Eels in need of miracle as Raiders surge

"We need a miracle, simple as that."
Parramatta coach Daniel Anderson summed up the Eels's NRL finals predicament wit
those words, after Sunday's gut-wrenching loss to Wests Tigers left a repeat of last
year's dramatic run to the grand final in the realm of fairy tales.
"It's very disappointing," Anderson said, his Eels still just two points out of the
eight but given their poor points differential now relying on other sides above them
to trip, stumble and fall to make it into the finals.
"We had high expectations ... I don't think anyone at all is happy with where we are
now or how it will end up."
This means more unfulfillment for Eels fans, their season of what might have been
summed up in the manner of a 20-18 loss to the Tigers at Parramatta Stadium when a
late comeback fell tantalisingly short.
Forget the Luke Burt miss from almost directly in front which would have sent the
match to extra time, and retain the 79 minutes which preceded it, when the Eels gave
everyone a glimpse of the good, the ugly and everything in between.
"We knew the season was on the line, we knew that leading into the game and we knew
that last week as well," Eels co-captain Nathan Hindmarsh said.
"It's disappointing, knowing the season's on the line and we only played the style
of football that would have won us the game for 20 minutes - it's done now."
And so are the Eels, who trail eighth-placed Brisbane and ninth-placed Canberra -
who play each other in the final round - by two competition points.
They are also 63 points worse off than the Broncos in points differential, meaning
the Eels would realistically need Brisbane to lose their final two games, Canberra
to go down to 15-placed North Queensland next week and Parramatta winning their last
two games by a healthy margin.
Possible, but as Anderson said, a miracle is needed.
Replacing the Eels as the fairytale act are the Raiders, who were seemingly written
off weeks ago before storming back into contention with Sunday's stunning 32-16 win
over ladder-leaders St George Illawarra, who are without a win in the nation's
capital since 1999.
"It'd be great to do the same as what they (Parramatta) did but win on the last
day," said Raiders five-eighth Terry Campese, his side turning around a 4-0 halftime
deficit against the normally stingy Dragons.
"On our day we can beat anyone, it was just a bit disappointing those early round
losses but we're starting to get the confidence.
"We know if we stick to the game plan and our defence is on we can beat any team in
this competition.
"I'm sure if we can bring that attitude that we brought in the second half today and
keep it going you never know what we can do if we make the semis and make the top
eight we'll give it a good crack." The same can not be said of the Dragons, who
eerily also began their late season stumble against the Raiders last season.
Even the minor premiership which seemed assured is no sure thing, with the red and
whites just two points ahead of the Tigers.
Having climbed back ahead of Penrith and Gold Coast - who play the Sydney Roosters
on Monday night - into second, Tigers coach Tim Sheens said the job was far from
finished.
"You want to finish strongly, not just squeak in ... preferably first or second in
that you're guaranteed two shots at it," Sheens said.
"You want to be up as high as you can."