League: Mist chance for the Warriors

Eels 28 Warriors 18

Any way you looked at it, Hamilton's weather was perfect for eeling - cold and misty. But it proved to be the perfect environment for the Parramatta Eels.

The Warriors were stung by the pre-game loss of both Ruben Wiki and Monty Betham to knee injuries and also lost Louis Anderson early on with a dislocated knee.

Technically the game was a home fixture for the Eels, however a parochial crowd of 17,142 left the Eels in no doubt who they were supporting.

A fog hung permanently over the ground as both sides attacked and counter-attacked throughout the match.

The Warriors would have targeted this game as a must-win, with a gruelling schedule of matches in front of them, including Brisbane, North Queensland, reigning premiers Canterbury and last year's beaten finalists, the Sydney Roosters.

The Warriors started strongly and took only six minutes to post their first try through a scything Clinton Toopi run.

Shortly after they were up by 10 when Richard Villasanti was awarded a try.

Showing their class, the Eels slipped back into the match through Luke Burt.

Returning Origin player Nathan Hindmarsh had a much different first try, with a high shot that looked reportable but he maintained control of the ball and scored.

Tim Smith was on the end of a brilliant Mathew Petersen run down the wing, and gave his side the lead for the first time with a try under the posts. And with time almost out in the first half, the Warriors' wilting defence allowed Chad Robinson a gimme try, extending the Eels' lead to eight at the half.

The Warriors defence in the first half would have worried Tony Kemp, and whatever he said during halftime seemed to have worked, with tight marking around the half area and solid tackles out wide.

For all their endeavour, however, the Warriors couldn't break out of Parramatta's hold.

The Eels, with python like strength, continued to choke the life out of the game and it was only their mistakes that restricted what could have been a blow-out victory.

Petersen scored but the Eels could have, and should have, added another couple.

Never saying die, Stacey Jones broke through the Eels line to feed a flying Todd Byrne who scored a late Warriors try to continue his remarkable run of four-pointers and regain some sense of respectability.

To their credit, the Warriors never gave up and, despite the loss, will be able to draw many positives for their remaining games. But they need points more than positives.

Eels 28 (L.Burt, N. Hindmarsh, T. Smith, M. Peterson tries; M. Riddell, L. Burt 3 cons).

Warriors 18 (C. Toopi, R. Villasanti, F. Meli, T. Byrne tries; L. Hohaia con).