After a morale-boosting victory over Brisbane on the weekend, Parramatta five-eighth Joseph Paulo says the Eels are on track to cause more upsets in the NRL.
The Eels posted a dramatic 19-18 win over the Broncos at Parramatta Stadium on Saturday.
It was just their third victory of the season and came only two weeks after Eels skipper Jarryd Hayne declared the thrashing at the hands of a below-strength Penrith was the club’s lowest point since the 2009 grand final loss.
Paulo, who scored an unlikely second-half try in Saturday’s victory, says the mood has definitely lifted at the club.
“When you haven’t scored in four years, it’s always a great feeling,” he said on Monday.
“But in terms of the team, from the moment we lost against Penrith you can see a real attitude change. We really turn up to training and just the way we played on the weekend.
“If we can just continue to have that willingness to work and have that pride in the jersey, I think we can upset a few more teams.”
Fellow battlers St George Illawarra will host the Eels at WIN Stadium on Saturday with Josh Dugan expected to make his long-awaited debut for the club.
Former Canberra fullback Dugan hasn’t played since the Raiders’ round-one loss to Penrith.
Should he take the field on Saturday, he’ll form an all-representative back three for the the Dragons alongside Jason Nightingale and Brett Morris.
But far from being intimidated, Paulo is looking forward to the challenge.
“It would be great for the game to have him playing,” Paulo said.
“He’s such a great player … the way he played for Canberra, I think he’ll have a really big impact for the Dragons.
“So if he does play, we’ll be expecting big things from him.”