The Eels suffered a devastating 26-24 loss to the Titans in the final match of NRL Magic Round.
A hat-trick by Maika Sivo and a five-star display by Dylan Brown were not enough for Parramatta as the Gold Coast defended their way to a narrow victory.
The defeat was compounded by the loss of halfback Mitchell Moses to a head injury late in the match.
The Eels got off to a scintillating start, with Maika Sivo scoring the opening try after 90 seconds. Parramatta executed a sweeping backline play to perfection, and Clint Gutherson’s basketball pass sent Sivo over in the corner.
Sivo starts off strong
Their celebrations were quickly halted however, as Gutherson was sent to the sin bin for a professional foul in the 8th minute. The Titans took full advantage, as Keiran Foran crossed for a quickfire double to hand the Gold Coast a 10-4 lead.
Gutherson’s return sharpened Parramatta’s game and the Eels came close to hitting back through Shaun Lane, but the second rower was pulled down inches short of the line.
This opened the door for another Titans attack, and Alofiana Khan-Pereira scored an audacious chip-and-chase try to make it 16-4.
The Eels looked threatening through the remainder of the first half, but the Titans clung onto their 12-point lead all the way to the break.
Parramatta returned to the second half hungry for points, and swiftly posted their second try to reignite proceedings.
A terrific exchange of hands down the left edge created havoc for the Titans' defence, and a slick pass by Bailey Simonsson sent Sivo streaking away for his second try of the night.
Maika makes it a double!
The Eels were well on the front foot, but a full-field intercept try by Khan-Pereira reinstated the Titans' breathing room at 22-8. The Gold Coast threatened to add another, but for a spectacular cover tackle by Will Penisini.
The Blue & Gold were not prepared to bow down, and two tries in the space of two minutes put Parramatta on the comeback trail.
Maika Sivo completed his Magic Round hat-trick in the 54th minute, as another raid on the Titans' right edge gave Simonsson space to send his winger over the line.
Sivo scores a hat-trick!
A typical, all-effort play by Clint Gutherson brought about the Eels' next try, as the captain toed ahead a bouncing ball and dotted down in the corner. Mitchell Moses landed the conversion from out wide to make it a four-point ball game.
Gutho doesn't give up!
The Eels pushed hard for an equaliser, but the Titans defended bravely to turn them away on numerous occasions.
The Gold Coast landed a crucial blow in the final 10 minutes, as Brian Kelly crossed the stripe to put the Titans eight points ahead. The Eels' woes were worsened as Mitchell Moses suffered a head injury and was ruled out of the remainder of the match.
In the absence of Moses, Dylan Brown stood tall to lead Parramatta's pursuit of late points. The five-eighth drifted to the right side of the field and sliced through before finding Andrew Davey on his inside. The second-rower slid over for a try on his Eels return to give Parramatta a chance at the death.
It proved a bridge too far however, as the Titans held on for a thrilling two-point win.
