward.

Radradra's battle with fellow winger Glenn Fisiiahi was a beauty but the winner was clear one. Anyone who saw Radradra finish off some neat inside work from Willie Tonga to open Parramatta's account will know the kava farming can wait. Two quick tries in the space of three minutes just after half-time took his career tally to eight from as many NRL appearances. That he started ahead of Ken Sio might have raised an eyebrow but the new coach appeared to have got one of his first big calls right. The Runaway Semi was the standout and yet he wasn't the only Eels winger finishing with a hat-trick.

Of course there were other stories. Such as William Hopoate, for instance. We were urged not to talk him up. That it it would take time. That we couldn't possibly expect too much from a bloke whose most strenuous exercise for much of the past two years has been pounding the pavement spreading the Word, rather than spreading the football. Perhaps. But there were some encouraging signs. Like when he scooped up the football near his own tryline and saw only open space in front of him. On another day, with more miles in his legs, he may have gone all the way. But Shaun Johnson came across in cover to spoil that yarn.

Will Hopoate celebrates teammate Vai Toutai's try.

Will Hopoate celebrates teammate Vai Toutai's try. Photo: Getty Images

Hopoate wasn't the only newbie. Parramatta's most important signing sat high in the grandstand. What a start. But it's hard to draw a form line from an opening win against the Warriors. In their first game under Ricky Stuart, the corresponding game last year, the Eels spanked them by 30 points. That was as good as it got as they lost 16 of their next 18 matches en route to the cellar.

It's also unclear what it says about the Warriors. They have enough talent to omit Konrad Hurrell, the big bloke constantly blowing kisses at the camera after scoring tries. They were hot to trot during the inaugural Auckland Nines, but found it harder work with an additional four defenders to beat.

It was an inauspicious start by the hosts. Tim Mannah, their inspirational co-captain, was given the opportunity to take the first hit-up of the year. He ran smack bang into Sam Rapira, and it was lights out, giving the new concussion guidelines another test. By the time he came to his senses and returned to the fray his team were up 10-0. Not that it was all plain sailing. Peni Terepo conceded an eight-point try, for clocking Carlos Tuimavave in the nose during the act of scoring. The powerful forward was placed on report.

Point-machine: Vai Toutai of the Parramatta Eels.

Point-machine: Vai Toutai of the Parramatta Eels. Photo: Brendon Thorne

As the season unfolds, Arthur will come to learn the full extent of the task ahead of him. But he could not have hoped for a better start.

PARRAMATTA 36 (S Radradra 3 V Toutai 3 J Hayne tries C Norman 2 J Paulo 2 goals) bt WARRIORS 16 (G Fisiiahi C Tuimavave M Vatuvei tries S Johnson 2 goals) at Pirtek Stadium. Referee: Adam Devcich, Henry Perenara. Crowd: 14,397.