Parramatta have survived a scare from an improved Wests Tigers, who will finish the round on the bottom of the NRL ladder after losing 28-20 at Leichhardt Oval.
The Tigers' tough draw won't help their battle to avoid the wooden spoon. The other three bottom-four sides play each other before the season is out, while the Tigers face current top-eight sides in five of their remaining eight games.
The NRL's most unwanted prize isn't theirs yet, though, especially if they can build on the promising signs shown on Saturday night.
The Tigers scored more points against Parramatta than in Brett Kimmorley's first three games in charge combined, and threatened to upset the Eels for the second time this season.
The joint venture concede more tries through the middle of the park than any other NRL side but their forward pack was up for the physical challenge.
With a vocal crowd behind them, the Tigers were the more patient early after the visitors were denied two tries within the first ten minutes.
Parramatta made five errors inside 20 minutes and invited the Tigers into enemy territory, and they ran out to a 12-0 lead.
The Eels' bad habit of losing unlosable games threatened to resurface but momentum turned when Tigers forward Justin Matamua was sin-binned less than five minutes into his NRL debut.
The under-19 State of Origin representative made late contact with Mitch Moses as he kicked and could face scrutiny from the match review committee.
The Eels ran in two tries while they had the extra man advantage and when Moses took on the line soon after the break, the visitors had built up a lead that proved unassailable.
Isaiah Papali'i gave Tigers fans a preview of what he will bring to them in 2023.
He pounced on a Moses kick to ice the Eels' win and looked dangerous on the right edge with 154 run metres.
Luke Brooks had a mixed night as he works to keep Adam Doueihi, who returned to the starting side at centre, from usurping him at five-eighth.
Brooks saved a certain try by tackling Reed Mahoney close to the line midway through the second half. He also delivered the passes that gave David Nofoaluma two late tries and the Tigers a shot at snatching the win.
But his decision to kick on the second tackle inside Parramatta's 20 backfired in a big way. The resulting turnover proved the catalyst for the Eels' second try and helped the visitors build the momentum they needed to take, and keep the lead.
Overlooked for an Origin recall despite two injuries, Eels prop Reagan Campbell-Gillard worked overtime while the contest was still in the balance.
Parramatta were without co-captain and Blues prop Junior Paulo so the Tigers went all in targeting Campbell-Gillard, who scored the Eels' first try and didn't take a break until the 52nd minute.
