Bulldogs utility Reni Maitua has taken the first step towards redemption after scoring two tries to help inflict a 22-18 defeat over Parramatta at Telstra Stadium to leave the Eels' NRL season in tatters.

Maitua, a P-plater, was fined $15,000 on Friday by the NRL club for a high-range drink driving offence on Anzac Day, with half the fine suspended pending possible future breaches.

The 23-year-old, who was also dropped to Premier League earlier this year for turning up late to training, returned a blood-alcohol reading of 0.165 when pulled over for a random breath test at Cronulla after a drinking session with teammates.

But he made headlines for the right reasons on Sunday, with his tryscoring double and strong defence proving crucial to the outcome.

Drafted into the side in place of the injured Corey Hughes (hamstring), Maitua said he was desperate to repay the Bulldogs after admitting he had let down his teammates.

"I've had a few setbacks this year as everyone knows and I just have to prove to the team ... I owe them a lot and I need to turn things around," Maitua said.

"I'm just grateful that Folksey gave me another opportunity - I owe Folksey (coach Steve Folkes) and the club everything at the moment.

"I let the team down during the week and now that's behind me I just want to go to court on Thursday and put all that behind me and concentrate on the rest of the year."

Maitua, who is off-contract at the end of the season, hopes to remain at the Bulldogs despite negotiations being put on hold after his latest indiscretion.

"Canterbury gave me an opportunity after I was 18 or 19 and I'd like to stay at this stage," he said.

Parramatta, one of the favourites for the title at the start of the season, are now in danger of being out of semi-final contention after posting just two wins after 10 rounds of the competition.

The Eels, last year's minor premiers, will now need to win at least 10 of their last 15 games to have any chance of squeezing into the top eight.

Parramatta coach Brian Smith, who will take over at Newcastle at the end of the season, said the club had the personnel to squeeze into the eight.

"Everybody who is not in the eight is not seriously concerned, but thankfully the music stops at the end of 26 rounds, not right now," Smith said.

"We've got it in us if we find the answers. Today we found some but not quite enough."

Bulldogs coach Steve Folkes admitted both teams were below their best but was pleased his side gritted out a win.

"It was a mistake-a-thon, most of it," Folkes said.

"Don't get me wrong, I'm not unhappy, that's three in a row and that's the first time we've done that for some time.

"Even though it wasn't the greatest performance, you gain confidence from any sort of win."

Eels skipper Nathan Cayless scored a late try to give the Eels some hope of a comeback win, but could be sidelined with suspected medial ligament damage to his knee.

"I'll see what happens tomorrow, we'll get some scans - it got buckled over a bit," Cayless said.

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