Parramatta Eels break drought, but a ray of hope for Mick Potter It wasn't pretty but no Parramatta fans cared as their embattled Eels ended a run of 10 straight losses. Jarryd Hayne on the attack last night. DEPENDING on who you listen to, last night's loss to last-placed Parramatta was either Mick Potter's last match as coach of Wests Tigers or a reprieve from the guillotine for a week or two. The Tigers lost their fifth match in a row. But the fact they held the lead four times in the game and only lost by four points should count for something. Remember the Tigers were without skipper Robbie Farah, Origin prop Aaron Woods, a host of other players and lost second-rower Bodene Thompson in the warm-up. Potter's coaching and injury woes didn't concern the Eels at all. They broke a 10-match drought to sing the team song once again and for the last time at Parramatta Stadium this year. The Eels' remaining four games are away from their home base. "It means we're still trying hard," said coach Ricky Stuart when asked to describe what the breakthrough meant. We knew it was a desperate game for both teams. It was all about desire out there tonight. I've said it for a number of weeks that we've still got a lot of spirit in the joint . . . a lot of want. The two worst teams of the competition put on one of the best displays of see-sawing entertainment for the season. Stuart thought it was an ugly match but the sight of Jarryd Hayne back in full flight after nine weeks out with a hamstring injury was a beautiful thing for the Eels faithful. Just when a Benji Marshall bullet pass to Tim Simona put the Tigers ahead with nine minutes left, Parramatta replied with Vai Toutai scoring his second of the night in the left corner. It was a disappointing end to the game as I thought we were well in it. We should have been able to hold them out that last seven minutes," Potter said, admitting he had been battling with all the speculation about his future. I wouldn't say it's been my easiest week at work. I just got on with business as best I could," the coach added. You don't like it, but you understand it comes with the territory. Later on Triple M radio, Potter said his wife was distraught over his treatment by the media and it had affected his children as well. Marshall said the players had managed to blot out the off-field issues and drama. "Mick didn't let what was happening to him affect us," he said. Hayne did all he could to frustrate the visitors. He busted four tackles, made two line-break assists and made sure he was everywhere in attack. The shift from fullback to five-eighth helped as he handled the ball more often. Hayne revealed it was his idea to play second-receiver and allow promising back Jake Mullaney to go to fullback. It worked well as Mullaney finished with a try, a conversion and man-of-the-match award. "It's a credit to Sticky (Stuart) that he trusted me, trusted my opinion and had full confidence in me," Hayne said. I knew what Jake was capable of. The lead changed eight times with the Eels scoring a try just before the break to head to the sheds up 14-10. But Wests Tigers' troubles are ongoing. The Australian had confirmed former coach Tim Sheens began legal action during the week because the club stopped his payments after terminating his contract last year. Parramatta 26 Wests Tigers 22