Eels 16 Panthers 22

After witnessing another Groundhog Day performance from Parramatta as they failed to reel in Penrith yesterday, Eels legend Peter Sterling said the players had to look inside themselves to find the answers to their problems before it became too late for this season.

Sterling, who was at Parramatta Stadium to call the match for Channel Nine, told the Herald: "Talent is never enough and never will be. Parramatta have got the talent, but they are in a rut and have got to ask themselves why. They are no different now to what they were like three months ago, and two months ago. I don't think they have really played well all year. The only saving grace is that they're still on the edge of the top eight, so they're still a chance."

Yesterday's result meant Penrith moved into eighth place at Parramatta's expense. Both teams have been up and down this season and are seeking the consistency needed to nail down a spot in the finals.

Eels coach Michael Hagan and star players such as Nathan Hindmarsh and Nathan Cayless had been asked the same questions on numerous occasions after disappointing performances by the team this year. Hindmarsh, who had been ruled out of yesterday's game with a foot injury but ended up playing after fellow forward Chad Robinson was forced out with a back problem, said it was critical he and the rest of the players didn't start having self-doubts and drop their bundle.

"The belief is still there," he said. "We performed much better in the second half today, although there was one defensive lapse that gave up a try. We've just got to keep whacking away, keep the enthusiasm high and don't let it get to us. It's frustrating. It's not time to start panicking, but it has become a bit of a concern. We're lucky the comp is so close, so we're still in the race for the top eight. But the top four are pulling away from us a bit."

For a team that was playing in a local derby against an opponent that could leap-frog it into the top eight with a win, Parramatta were flat. Penrith, on the other hand, were bubbling, and deserved the 16-0 lead they built in the opening 30 minutes. There was a basic sameness about the way the Eels played until the last five minutes, when, down 22-12 and desperate, they cut loose in an attempt to get an unlikely win. They pulled one try back, but couldn't get the much-needed second to keep the game alive.

No one expects Parramatta - or any team - to be so risky in their approach under normal circumstances, but Sterling said they had to find some middle ground between the way they played for the bulk of yesterday's game and the way they approached the final stages.

"I think they lack athleticism and footwork up front," Sterling said. "Their best forward is Feleti Mateo, and he's playing five-eighth. There is plenty of effort there, but Cayless, Hindmarsh, [Fuifui] Moimoi, [Daniel] Wagon … they pretty much come straight at you. And, against the type of well-drilled defences that are in the NRL now, you need more variety. The passing ability is there with some of those guys - we saw it in the last five minutes.

"You would like to think the energy and enthusiasm that was on show from the team late in today's game can start coming earlier, instead of them waiting until they are in dire straits in games.

"It hurts me to say it, but you've got to try to look at it with your head and not your heart, and I tipped Penrith to win today, because they're going better. Parramatta can still make the finals and have an impact - they're close enough, if good enough - but they've got to get their act together."

Penrith have had more injury problems than Parramatta, and weren't expected to do as well as the Eels to start with, so they have done significantly better to get where they are than Parramatta have - even if there is only one competition point between them.

But, as Penrith coach Matthew Elliott pointed out, when it comes to the crowded mid-section of the table: "That was a critical win for us, but we've got to work on winning next week now. There's no point in looking too far ahead."