Eels still have a long way to go: Gould

Despite Parramatta's 26-14 win over the ladder-leading South Sydney Rabbitohs on Friday night, Channel 9 commentator Phil Gould believes the Eels are still the same side they've been all season long.

The Eels snapped a three-game losing streak to record the win, although the Bunnies were missing Cody Walker, Damien Cook, Cameron Murray and Dane Gagai due to their Origin commitments.

Brad Arthur's side moved to 6-6 with the win, but Gould believes they've been far too inconsistent all season long to become a legitimate contender.

“I haven’t really rated them that highly all season,” Gould told Channel 9 post-game on Friday night.

“I know they’ve had some good results, but they had the opening of the ground here and I think everyone got carried away with that game against the Tigers.

“I think the Dragons beat them if Corey Norman stays on the field the next time they play and they were beaten by an understrength Panthers side last week.

“In between they had a big scoreline (a 64-10 loss to Melbourne) put on them.

“I think they still have a long way to go.”

The hosts bounced out to an 18-point lead, before South Sydney made it a contest late on.

While Gould admitted the Eels had the Rabbitohs' number on Friday night, he doesn't have confidence in Parramatta to do enough to feature in the finals this season.

“They found the opposition they could handle tonight,” Gould said.

“They got a nice free reign in attack, forwards made ground easily and the halves had plenty of time.

“They practiced getting off the line hard but they knew it was only the Burgess brothers they were contending with.

“They have to do that over 80 minutes week in, week out with the best sides in the competition.

“I don’t think they are a finals team right now. I could be proven wrong but I don’t think they will make this year’s finals series.”