There were moments of brilliance but top-four bound Parramatta were not convincing in their 26-12 win over Brisbane on Friday night.
Continuing question marks over their attack, the Eels all but shored up a top-four spot but failed to put the bottom-placed Broncos to the sword as expected at Bankwest Stadium.
A win against the Wests Tigers in the last game of the season will assure them a second chance in the NRL finals should Canberra win their final two games.
And luckily too, with prop Junior Paulo put on report for a hip drop tackle on David Fifita two minutes into the second half.
It could mark Fifita’s last game in a Broncos jersey with their final game of the season just six days away.
The Gold Coast-bound forward was taken from the field in agony with what is believed to be a low-grade ankle sprain after Paulo’s 123kg frame fell on his lower leg as third man in.
Last month Jesse Bromwich and Tyrell Fuimaono became the first two players suspended for the move which falls under dangerous contact.
However, should Paulo cop a grade-one charge and take the early guilty plea he will not miss a game.
After weeks of stuttering performances, the Eels looked nervy early but put their season back on track with four tries in 19 minutes to lead 20-6 at halftime.
And while it was hardly a fair fight between the premiership hopefuls and the cellar-dwellers, it served as a reminder of what the Eels are capable of when they’re on.
But it was also a lesson in concentration as the Broncos kept fighting, scoring in either half.
Fifita’s try was the best of them at the half hour mark when he shrugged off a poor tackle from Mitch Moses to power over and score.
However, two tries to Eels fullback Clint Gutherson in four minutes gave the Eels the healthy halftime lead.
But they did not go on with it in the final 40 minutes.
Everything was set up for them to run up a score at home to build confidence leading into the finals, but somehow it didn’t reach any great heights.
Even after the Broncos lost their five-eighth Tyson Gamble to a head knock in the opening minute, the visitors kept rallying.
Gamble was laid out by hulking Eels winger Maika Sivo while trying to make a tackle and was helped from the field and didn’t return.
It set an ominous tone for the night, but to their credit the Broncos did not concede easily with just two players on the bench for the second half.
The loss was the 10th straight for the Broncos and puts them on a collision course with their first-ever wooden spoon.
To avoid it they will need to beat North Queensland at Suncorp Stadium on Thursday night and hope Canterbury don’t upset minor premiers Penrith.
