Parramatta adamant Souths upset exhibits off the true Eels

Clint Gutherson insists the aspect that beat South Sydney are the true Parramatta, adamant the Eels can nonetheless be a power in opposition to any aspect within the NRL.

Parramatta have endured their worst begin to a season since they final missed the finals in 2018, however stood as much as shock Souths 36-16 on Friday evening.

The win leaves the Eels two wins exterior of the highest eight, desperately needing to maintain profitable by means of the State of Origin interval earlier than a tough run house.

Such has been the way in which of Parramatta’s season after final 12 months’s grand closing loss, they won’t end the spherical any greater than thirteenth however have the fifth finest for-and-against within the competitors.

They’re additionally the one aspect to beat the NRL’s high two groups in Penrith and Souths this 12 months, with Friday’s much more of a shock given it got here in Indigenous Spherical.

“That exhibits the group we may be,” Gutherson stated.

“We went to golden level with Melbourne, beat Penrith, beat these guys tonight. So that is the group we’re – and we all know we’re.

“It is nearly doing it and never having these little lapses in video games which had been costing us.”

Gutherson additionally harassed it was essential Friday evening’s victory might breathe life again into the Eels and ignite the group, after a number of different false dawns in 2023.

“It has to. We have now to string a number of collectively,” Gutherson stated.

“Our confidence has been there. A couple of issues have not gone our manner in a number of of the losses and the outcomes most likely have not proven how we have performed and group we’re.

“It has been a bit irritating that manner, however a win like that provides you a variety of confidence.”

Parramatta do have some issues, with their back-row curse persevering with.

Already with out Shaun Lane for the following two months, Andrew Davey will miss their conflict with North Queensland with concussion.

Fellow backrower Ryan Matterson can be despatched for an prolonged stint out with a calf damage suffered within the win over Souths.

The Eels ought to decide up Joe Ofahengaue from Wests Tigers as a part of a mid-season transfer, with prop Junior Paulo sure for NSW State of Origin camp.

Lock J’maine Hopgood can be an opportunity of being picked for Queensland, including much more stress to the Eels’ depleted pack.

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