PARRAMATTA monstered the much smaller Wests Tigers in a very one-sided contest - highlighting yet again the importance of big men in rugby league.

Had the Eels been more ruthless in the second half, they could've scored at least another 20 points.

The Tigers are not renowned for their size at the best of times. Yesterday though, they fielded one of the smallest teams I've ever seen in top level rugby league.

The club's four main front-rowers - Todd Payten, Bryce Gibbs, Ryan O'Hara and Keith Galloway - were unavailable due to injury. Danny Galea started the game in the front row yesterday but left the field early with a serious leg injury.

As a result, the Tigers lacked size and grunt and it badly affected both their attack and defence.

They could not advance the ball in the early tackles of each set. Their smaller back row forwards tried valiantly to fill the void but were easily contained by the bigger Parramatta men who delighted in throwing them around like rag dolls.

Without an adequate "go-forward" game from the Tigers forwards, their skilful playmakers had no room in which to operate and as a result they too often headed across field with the ball in search of space.

As all of our football fields run in a north/south direction, your team is generally in big trouble if all it can do is head east/west. This was the headache for the Tigers yesterday.

Their attacking play was forced across field far too often and the Parramatta defenders were able to comfortably pick them off like ducks in a shooting gallery.

In defence, the Tigers stood little chance of containing the rampaging runs from the bigger Parramatta forwards.

Actually, several of the Parramatta backs were bigger than the Tigers forwards, so they ventured infield looking for the ball and causing havoc through the middle of the play-the-ball area.

I reckon it took only 10 minutes into this game for all the Parramatta players to realise they could run the ball without fear.

Ground was so easy to make and running the ball was becoming so much fun that the likes of Nathan Cayless, Josh Cordoba, Fuifui Moimoi, Weller Hauraki, Nathan Hindmarsh and Daniel Wagon were pushing each other out of the way looking for work.

They easily bent the Tigers back with every charge, while halfback Brett Finch and five-eighth Feleti Mateo had the time and space to set the Eels outside backs alight.

Finch was outstanding.

Mateo was even better.

Finch has saved the Eels a couple of times this year with his competitive spirit and ability to instigate tries when they needed them.

For mine, the Eels have been soft and lazy for most of this season and Finch has kept them in the fight. Now that the other Parramatta players are starting to find form, Finch is starting to excel.

If the NSW selectors are serious they cannot ignore him for Origin III.

Mateo is a rare talent. This bloke could be anything. He is as tall, big and strong as any forward in the game.

He has the speed and footwork of an elusive outside back. He has the skill and ball-playing ability reminiscent of some of the greatest ball-players our game has ever seen. In the heat of the moment yesterday I mentioned his name in the same breath as the great Arthur Beetson. On reflection, I'm prepared to let the comparison stand.

If the Eels continue to improve their manners they are a potential premiership contender. And the Tigers need their big boys back to have any hope of resurrecting their season in time for the finals.