10/08/2009 12:05 PM
Back in early June, Parramatta veteran Nathan Hindmarsh feared his side would be fighting to stave off the wooden spoon by season's end.
The Eels had just been beaten by struggling Cronulla, coming off a nine-game losing streak, in a game that was barely up to NRL standard.
Fast forward two months and Hindmarsh's concerns about collecting the spoon have long been allayed – it's now the finals that consume his thoughts.
Parramatta moved to within a point of the top eight with a thumping 40-8 win over Newcastle at Parramatta Stadium on Sunday - the club's fourth straight victory.
"People thought we were going to be battling for the spoon - even I was getting a bit concerned it was working out that it was us and the Roosters for the spoon at one stage," Hindmarsh said after the win
"We've come a long way. My main goal halfway through the year was to kick clear of the Roosters and now we could be playing in the semis."
While the indefatigable Hindmarsh's contribution to the Eels cause could never be doubted, it's been the emergence of 'bit ' players Krisnan Inu and Fuifui Moimoi over the past month which has Parramatta fans excited about the next month.
Inu and Moimoi drifted in and out of games early in the season but are now putting in every week.
Moimoi was virtually unstoppable against the Knights, his powerhouse display even more remarkable given he was battling a serious posterior cartilage injury to his knee.
"I asked Hindy how long he was out when he did (his PCL) and he was out for about six weeks. Fui had six days off, so it shows the measure of his toughness and commitment to the club," coach Daniel Anderson said.
"I gave him unconditional bludging rights during the week and he took them wholeheartedly ... he'll be asking for that (the week off) again."
"If he can play like he did today he can have every day off except for the game."
"It was scary watching him carry the ball and I felt for the Newcastle blokes trying to tackle him."
Hindmarsh praised Moimoi for turning his season – and career – around.
"He got a bit lazy and thought he just had to attack - he's now become a complete player," Hindmarsh said of the pony-tailed forward.
"He's carting the ball up very well and he's defending a lot better than he was at the start of the year as well."