Late Clint Gutherson howler hands Bulldogs 20-12 win over Eels at ANZ Stadium

PARRAMATTA players were ‘brought to tears’ in the dressing sheds following a heartbreaking defeat to Canterbury that all but ends the Eels hopes of making this year’s finals.

The Bulldogs and Eels did battle at ANZ Stadium.

PARRAMATTA players were “brought to tears” in the dressing sheds following Friday night’s heartbreaking and controversial 20-12 defeat to Canterbury that all but ends the Eels hopes of making this year’s finals.

But Brad Arthur has vowed the Eels can still fight back and make the play-offs, declaring: “We ain’t giving up. We are not rolling over.”

And on a drama-packed night when the Bulldogs kept their slim hopes alive, star fullback Moses Mbye also conceded “where there is smoke, there is fire” in respect to growing speculation he will be pushed out of Belmore next year.

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Adam Elliott scored Canterbury’s late match-winner.

The fallout from the Bulldogs’ gritty come-from-behind victory is sure to continue over the weekend with more refereeing controversy also exploding after a contentious call went against the Eels in the lead up to the match-clinching try.

With the scores locked at 12-all heading into the final 10 minutes, George Jennings appeared to field a Matt Frawley kick with one foot on the tryline.

But instead of gaining a 20-metre restart, match officials ruled Jennings had caught the ball in the field of play and made the Eels take the goal line drop out.

From the ensuing set Adam Elliott became the Bulldogs’ unlikely hero when he pounced on a Josh Jackson grubber kick that Clint Gutherson inexcusably failed to put dead.

One of the Eels’ most likely players on the night, Gutherson missed his mark with an air swing as Elliott celebrated.

Arthur refused to buy into the controversy.

“I have only seen our screen in the box so I can’t make a comment on it,” Arthur said.

Another penalty goal to Mbye then locked up the eight-point win, although Mbye then had to field more questions about his uncertain future.

Quizzed on reports he was being shopped around, Mbye said: “Normally where there’s smoke, there’s fire.

“I don’t know where we’re at but I’m sure a call has been made.

“And I get it.

“It doesn’t hurt because I understand the business side of it.

“I don’t know the finer details but I understand we’re not in a great way (at Canterbury) with the salary cap.

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A shattered Clint Gutherson after the loss.

“So while I’m not looking to leave this club, I want to stay, it’s business.

“But I haven’t had discussions with any other club yet and our club hasn’t approached me.”

But worrying about next season as the furthest thing from the minds of the Parramatta players.

Still last on the ladder with just two wins over the opening 10 rounds, the Eels will now have to equal history to make the play-offs from here, winning at least 10 of their remaining 14 games.

Only one team previously has gone from starting the season with eight losses in their first 10 games to make the finals - and that was Parramatta back in 2006.

Told of the stat, Arthur responded: “We are going to have to make it two teams, aren’t we, because we are not giving up.

“We are here for the long haul.

“We are here for the fight.

“We ain’t giving up.

“We are not rolling over.”

Asked what gave him confidence the Eels could turn it around, Arthur added: “You can definitely see in the dressing shed that there is plenty of hurt.

“We have got grown men after a football game that they have been brought to tears.

“That is how important it is to them.

The loss all but ends Parramatta’s hopes of playing finals football.

“But we can’t just keep saying it will turn. We have to stick together and ride it out.”

After leading 12-10 at halftime, Parramatta had a stack of chances to go further ahead but just couldn’t clinch their opportunities.

On one occasion Michael Jennings looked to have scored off a kick but the try went begging when the bunker ruled Jennings knocked on.

The Eels now have to back up against the Warriors next Friday night while the Bulldogs play Cronulla on Sunday.

CANTERBURY 20 (A Elliott B Morris tries M Mbye 6 goals) bt PARRAMATTA 12 (B French C Gutherson tries M Moses 2 goals) at ANZ Stadium. Referee: Ashley Klein, Peter Gough.

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Originally published as Late Clint Gutherson howler hands Bulldogs 20-12 win over Eels at ANZ Stadium