Sackings not the answer for Eels: Cayless

Eels 20 lost to Gold Coast 28

Parramatta skipper Nathan Cayless has called for calm at the selection table, claiming that sacking players is not the solution to the Eels' stuttering start to the NRL season.

The Eels slumped to a 28-20 loss to Gold Coast at Parramatta Stadium last night and now have only two scratchy wins against the Bulldogs and Newcastle to show for their first five weeks' effort.

With a meeting against arch-rivals Manly kicking off the NRL's heritage round on Friday night, the Eels need to find some answers in a hurry, but Cayless doesn't think wholesale changes are required.

"We can't give up and go sacking everyone and dropping everyone," Cayless said.

"You've got to stick with the boys ... everyone busted their arses out there."It was a big effort to get back into the game but the NRL's getting too hard these days, you can't give teams a head start and expect to run them down every week."

Most conjecture this week will centre on out of sorts halfback Tim Smith, who again struggled to impose himself on the game last night.

His lack of self belief and control was shown up sensationally as opposite Scott Prince ran the Eels ragged all night, and it was only when five-eighth Brett Finch started to assert himself that the home side looked capable of snatching the points. The Eels could be without Mark Riddell for the clash against the Sea Eagles - who also have just two wins to their name - after the hooker suffered a recurrence of the shoulder/chest injury he first suffered against Newcastle two weeks ago.

The nuggety rake will have scans early this week but it is believed Eels medical officials are leaning towards giving him a week off.

Gold Coast showed they could get the job done without an inspirational forward of their own last night after they made a mockery of claims they would struggle without prop Luke Bailey, who is out with a broken arm.

While his co-skipper Scott Prince was brilliant, coach John Cartwright heaped praise on some of the lesser lights who had stepped in to fill the breach.

"We did win a couple of times last year without Bails, he's very important to the side but probably the difference this year to last year is a lot of the guys from one to 17 are contributing a lot more," Cartwright said.

"It's going to stand us in good stead because there is rep footy ahead, the injuries always come."I was just really pleased for those guys that probably played bit parts last year who really put their hand up tonight."

Cartwright said he was hopeful of having five-eighth Mat Rogers available to take on Brisbane on Friday night after he was put on report for lifting Luke Burt midway through the second half.