Parramatta's nightmare run without Mitch Moses has continued as they slumped to a fifth defeat in six games without their halfback in a 30-14 loss to Brisbane.
With their season slowly slipping away, Parramatta were left to rue their missed chances at a wet CommBank Stadium on Friday night.
Reece Walsh bagged a long-range try in the Broncos' win, while Ezra Mam's class also shone through against a spirited, but ultimately hapless, Eels.
Moses has some chance of recovering from a foot injury in time to face Melbourne in Magic Round next Sunday.
The No.7's return won't come a moment too soon for the Eels or under-fire coach Brad Arthur.
Parramatta had every reason to believe they were the better team for large parts of Friday night, but desperately lacked Moses' polish.
They had the majority of the ball and territory in the first half, and enjoyed 23 play-the-balls in the attacking red zone compared to the Broncos' nil.
Fullback Blaize Talagi was firing while filling in for Clint Gutherson, scoring one try and showing why the Eels will face a challenge to keep him beyond this year.
Yet somehow the Eels still trailed 18-8 at the break, falling victim to two 80-metre tries from Walsh and Deine Mariner after the hosts dropped the ball on attack.
The second half was the same story.
Parramatta scored first when Dylan Brown pulled off a one-on-one strip on Mariner and dived straight over to make it 18-14.
But even with halfback Adam Reynolds missing due to a biceps rupture, Kevin Walters' men only needed half a sniff of a chance to score points.
After and after putting Walsh away for his long-range effort in the first half, , it was Mam who stood up again after the break
With Parramatta firmly in the game at 18-14, the Broncos five-eighth was able to make the most of a half bust and quick play-the-ball from Xavier Willison.
Charging onto the ball, Mam put on a perfect chip-and-chase over Kelma Tuilagi, wrong-footing fullback Talagi to score.
The next try was almost as good to put the game beyond doubt.
When Walsh drove a low kick across the field, Selwyn Cobbo didn't give up on the chase and got the ball down within centimetres of the dead-ball line.
In contrast, Parramatta again again couldn't take their chances.
Talagi was denied once through an obstruction, while he and centre Will Penisini dropped balls close to the line.
The Broncos' victory did come at some cost, with hooker Billy Walters aggravating a left wrist injury early and not returning.
But after last week's hammering from the Sydney Roosters, Brisbane again proved able to operate with a key cog missing as they went fifth on the ladder.
It's the kind of situation Arthur could only dream of right now, with his team 3-6 to start the season and down in 13th spot.