NRL: Burt miss dashes hopes for Eels

Timana Tahu of the Eels attempts to score a try. Photo / Getty Images

SYDNEY - Parramatta's NRL finals hopes are on life support after the Eels came up short of a miracle comeback in a loss to Wests Tigers yesterday.

Handed a shot at goal from 25m out and just off centre and with less than a minute on the clock, the NRL's most accurate goalkicker Luke Burt pushed it wide after the Eels had set up a thrilling finish with two late tries.

Trailing 20-6 with 11 minutes left, the Eels stormed back via tries to Justin Horo and Anthony Mitchell, but were unable to conjure one last piece of magic to remain two points behind eighth-placed Brisbane with two games to go.

The Tigers are now almost assured of a home final, thanks to a brilliant game from Benji Marshall.

Despite trailing 10-6 at the break, the Eels would have gone to the sheds the happier of the two sides given the Tigers had every chance to have a home final wrapped up by halftime.

Twice the visitors were denied by the video referee - once when Robbie Farah fluffed a simple put down from a Marshall grubber - while Chris Lawrence came up with an unwanted double of his own with two passes finding the sideline instead of Lote Tuqiri.

The pair finally combined for the opening try thanks to a switch of play inside their own half, winger Krisnan Inu caught out of position as Lawrence cruised over.

A delicate Marshall chip on halfway had Farah scampering downfield, his kick for Beau Ryan out wide clean up a by a retreating Jarryd Hayne. Ryan wasn't to be denied however with more Marshall brilliance with a held up pass giving his winger an open passage for a 10-0 lead.

It was almost unjust when Joel Reddy and Inu swivelled out of tackles with the Kiwi winger cutting the deficit to four.

A Farah kick had the Tigers back on top after the restart, the visitors capitalising when a Tim ana Tahu intercept attempt went wrong with Farah cleaning up and finding Ryan for his second and a 14-6 lead.

The Eels sloppiness limited their effectiveness. Never was this more evident than when Hayne failed to find touch from a penalty that would have put the Eels 20m out, the Tigers making them pay when Andrew Fifita barged over for what seemed an unassailable 20-6 lead with 18 minutes on the clock.

FULL TIME SCORE
Tigers 20
Eels 18

- AAP