Gold Coast are within touching distance of the NRL’s top eight after a 24-16 victory against Parramatta on Sunday at Skilled Park.
The Titans still need to win matches against Penrith and Manly to have any hope of making the finals.
But at least they are still in the hunt as they eye off their next do-or-die match, against the Panthers at Centrebet Stadium on Saturday night.
Missing inspirational prop Luke Bailey, who suffered a season-ending achilles injury in the loss to Melbourne Storm last week, the Titans notched only their fourth home win this season in front of 14,159 fans.
This was always going to be a danger game for the Titans, who now sit just one victory outside the top eight on 24 points after Brisbane and Wests Tigers’ losses this round, against last-placed Parramatta.
The resurgent Eels had won three of their past four matches going into this round 24 clash and with their season over, they had nothing to lose and were playing exciting, ad-lib football.
The Titans led 14-4 at halftime after tries to fullback Will Zillman and man-of-the-match Nate Myles, and a Scott Prince penalty goal just before the break.
Zillman, who missed last week’s loss to the Storm with a sternum injury, benefited from an Aidan Sezer break to score in the 17th minute while the Parramatta defence opened up to concede a soft try to Queensland State of Origin star Myles in the 34th minute.
Eels winger Luke Burt collected a neat short ball from Ryan Morgan to cross in the final play of the first half as the visitors went to the break trailing by 10 points.
Parramatta halfback Chris Sandow dragged his team back into the contest when he won a 50m footrace to the tryline after being put in a hole by prop Fuifui Moimoi in the 54th minute.
Luke Burt converted to have the Eels 14-10 behind.
Ashley Harrison then laid on a try for centre Steve Michaels – despite a hint of a shepherd from decoy-runner Luke O’Dwyer – to give the Titans some breathing space.
When winger Kevin Gordon brilliantly snatched a Prince bomb to touch down in the 64th minute, the Titans were up 24-10 and looked almost certain to live to fight another day.
Eels winger Ken Sio set up Taniela Lasalo for a consolation try in the dying stages.
Sandow was put on report for a 43rd minute high shot on Zillman.
