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Nick Markham | Rugbyleaguelive.com | 25/07/08 | 0
AUDIO - Michael Hagan: 'We won't be talking about that performance'
AUDIO - Ian Millward: 'We've got plenty to look forward to'
Parramatta's flickering NRL finals hopes remain alight, just, after the Eels scraped their way to the most uninspiring of 16-4 home wins over cellar dwellers North Queensland tonight.
Playing for their top eight lives, the Eels lacked passion, imagination and spark -- the two tries to one victory looking more like a stay of execution than a platform from which the pre-season fancies could turn their season around in what will surely go down as one of the worst games of 2008.
Yes Parramatta won, and yes they are now only one competition point outside the eight, but this was a Cowboys side missing seven first team regulars - five of them Origin players.
This is as good as it gets for the Eels, save for gun pivot Feleti Mateo, who is due back next week, and centre Ben Smith who has hardly played all year.
Credit must go to the Cowboys, who didn't make it easy for the Eels as they turned the match into a lacklustre armwrestle.
Surely the visitors are just counting down the days till 2009 after registering their 12th straight loss.
Parramatta's Jarryd Hayne was placed on report for stomping on Cowboys second rower Dayne Weston in the 62nd minute.
The secrecy behind Eels coach Michael Hagan's cloak and dagger preparation for the game became clear an hour before kickoff, when Luke Burt was reinstated at fullback after a one week exile.
It looked like a dud call early as Burt flicked a clearing kick back infield for the Cowboys to regain possession.
But it didn't take long for Burt to show just what he can bring to the side, as he pounced on a Brett Finch kick which had ricocheted off Cowboys skipper Aaron Payne for a 6-0 lead after just four minutes.
It looked like just the tonic to get the Eels going, but there was no better sign of where the blue and golds are at mentally when they opted to take a shot at goal 30 metres out - much to the disappointment of the now booing 7,253 spectators.
A string of penalties kept the Eels on the Cowboys line, and Tony Williams eventually proved too big, too strong as he rushed down the short side for a 14-0 lead.
A Sione Faumuina miracle ball allowed John Williams to close the gap with a try out wide, but Faumuina's hands let him down as he fumbled the ball over the line.
Eels veteran Nathan Hindmarsh must have felt sorry for him as he dished up his own goaline fumble to bomb a certain try.
Hoping things would get better after the break, the crowd was hopelessly let down.
Whether they were happy to protect to 10-point lead, or seemingly incapable of extending it, the Eels bumbled their way through, their only points coming via another penalty when Todd Lowrie was denied a try when tackled without the ball.
"It wasn't a good game to play in, it was very slow," said Eels half Brett Finch, who admitted the slowness of the ruck and continual stoppages to go to the video had a major impact of the game.
"It was a boring game to play and I'm sure it was a boring game to watch.
"But it's an important game for us and it keeps us alive."
Hagan said he didn't think Hayne would have case to answer, but Cowboys mentor Ian Millward had a different opinion.
"It didn't look pretty," Millward said.
"I've got a bloke getting stitches at the moment."
Millward was also left bemoaning two no-try decisions that went against his side in the second half to Carl Webb and John Williams, which could have closed the margin to a converted try late in the contest.
But Millward said he was pleased with his side's 80-minute commitment.
"We had eight players out tonight ... I'd like to see them have eight players out," he said.
"With even just one of our players back I think would have got us a victory tonight. They haven't been very convincing I think."
PARRAMATTA 16 (L Burt T Williams tries L Burt 4 goals) bt NORTH QUEENSLAND 4 (J Williams try) at Parramatta Stadium. Referee: S Lyons. Crowd: 7,253.
It was a boring game to play and I'm sure it was a boring game to watch
Spot-on, Eels half Brett Finch
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