PK’S BEST ON GROUND:

In the end the Eels prevailed 26-20 but Parramatta coach Chris Bradbury looked like he needed a stiff drink after the game when his team received the fright of their lives.

Parramatta stays on top of the competition but unfortunately for the Tigers the loss may have signaled the end of their season as they have slipped out of the eight to tenth position.

But this game had everything – big hits, great attack and a nail biting finish. How on earth aren’t the Tigers in the top four after witnessing a top performance from the men in black and gold?

The best hit of the day belonged to Balmain prop Paea Munakia who shortened up gun Eels prop Pauli Pauli. The hit reverberated around the ground and sent the big Pauli into Disneyland.

Unfortunately for Munakia the referee deemed there were no arms in the tackle and he was penalised for a shoulder charge. Oh well it looked good anyway!

The Eels led 16-10 at half time. Tigers half Luke Brooks scored a runaway intercept try to get his team into the game. The pass came courtesy of his Holy Cross College Ryde mate and Eels half Mitchell Moses.

I bet there will be some geeing up by the Holy Cross boys when they next catch up with each other!

Parramatta threw everything but the kitchen sink at the Tigers but they kept in the contest by taking penalty kicks at goal. At one stage I thought I was at a rugby union game when the Tigers elected to kick for goal.

In the end the Eels scored five tries to two but the penalty goals certainly helped keep Balmain in the contest.

The Eels are a good team and deserve to be on top of the competition but they are a team that can be bustled. If they are to win the premiership this year they will have to lift their game to another level by the time of the quarter finals which are only two weeks away.