Eels back in the finals frame after rallying to beat Tigers
Parramatta's NRL renaissance gathered pace as the cellar-dwellers fought back from falling behind three times to beat a stubborn Tigers 24-22 at ANZ Stadium on Sunday afternoon.
Having been ridiculed for their meek start to the season, which included six straight defeats, Brad Arthur's men won their second match in as many weeks in a wild clash that featured five lead changes.
Manu Ma'u emerged as the unlikely hero when he popped an offload that helped Brad Takairangi send the Eels to a late lead but then had the decisive say when he barrelled over the top of Benji Marshall for the winner 11 minutes from time.
Only four minutes, earlier Marshall had scored to give the Tigers the lead for the third time.
The win draws the Eels level with the struggling Sea Eagles, Bulldogs and Cowboys on four points – and just two wins shy of the top eight.
It's almost inconceivable to think about the Eels and finals in the same sentence after their disastrous opening to the year, but so topsy-turvy has the opening two months been they are now emerging in the top eight picture.
The Eels shaded a physical first half as maligned halves Mitchell Moses and Corey Norman laid on both tries scored.
After Corey Thompson ranged up to support an Esan Marsters break to put the Tigers ahead mid-way through the opening stanza, Norman kicked with precision for Bevan French to fly above David Nofoaluma and score.
Moses took the line on just four minutes later and popped an improbable pass for Michael Jennings to crash over, and the margin was shaved back to two points with a Marsters' after-the-siren penalty.
Brooks' sleight of hand sent Matt Eisenhuth over untouched to give the Tigers the lead early in the second half, only for Takairangi to crash over for the Eels to quickly regain it.
In a match that ebbed and flowed all afternoon, Mahe Fonua looked to have provided the decisive moment in his first game for the Tigers when he crashed back infield from a Brooks pass and popped a ball for Marshall to score.
But Ma'u had the last say, singling out Marshall and powering over the top of the veteran No.6 to send Eels fans into raptures.
Parramatta Eels 24 (Bevan French, Michael Jennings, Brad Takairangi, Manu Ma'u tries; Mitchell Moses 4 goals) defeated Wests Tigers 22 (Corey Thompson, Matt Eisenhuth, Benji Marshall tries; Esan Marsters 5 goals) at ANZ Stadium. Referees: Matt Cecchin, Phil Henderson. Crowd: 17,555.