A dejected Luke Burt admitted Parramatta's 16-16 draw with South Sydney in Friday's dramatic NRL encounter at ANZ Stadium felt like a defeat.

The normally reliable Burt missed two conversions and also the simplest-looking field goal deep into the second period of golden point extra time in a game the injury-hit Eels dominated but couldn't convert into a fourth win of the season.

"It's very disappointing to be missing that field goal and a couple of goals in the first half but that's football," Burt told AAP.

"I caught the field goal sweet and was convinced it was over, I couldn't believe it went wide, especially as we got back into a position where we should have won it."

The 28-year-old also thought he had won the game for his team in the extra period when he outraced Souths' Luke Capewell after a well-executed kick from Krisnan Inu, but the video referee ruled he had not grounded the ball.

"It was touch and go, I got a finger to it but it was one of those ones that are a bit iffy ... sometimes you get them sometimes you don't," he said.

Burt agreed with Eels coach Daniel Anderson that it was the team's best performance of the season, considering Nathan Cayless, Feleti Mateo and Kris Keating were missing through injury, and said it could be the turning point in the side's development.

"With the team we had, we have only trained with that team for a week with our two halves getting injured last week so I thought it was a great performance to go out there with a mix and match team," he said.

"We showed great spirit, which we didn't have early in the season when we were often behind but didn't dig in like we did tonight.

"Souths are a very good defensive team and to come back and put points on them was a great effort.

"But it would be great to get off to a good start for once, we have gone behind in so many games and have made it difficult for ourselves but we are getting there."

Burt full of praise for the performance of Jarryd Hayne, who was in irresistible form running in two tries and almost winning the game with a long-range field goal which cannoned off the crossbar.

He has no doubt Hayne, who recently won Burt's No.1 jersey following experiments at five-eighth and centre, will be in Craig Bellamy's NSW State of Origin side to be named on Monday.

"The last couple of weeks he has been inspirational and the spark in our attack, he has been playing great footy and if he keeps playing like that it can only help (NSW)," Burt said.

"I would play him anywhere, the form he is in at the moment, I think Kurt (Gidley) has got fullback so probably on the wing ... but he has to be in the team ... he was superb tonight."

Brought to you by AAP © 2024 AAP