Blake Ferguson scored a double for the Eels, who overcame a slow start to secure their second win on the trot. A Blake Ferguson masterclass has led Parramatta to a 36-16 come-from-behind victory over Canterbury, continuing a horrendous start to the 2019 NRL season for the Bulldogs. The star winger scored two tries, set up another and ran for 272m at ANZ Stadium on Sunday as the Eels’ secured their second win from as many games to start the 2019 season. After finishing with the wooden spoon last year, the Eels look a different outfit this year with Ferguson and rookie five-eighth Dylan Brown having an immediate affect on Brad Arthur’s side. MATCH CENTRE: Bulldogs v Eels Live stream the 2019 NRL Telstra Premiership on KAYO SPORTS. Every game of every round live & anytime on your TV or favourite device. Get your 14 day free trial > Ferguson’s impact bringing the ball out of his side’s own end and strike out wide has given the Eels what they have been missing since Semi Radradra’s departure at the end of 2017. Conversely, the result places immediate pressure on Canterbury coach Dean Pay and his side after they were flogged 40-6 by the Warriors last week. Pay, who is off contract at the end of the season, will now be under pressure to make changes for next week’s clash with the Wests Tigers. The home side began positively enough, enjoying a glut of early possession and by the time they opened up a 10-0 lead, Parramatta had only completed two sets after 20 minutes. But the Eels dominated from there and piled on 30 unanswered points. They regained the lead after Ferguson ran through Lachlan Lewis to get his first before young hooker Reed Mahoney set up Clint Gutherson to make it 12-10 at the break. After the resumption, Ferguson set up Gutherson’s second before snatching a Josh Jackson pass from the air and running 90 metres. Another intercept try to Shaun Lane and a Brown four-pointer put the icing on the victory. Dylan Napa went over for his first try in Bulldogs colours in the 64th minute however it wasn’t enough to lend some credibility to the scoreboard. Eels 36 (B Ferguson 2 C Gutherson 2 D Brown S Lane tries; M Moses 6 goals) bt Bulldogs 16 (K Foran D Napa R Smith tries; K Holland 2 goals) at ANZ Stadium. Referee: Ben Cummins, Ziggy Przeklasa-Adamski. Crowd:20,134. Relive the action in our blog below. If you can’t see it click here.<doc-sep>Loading Blake Ferguson will wake up on Friday morning a man who traded the premiers for the wooden spooners – and clinging to legitimate hope of upsetting them. And how could you have possibly imagined that a couple of months ago? On Sunday morning, his old Roosters teammates, who he celebrated an NRL premiership with a little over five months ago, joked they wouldn't mind giving Ferguson a little bit of curry at their ANZ Stadium reunion. It was all in good jest. After watching what unfolded a few hours later, if they're not careful Ferguson may have the last laugh.<doc-sep>Blake Ferguson has convinced his new coach, teammates and fans of his worth – now he’s just got to win over NSW coach Brad Fittler. Again. A shoeless Freddy watched from the ANZ Stadium sideline as Ferguson ran for 272m, set up a try and terrorised the Canterbury defence with each touch in the Eels’ 36-16 win. Fittler is still not at peace with Fergo’s decision to brush a NSW bonding session before Christmas and is reluctant to endorse the former rep winger’s comeback campaign. MORE: NRL 2019 round two: The Weekend Hangover | Blake Ferguson and Shaun Lane intercepts demoralise Bulldogs | Barring injury or a major loss of form, Fittler will stick with incumbents Josh Addo-Carr and Tom Trbojevic for the Origin series opener on June 5. But Ferguson is doing everything in his power to win back the coach’s affection. “He’s been great. He’s strong, he’s good to have around the group and he’s a winner,” Parramatta coach Brad Arthur said of Ferguson. “The boys like sitting next to him in the sheds because he breeds confidence. “He just wants to win – he thinks he’s going to win all the time. That’s the way he is.” The happy-go-lucky Ferguson had made it clear he would love to regain his Blues jumper, but he has not started mending bridges with Fittler. He said: “I didn’t want to speak to him before the game. Parramatta is very important to me and I don’t want to side track myself worrying about something that is out of my control. “I am just enjoying footy. I’m better mentally this year. I know what my role is in this team. “It’s taken me a long time to juggle both off and on field. I feel like everything is going alright. I’m just enjoying life.” Arthur was asked if the Ferguson signing was turning out better than he expected, replying: “He was the best winger in the game last year and the challenge was for him to come to our club and continue to be the best winger in the game. “He’s started the way we needed him to.”<doc-sep>
Blake Ferguson has the potential to be the key signing of the 2019 season, after his complete performance against the Bulldogs in Round 2. Fox League expert commentator Braith Anasta heaped praise on the Eels’ star recruit, after he ran the Bulldogs ragged at ANZ Stadium. “What a recruit. What a buy for the Parramatta Eels,” Anasta said. Live stream the 2019 NRL Telstra Premiership on KAYO SPORTS. Every game of every round live & anytime on your TV or favourite device. Get your 14 day free trial > “He has been so good the first two rounds of the season. “Instrumental ... an intercept, he scored two tries, one try assist, he ran for 272 metres. “He has been incredible and no doubt one of the reasons why Parramatta are undefeated after two rounds. “He’s a smart buy. Even at the Roosters he was one of the best over the past two seasons. I think he went under the radar there for a while until they won the premiership.” Eels legend Nathan Hindmarsh added: “That’s why Parramatta bought him. “He can get the sets off to a great start but his try scoring ability, his finishing ability, it’s been outstanding. “There had been criticism of the Eels buying him considering his off-field stuff, but he’s just proving why he’s there and why he’s the marquee signing.” MORE NRL NEWS UNHAPPY: Merrin linked with Dragons move months into rich four-year deal BUSTED: Flanagan caught up in salary cap rort as emails exposed NRL CASUALTY WARD: Chooks call for review of surface standards after Morris injury HOOPS: Vintage Jimmy, Hasler’s biggest challenge and the problem with Ponga experiment ‘I WAS SHAKING’: Lam Facetimes dad after try assist in Roosters debut