Parramatta won 26-20 after withstanding a second half Gold Coast fightback in which the home side scored two tries on the back of controversial captain's challenge calls and another while Eels prop Junior Paulo was in the sinbin.
The Eels led 20-0 at the 50th minute mark when Titans halfback Toby Sexton deliberately conceded a penalty to seek a captain's challenge, with referee Peter Gough warning: "If the challenge is unsuccessful you will go to the sin bin".
