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Sivo double helps Eels make NRL statement

Maika Sivo scored a double as Parramatta made a statement with their first NRL win over a full-strength Melbourne side in nine years.

Sivo scored the Eels' first and last tries in a gripping 16-12 victory, with his match-winner coming three minutes from fulltime at Bankwest Stadium on Thursday night.

It took the Fijian winger's record to 26 tries in 24 games at the ground, and capped a match played in the rain that at times threatened to boil over.

The flash point came when Felise Kaufusi was lucky to stay on the field after being placed on report for striking Ryan Matterson's head with his elbow in a falling tackle.

Matterson, who has a long history with concussions, remained on the turf for several minutes before being taken from the field.

The Eels' edge man failed his HIA and did not return, but Kaufusi was able to play on despite the claims of foul play.

Meanwhile Sivo wasn't the only hero for Parramatta, whose only wins against Melbourne since 2012 have been in State of Origin rounds or with the Storm's big guns rested.

Clint Gutherson was brilliant, making three try-savers playing on a heavily strapped left ankle.

His first was on a hard-running Nelson Asofa-Solomona as he attempted to barge over the line, before he later stopped Tui Kamikamica.

The fullback's effort on Cameron Munster before half-time was the pick of the night, hitting the ball out of the five-eighth's hand.

Junior Paulo also threatened to score his second match-winner in six days when he charged across with 12 minutes to play, breaking a 6-6 deadlock.

After the Storm had been stuck at their own end for the majority of the second half, their weary defence finally let go.

But the visitors hit back back six minutes later when a Ryan Papenhuyzen kicked bounced back into his own legs before Justin Olam picked it up and scored.

That only allowed for Sivo to seal the match-winner though, when he took a 30-metre kick from Moses in front of George Jennings and charged over.

Sivo earlier had Parramatta's first in similar fashion on the left wing when he took a Dylan Brown kick and steamrolled his way to the line.

But Reimis Smith created the 6-6 scoreline that lasted for the majority of the second half when he stepped back off his right foot to cross just before halftime.