Inspirational Parramatta backrower Nathan Hindmarsh fears he may never get to play in another NRL grand final after his Eels bombed out of the finals series with a disappointing 29-0 loss to North Queensland at Telstra Stadium.

Hindmarsh was just two hours from completing a remarkable comeback three weeks after injuring the posterior cruciate in his knee to play in Sunday's preliminary final but the club doctor ruled him out preferring him to be fully fit for the anticipated grand final.

A gutted Hindmarsh had to watch from the sidelines as his Eels put up an insipid performance, one of their worst for the year.

Hindmarsh said the loss hurt more than the 2001 grand final loss to Newcastle.

"(The feeling) is pretty much the same if not a bit worse," said Hindmarsh, who has made himself available for the Tri Nations series.

"The grand final was when I was a few years younger and I thought I would get a few more chances but now I am a few years older you don't know when you will get the opportunity to play in one again so it gets harder (to take)."

The 26-year-old sensed by halftime that the Eels were going to miss out as the Cowboys led 18-0.

The Eels had controlled the first 20 minutes of possession, played most of it in North Queensland's half but simple fumbles proved costly.

Once the Cowboys composed themselves they put on three easy tries to close the half.

When halfback Brett Firman jinked his way untouched through the Eels defence in the 38th minute to score next to the posts, making the score 16-0 with conversion to come, Hindmarsh could read the writing on the wall.

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