For starters, how could a local junior in Feleti Mateo be allowed to go to the Warriors, with the Eels chasing Reni Matua, who hasn't played for two years and who would bring lots of baggage?

No, the recriminations will inevitably come from everywhere and can wait.

Lack of pride and passion, the two P words used by the 3P ticket that wrested control of the Parramatta board last season, wasn't responsible for the Eels' 20-18 defeat by the Wests Tigers at Parramatta Stadium on Sunday.

Pride and passion embodied the Parramatta performance with their season at stake.

Those qualities were a tribute to the players and if there was a rift with coach Daniel Anderson that pride and passion surely wouldn't have been displayed.

Contrast with the lamentable South Sydney, who with their season also on the line, were down 40-0 at half-time against Penrith on Friday night.

No pride and passion there from the team that has historically worn the phrase ``the pride of the league''.

The Parramatta fans who made Sunday's sell-out crowd couldn't have asked for more commitment, though they can ask lots of other questions about the performance.

If they're honest, they'll admit the score flattered Parramatta and the Tigers won because they attacked better and defended better.

The Tigers played like a team running into form for the finals, played with a plan and discipline and had two magical attackers in Benji Marshall and Robbie Farah who can perform acts of sorcery.

Fans will know but for poor finishing, the Tigers would have had it wrapped up at half-time.

They'll know Parramatta had five minutes in the second half where they had four sets of six tackles in the Tigers half, but couldn't score.

That was their chance if they were good enough.

They'll know Parramatta showed the same deficiencies they've shown all season: poor ends to sets, the lack of an organised and effective kicking game, poor defensive alignment on the edges.