A rejuvenated Parramatta, inspired by a new combination of Luke Burt at fullback and Jarryd Hayne at five-eighth, saw off an under-par Wests Tigers 22-6 in their NRL clash at a raucous Parramatta Stadium on Friday night.
The Eels coach Stephen Kearney made the surprise decision to start Hayne in the halves and move Burt from the wing to fullback after Jeff Robson failed a late fitness test on a hamstring injury and the decision paid dividends in front of a crowd of 19,654.
Hayne started the first four games of the 2009 season in the No.6 shirt, with mixed results, but the NSW star looked confident in the playmaker position, with veteran Burt enjoying a tremendous game in the custodian role.
The Eels now lie 13th on the ladder 3 points outside the top eight, while the Tigers are ninth behind Penrith on points differential.
