With Mitchell Moses back on deck to help break an ugly run of heavy losses, Parramatta are refusing to believe that their 2024 NRL season is dead and buried.
Moses made a sparkling return from a lengthy lay-off with a broken foot on Thursday, starring in an upset 34-22 win over Cronulla that will give Parramatta a glimmer of hope that they can achieve something this year.
The Eels are just two wins outside of the top eight after their victory over the Sharks and can quickly make gains on the teams around them over the next month.
Parramatta face Canterbury, the Sydney Roosters, Newcastle, South Sydney and Gold Coast over the next five weeks and will be banking on Moses' form to guide them back into contention.
"He's probably one of the best half backs in the league at the moment and if you miss him it's a big loss," said Eels captain Clint Gutheron.
"It's the confidence he brings not only to the team but everyone in the club when he's playing.
"It's a big thing for him to have but for him to go out there and back it up against the team that's coming first - off a 12-week break - it's a credit to him and how much effort he's putting away from the footy field to make sure he's back.
"Hopefully he can put us on a bit of a run into the next bye."
Interim Parramatta coach Trent Barrett described Moses as a "complete package" and the "dominant personality" in dictating how the Eels fortunes will fare into the back of the year.
Barrett said the Eels would take it easy with Moses, who has a "big plate in his foot" following his operation earlier this year.
One of the most notable beneficiaries of Moses' return was five-eighth Dylan Brown, who clinched the game for Parramatta with a late try after some below-par showings over recent months.
"Dylan's a runner and that's what he can do when Mitch is playing," Barrett said.
"He scored a really good try at a crucial time tonight."
