NRL: Depleted Broncos sink sorry Eels

Etu Uaisele of the Eels is tackled. Photo / Getty Images

Broncos 16
Eels 12

Depleted Brisbane have heaped more woe on struggling Parramatta, seeing off the Eels 16-12 in their NRL clash at Parramatta Stadium.

A Matt Gillett try five minutes from time sealed the points for Anthony Griffin's side, who remain in fifth spot on the ladder despite being without six players due to State of Origin commitments.

Parramatta, who were deprived of NSW pair Jarryd Hayne and Tim Mannah, gave a debut to Reni Maitua, following his return from a two-year drugs ban.

Despite having not played since May 2009, the former Canterbury and Cronulla utility was the Eels' best attacking player in the first half, having been called into the side hours before the game to replace Jeff Robson who was ruled out due to a hamstring injury.

A closely-fought opening period saw Brisbane take a 6-0 lead at the interval with Dane Gagai breaking the deadlock in the 27th minute.

The young winger capitalised on the back of good work from hooker Andrew McCullough, who made a successful return after spending a week on the sidelines due to disciplinary reasons.

The Eels, as so often this season, showed promise in attack, but poor handling and decision-making let them down. The young Brisbane side showed great discipline in defence to deny the hosts twice on on the stroke of halftime.

The Eels' miserable year was handed a further blow early in the second half when exciting young centre Jacob Loko was carried off with a suspected ruptured anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee that will sideline him for the rest of the season.

Despite the loss of Loko, the Eels looked threatening, creating a sustained spell of pressure, but Gagai added his second when he raced 95 metres to score after Justin Horo fumbled the ball centimetres from the Brisbane line.

Wallace's conversion increased the lead to 12-0, but the home side, languishing in 13th spot on the ladder, got themselves back into the game with two tries from the club's record scorer Luke Burt.

However, once again the Eels were left to rue some poor discipline, with the Broncos moving the ball into good field position after a penalty was awarded against Mitchell Allgood.

Gillett received the ball 30 metres from the Eels' line, skipped past a feeble attempt at tackle from Casey McGuire and scampered through to score.

The defeat all but ends Parramatta's finals aspirations, and the boos that rang around the stadium at the sound of the final siren from the frustrated home crowd said it all.

BRISBANE 16 (D Gagai 2 M Gillett tries P Wallace 2 goals) bt PARRAMATTA 12 (L Burt 2 tries L Burt 2 goals) at Parramatta Stadium. Referee: Jared Maxwell, Phil Haines. Crowd: 11,079.

- AAP