LeagueNews.co | Jason Patrick
Sean Russell has been labelled a 'schoolboy' after a critical error summed up the Eels' dismal season, leaving fans feeling as dejected as a punch-drunk boxer in the final round.
The South Sydney Rabbitohs' 32-16 victory over the Parramatta Eels sent shockwaves through the rugby league world, with the Rabbitohs now breathing down the necks of the top eight teams in the NRL.
With a string of five impressive wins and two well-deserved byes in the past seven weeks, the Rabbitohs have been as unstoppable as a freight train since their round 11 defeat to the Cowboys back in May.
The Eels, on the other hand, have been as slippery as an eel in a rainstorm, sliding back to the bottom of the ladder in a disappointing display at a rain-soaked CommBank Stadium.
In a cruel twist of fate, the Eels had momentarily escaped the dreaded wooden spoon after the Tigers were dismantled by the Roosters in a one-sided affair last week, but their hopes were dashed yet again with a fourth consecutive loss.
It was a night of missed opportunities and costly mistakes, leaving fans feeling as deflated as a punctured football.
As the Eels lick their wounds and reflect on where it all went wrong, the Rabbitohs continue to charge towards the finals like a pack of hungry wolves.
The rugby league gods have spoken, and it seems the Eels will have to wait yet another year to end their 38-year premiership drought.