Round 1, 2011
Eden Park
Parramatta held off a late Warriors surge to win 24-18 in Auckland in Round 1 last year.
The Eels raced to a 14-nil lead after 30 minutes when Jarryd Hayne collected a right-edge bomb to score before Jerome Ropati, shifted from centre to wing, struck back in the left corner shortly before halftime for a 14-6 score-line at oranges.
Two tries to Luke Burt put the game beyond the Warriors’ reach at 24-6 after 59 minutes. Ropati crossed for his second try with a stunning finish in the 65th minute and Lewis Brown crossed to bridge the gap to six points and send a rush of nerves through Eels fans with eight minutes remaining – but it was too little, too late.
Eels fullback Hayne starred with a try and two try assists plus 146 metres, while the Warriors were well served by fullback Lance Hohaia (two try assists) and Ropati (124 metres, two line-breaks).