Wests Tigers skipper Robbie Farah celebrated NSW Origin selection with a starring role in his side's 23-6 NRL win over Parramatta on Monday night, but he faces a nervous wait after suffering a rib injury in the process.

With his side clinging to a 12-6 lead with 13 minutes remaining, Farah slotted home a crucial field goal before chasing down a Benji Marshall grubber to score under the posts.

Taniela Tuiaki provided the icing on the cake with a late four-pointer.

While elated with both scoring plays, Farah immediately clutched at his ribs on both occasions in what will be a major worry for Blues coach Craig Bellamy.

While the Tigers did well to break a five-game losing streak, the 80 minute display was indicative of two sides sitting 13th and 14th on the ladder and again likely to watch finals football from the sidelines.

Parramatta started with all guns blazing, but they lost their chance to make an impact on the scoreboard when skipper Nathan Cayless dropped the ball over the tryline.

The Tigers troubles started before a ball had been kicked or a tackle made with fullback Tim Moltzen suffering a recurrence of an elbow injury during the pre-game warm-up, but their luck looked like it had turned as they held out the home side's early advances.

Finally with some ball on the opposition line, Tigers halfback Benji Marshall looked like putting a kick into the tenth row of the eastern grandstand, only for Eels centre Joel Reddy to knock the ball into the waiting arms of Dene Halatau for an unexpected 6-0 Tigers lead.

Parramatta's reply was equally as unconventional with Luke Burt beating four tackles he had no right to break, the hint of an obstruction belying the dismal defence as the two sides went to the break all locked up.

Veteran John Skandalis got his legs in the way of a Farah grubber to destroy any chance of an early four-pointer after the break, but there was no denying Willie Mataka for his first top grade try as he ran onto a Marshall short ball.

Rangy backrower Daine Laurie was pulled up for back-to-back high tackles on Fui Fui Moi Moi, the Eels unable to take advantage with Farah closing out the win.

Farah, who enjoyed his first win over Parramatta with the Tigers' last victory over The Eels coming in 2004, said he hopeful of being right for Origin II.

"Someone fell on me and I twisted and heard a pop," Farah said.

"They're (ribs) a bit sore, I've got the ice on it ... I did it early in the second half and I got through the game so that's a good sign, it should be sweet."

Coach Tim Sheens admitted his side still had a way to go, but was happy with the controlled performance of halfback Marshall.

"What he wanted to do was play a little bit conservative because he'd been under the pump and put the team under the pump for two weeks, trying too hard and pushing too many things," Sheens said of Marshall.

"There was a little bit of that tonight ... but by the same token he came up with a couple of the keys plays."

Eels coach Daniel Anderson said the letdown after last week's win over Newcastle was not totally unexpected.

"Two steps forward one step back," Anderson said.

"That's a fair reflection of where we are at the moment, we're trying very hard, we're missing opportunities and every now and again we lose confidence quickly and that's a young team."

Brought to you by AAP © 2024 AAP