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<\/p>\nThe Eels were desperate to forget a nightmare performance and right their wrongs when they faced the Bulldogs on Sunday afternoon.<\/p>\n
Without a host of key stars, including J\u2019maine Hopgood, Jonah Pezet and Kelma Tuilagi, and in front of their 1986 premiership-winning squad they did just that with a 38-20 win.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis time last week, we were questioning a lot of things,\u201d Jason Ryles said. reflecting on his side\u2019s 52-10 loss to the Titans.<\/p>\n
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Watch every game of every round of the Premiership Season LIVE with no ad-breaks during play on FOX LEAGUE, available on Kayo Sports | New to Kayo? Join now and get your first month for just $1<\/a>.<\/p>\n \u201cBut the turnaround came through our defence and came through our attitude and desire to want to go to the contest, the players did a great job today and couldn\u2019t be more proud.\u201d<\/p>\n Defence was a key focus during the week, as it is for any team who concede a half century of points \u2014 especially when you consider the influence of that 86\u2019 squad.<\/p>\n Parramatta beat Canterbury 4-2 in that cash, with only a pair of Mick Cronin penalty goals splitting the difference.<\/p>\n That game remains the only NSWRL or NRL final without a try, and the Eels had to do it the hard way, parked down their end to defend the closing stages of the clash.<\/p>\n \u201cThey are a really big part of our Parra-proud, our culture, our past players, the connection to those guys,\u201d Ryles said of the 1986 group.<\/p>\n \u201cSo, yeah, there\u2019s no better feeling than seeing the joy that they get out of the current crop performing the way they did today. <\/p>\n Ciraldo FURIOUS after disappointing loss | 03:06<\/p>\n \u201cIt wasn\u2019t so much the result, but I think it was how they did it and the grit and the resolve that the players showed and the intensity that we played at. <\/p>\n \u201cThat\u2019s what I think they\u2019re most proud of, but for us, they\u2019re a really big part of what we do and they\u2019ve had so much success in the past, so it\u2019s great to have them all back and it\u2019s good to see how much they enjoy each other\u2019s company still. <\/p>\n \u201cAnd I think the biggest thing they remember from that game is how well they defended, especially that last six or seven minutes.<\/p>\n \u201cThat\u2019s something that we\u2019re continually working on being a lot more consistent with at the moment, so small step today.\u201d<\/p>\n Skipper Mitchell Moses echoed his coach, saying: \u201cI think they pretty much won that grand final off their defence and they scrambled for the last five, six, seven minutes of that game to win.<\/p>\n \u201cWhat we\u2019ve been trying to do at our club is, you know, our defence hasn\u2019t been too good lately, obviously. <\/p>\n \u201cWe\u2019ve been leaking a fair few points, but our effort hasn\u2019t been there to chase the contact. We wanted to do that today and felt like we did that.\u201d<\/p>\n Get all the latest NRL news, highlights and analysis delivered straight to your inbox with Fox Sports Sportmail. Sign up now!!!<\/a><\/p>\n How the 1986 Eels inspired a huge upset win.Source: FOX SPORTS<\/p>\n Speaking to reporters post-game, young gun hooker Tallyn Da Silva revealed his squad had some tough conversations during the week.<\/p>\n But after they were done, Ryles stripped their game plan back down to the bare bones, referencing three key points \u2014 which were not revealed.<\/p>\n However, looking at their performance you can only imagine they centre around intensity, their contact and a willingness to be in the contest.<\/p>\n \u201cYeah well, obviously we weren\u2019t very on our game last week you could say, but we stuck to our game plan this week,\u201d Da Silva said.<\/p>\n \u201cDid what we are best at and it came out against a good team like that, so we are happy.<\/p>\n \u201cAfter a loss like that there is always lessons and learnings we will take out of each game, but we simplified our game a lot this week.<\/p>\n \u201cWe talked the last few weeks a little bit too much, too much detail and things like that and we stripped it back as much as we could this week.\u201d<\/p>\n It has been a rough period for the Eels who boast one of the NRL\u2019s most extensive casualty wards, which could grow larger after a sternum injury suffered by Ryley Smith.<\/p>\n Jaydn Su’A banned for three games | 00:28<\/p>\n MORE NRL NEWS<\/p>\n \u2018SOMETHING SERIOUS\u2019: Broncos sweat on superstar prop after troubling injury<\/a><\/p>\n DRAGONS-SOUTHS: Star sent off in 623-day first as Latrell shines with four-peat<\/a><\/p>\n