3 minute read

Parramatta have all but assured their top-four finish by crushing the Warriors' hopes of an NRL finals berth with a 24-18 win in Gosford.

Parramatta spoiled a fairytale finish for the Warriors but kept alive the romance of their own NRL season with a 24-18 win on Sunday.

With three games left before the finals, the Eels have all but locked up a top-four spot with the victory but it wasn't as easy as they had hoped in front of 4577 fans at Central Coast Stadium.

In a brutally physical encounter, Parramatta managed to stave off a fightback from the Warriors who were playing to keep their finals hopes alive.

The result left the Eels third on the ladder, but coach Brad Arthur said he couldn't be confident he had a premiership-winning side on his hands.

"We've still got a couple of weeks to get it right, but you couldn't say that on the back of that performance right now," he said.

"The good thing is we've got a tough opposition next week to challenge ourselves on."

Parramatta scored three tries in the first half to lead 16-0 but leaked two in two minutes to put themselves under immense pressure for the final 40.

The sides traded tries in the second half to keep the scoreline close, but the Eels turned up the intensity as the Warriors kept coming until the final minute.

It all but ended the Warriors' hopes of a run at the finals, having won four of their previous five games heading into Sunday's match.

The spirited performance was made even more remarkable considering the Warriors could only name 20 fit players this week due to the increasing depletion of their squad.

So dire is their situation, support staff were forced to stand in at opposed sessions in preparation for the game.

The Eels led by just four points at halftime as Roger Tuivasa-Sheck and Kodi Nikorima tore through the middle while Chanel Harris-Tavita scored a double with dazzling skills.

The Eels had scored first through Maika Sivo before Warriors lock Jazz Tevaga was controversially sent to the sin bin in the first half for striking out at firebrand Nathan Brown in a tackle.

Tevaga was battling to stand up, and with a fist full of Brown's jersey, contacted his face causing Brown to retaliate with a shove.

The decision left Warriors coach Todd Payten fuming.

"In the context of the game it was huge and it was the wrong call, in my opinion," he said.

"If anything, the way Nathan Brown reacted, they both should have been sent to the bin."

The Warriors conceded two tries while Tevaga cooled his heels, including Blake Ferguson's first for the season - the longest drought of his career.

Jai Field and Waqa Blake also crossed for the Eels, while Warriors winger Hayze Perham finished off a beautiful try in the second half.

The Eels are four points clear of fifth-placed Canberra with three games to play, setting up a mighty contest with leaders Penrith on Friday night.

The match is already sold out and has been for at least a week.

Meanwhile, the Warriors are four points behind eighth-placed Cronulla with three games to play, and will face the Sharks at Kogarah on Sunday.