Parramatta Eels refusing to be written off after gritty loss to Penrith Panthers

RIGHT now there is plenty to dislike about the NRL bunfight that is Parramatta. But none of it ran on to Pepper Stadium.

Parramatta's Bevan French scores a try. Picture: Brett Costello

PARRAMATTA have forwards in the centres, wingers at No.6 and a halfback in Jeff Robson who, only days ago, returned home from Auckland because ... well, the missus said if he was going to play reserves, he should do it at home with family.

And still, these Eels keep coming.

“So you might say we can’t make the finals,’’ Parramatta coach Brad Arthur shrugged.

“But we don’t think that.

“We know we have to win seven games. And if we can do that, if we can end up in the positive with for and against ... it’s only a small bit of hope, but we’re hanging on to it.”

And why not?

For, right now, there is plenty to dislike about the NRL bunfight that is Parramatta.

But none of it ran on to Pepper Stadium on Sunday.

No, make what you will of the dramas surrounding Corey Norman, Kieran Foran and ‘Aussie Semi’ Radradra. Same deal that Eels board so dysfunctional, even the State Government reckon they can come up with better.

But, please, don’t drag these Eels — or at least what is left of them — down into the mire.

Bevan French scores a try for the Eels. Picture: Brett Costello

Not after Clint Gutherson, playing five-eighth for the first time since he was 13, scored one try and orchestrated two more against the Panthers.

Or Robinson, languishing in reserves with the Warriors only a fortnight ago, himself kicking for one try while playing grittier than a spaghetti western.

At centre, Beau Scott battled as best he could against younger, quicker rivals. Manu Mau, too, called on to shift wide when Michael Jennings was injured shortly before the break.

“So blokes were playing all over the place,” Arthur conceded.

“But you saw what happened, the boys never gave up.

“Fought right to the end.

“We had a try disallowed. Then got held up over the line.

“Scored as many tries, too.

“We need a bit of luck and we’re not going to get it. So there’s nothing we can do but keep fronting up and make sure we create our own.”

Clint Gutherson scores a try for the Eels.

So if people are going to make judgments on the Eels logo Brad, you would like them to do it on what transpired against Penrith?

“Well, yeah,’’ he continued.

“We’ve established the style of footy we want to play. What we want to stand for.

“That’s who we are.

“And we’ve worked too hard to let that unfold.”

Prop Tim Mannah agreed. Better, his statements came with head bandaged. And bloody.

Parramatta's Tim Mannah and his Eels teammates look on after a Penrith try. Picture: Brett Costello

The Eels veteran a chance, surely, for the Dally M Captain gong — even if his club captaincy role doesn’t carry the little ‘c’ into battle.

Asked about those with whom he took the field, Mannah said: “It’s hard to explain the way these boys are handling themselves every single day.

“I couldn’t be prouder.

“There is something special in this place.

“And while the last few months haven’t been ideal, it’s allowed me to see a side of these boys I’d never seen before.”