Benji Marshall’s Wests Tigers career ended with broken ribs and a knee injury as Parramatta narrowly claimed a top-four spot with a 28-24 win at Bankwest Stadium.
Marshall lasted just 18 minutes in what could be his last ever NRL match, before being hit high by Will Smith and taken off the field for an HIA.
But while the head check was compulsory, his left knee was always the bigger issue and Tigers officials duly confirmed medial ligament damage and ruled out any return.
Marshall’s injury overshadowed a thrilling finish, as Parramatta scored two tries in the last 15 minutes before Clint Gutherson pulled off a crucial try-saver on Luke Garner with three minutes to play to secure third spot and a second chance come finals.
The Eels will head to Brisbane for a qualifying final against Melbourne, while Penrith will host the Sydney Roosters.
The result also consigns Canberra to a sudden-death clash with Cronulla, while South Sydney and Newcastle play in the other elimination final.
Regardless of the result, the Eels’ form remains a concern.
Their defence was leaky as they conceded five tries against the Tigers, while Ryan Matterson could also find himself in trouble for a crusher tackle.
They will also still be without injured five-eighth Dylan Brown next week, and found themselves down by eight in the second half after leading 16-8 at the break.
Junior Paulo was the man to save them, laying on an offload for Reed Mahoney to go over on 66 minutes after he had also been instrumental in their first-half surge.
Will Smith then scored the go-ahead try filling in at five-eighth with seven minutes to play, making his case to wear the No.6 jersey against Melbourne next week.
It came after the 35-year-old Marshall’s injuries marked a sad end to his 257th and final game for the Tigers, with no contract yet secured anywhere for next year.
The five-eighth had looked dangerous on the left before his injury, helping David Nofoaluma put Tommy Talau over for the Tigers’ first with a cut-out ball.
He was taking the ball to the line again and passing when he was hurt in the Smith tackle.
The fan favourite finishes level with fellow retiree Chris Lawrence as the Tigers’ all-time leading try-scorer with 84.
But while Marshall was sidelined, Adam Doueihi starred in his audition to wear the No.6 jersey next year if Josh Addo-Carr takes his fullback role.
Doueihi kickstarted the Tigers’ second-half run when he laid on a bullet cut-out ball for Tommy Talau.
He then forced another try with a towering torpedo bomb that was fumbled by Blake Ferguson, with Asu Kepaoa there to capitalise.
And when Luke Brooks finished off a try that began in the Tigers’ own half it looked as if they were going to finish their season with a win.
But instead their defence again let them down, with the two late Eels tries marking the first time in premiership history a team has conceded 26 points or more for 10 straight games.
