Parramatta reaffirm their top four hopes with 30-8 win over ailing Gold Coast Titans

NEIL Henry’s coaching tenure with the Titans will likely end with a whimper after they went down 30-8 against Parramatta.

SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA — AUGUST 17: Semi Radradra of the Eels gets past Ashley Taylor of the Titans to score a try during the round 24 NRL match between the Parramatta Eels and the Gold Coast Titans at ANZ Stadium on August 17, 2017 in Sydney, Australia. (Photo by Matt King/Getty Images)

ELVIS Presley died 40 years ago on Wednesday.

Another King was laid to rest on Thursday — Neil Henry.

The besieged Gold Coast coach — nicknamed ‘King’ — watched on as his Titans were whacked 30-8 by ­Parramatta at ANZ Stadium.

After a tumultuous week, Henry is expected to be sacked as Titans head coach within days. Only a win could have possibly saved Henry for the remaining two matches this season — but it didn’t happen.

Gold Coast’s troubles were in direct contrast to Parramatta, who secured a 14th win of the season.

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Victory lifts Parramatta to 32 competition points, a top-two finish still well within reach. It’s great to have the Electric Eels back in premiership contention.

Their defence was stellar. They should have won by more except for some dubious refereeing.

The Eels play Brisbane (away) and South Sydney (home) in the final two rounds.

Henry and star player ­Jarryd Hayne had a well-­documented fall-out this week — Hayne seemingly winning the power struggle.

Hayne was forced out of the match with an ankle injury, robbing fans of watching the ex-Eels champion confront his former side.

It would have been a mouth-watering duel.

But Gold Coast offered up very little. They could slip to 15th after this round.

The Eels did what they had to do in a dour clash.

Asked if was it difficult to focus on the match, Henry said: “What do you think ‘Bulldog’ (your correspondent), your mug there all the time. That would sell a few (newspapers).

“It’s been pretty relentless. It’s not pleasant. It’s tough, you can try and deflect some if it. It’s not just me, it’s your family and people who know you. I’ve got a lot of support out there — I’m a realist about things. You can’t control a lot of the stuff that is happening. I can’t worry about that. I’ve got a job to do.”

Pressed on whether he expected to be coach next week, Henry said: “I do. Until someone says I’m not. I’m contracted and I want to stay here.”

The famous blue-and-gold army certainly stayed away last night, the official crowd being a pathetic 6826. Can Thursday night footy possibly survive?

Parramatta sealed the match just five minutes into the second half when Will Smith pushed past four uncommitted defenders to score.

It propelled the home side out to an 18-point lead. Smith scored again on fulltime.

Highlight of the game was a crowd-pleasing 54th minute try to Eels winger Semi Radradra.

The Fijian flyer ran 95 metres from a Titans mistake — giving Gold Coast halfback Ash Taylor one almighty palm-off along the way — to help his team out to a 24-0 lead.

There did appear to be a knock-on in the lead-up.

It was a nice bounce-back for Parra from last week’s shock loss to Newcastle.

It will be stunning if Neil Henry survives the week.

“It would have been nice if we displayed that defensive attitude and resolve last week,” Eels coach Brad Arthur said. “I was really happy with the boys’ effort tonight. I thought the effort was great.”

A hamstring injury pushed Eels fullback Bevan French from the field in the 36th minute. It is an ongoing worry.

Gold Coast had their own injury concerns.

The Titans lost two outside backs inside the first 15 minutes — centre John Olive with an elbow injury and winger Anthony Don with a gashed face.

PARRAMATTA 30 (W Smith 2 D Alvaro T Moeroa S Radradra tries M Moses 5 goals) bt GOLD COAST 8 (B Nakubuwai W Zillman tries) at ANZ Stadium. Referee: Gavin Badger, Grant Atkins. Crowd: 6,826