Kiwi five-eighth Dylan Brown has inspired the Parramatta Eels to their most important victory of the NRL season, outmuscling the Melbourne Storm 22-14 at Commbank Stadium.
The win sets up a qualifying final clash with high-flying premiers Penrith Panthers, and a double chance in the playoffs.
Brown needed just 12 minutes to stamp his mark in the game, capitalising on great field position, gifted by fellow Kiwi Jesse Bromwhich after his forward pass.
Brown stepped and weaved his way through the Storm defence to score from close range and open the scoring.
The Eels extended their lead through the boot of Mitch Moses before halftime, after Cameron Munster's short dropout failed to go the required 10 metres.
Parramatta needed just four minutes into the second half to go up even further, after Will Penisini finished off an impressive move down the right wing.
Eels captain Clint Gutherson all but put the game to an end, when he put away Maika Sivo free down the left wing with a brilliant long pass to score the try.
The Storm would mount a comeback with tries to Harry Grant, Nick Meany and David Nofoaluma in the final 15 minutes, but it was too little, too late, as the Eels closed out a crucial win.
Eels 22 (Brown, Penisini, Sivo tries; Moses 3x conversions, 2x penalties)
Storm 14 (Grant, Meany, Nofoaluma tries; Meany 1x conversion)
