Were the Parramatta Eels beaten before a ball was kicked in Round 22? A season worst effort and a 46-16 hiding at the hands of the Melbourne Storm add some serious credence to the thought as The Tip Sheet unloads on poor effort, bad selections and substandard depth across the backline.

Sixties and Forty20 look beyond the loss to the Storm as a critical mass of suspensions have piled undue pressure on the Eels. Dylan Brown, Ryan Matterson, Maika Sivo and Reagan Campbell-Gillard lead a NRL high 22 weeks of cumulative suspensions and it has reached a critical mass for the club.

It leaves the Eels balanced precariously in the race for the finals and with little alternative but to win out over the next month of footy.