Parramatta Eels too slippery for Canberra Raiders

It was in front of a massive Canberra Stadium crowd, 20,089 crammed through the gates with thousands of them stuck outside at kick-off.

But the Green Machine didn't turn up and Stuart felt sorry for the fans after the Raiders were thrashed 35-10.

The second half was especially disappointing with the visitors running in four unanswered tries.

Stuart was also sorry for Raiders debutant Caleb Aekins, who was excellent at fullback deputising for the injured Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad (neck).

Aekins was Canberra's only positive in his first time in the Canberra No.1 jersey.

He produced a fantastic try-saving tackle on Maika Sivo, his linebreak led to George Williams' try and he ran for 162 metres as well.

The 23-year-old could prove to be a very astute pick-up from the Penrith Panthers.

"It was disappointing. We had a massive crowd, every reason to make them proud of us and we embarrass ourselves in what could have been a night to make them proud of our effort and the team they support," Stuart said.

"I feel sorry for them and I feel sorry for Caleb Aekins. He didn't deserve that tonight.

"I thought Caleb was good. He gave us a lot of opportunity in our shapes of attack.

"I think we had about seven or eight opportunities to score a try in the first half and we didn't take those opportunities."

Stuart put his under-performing team on notice they would need to lift or risk being cut for what's now a massively important trip to Townsville to play the North Queensland Cowboys.

One change Stuart vowed he'd definitely make - Sebastian Kris will be in the 17 somewhere. Whether that's on the bench or in the starting side, this week will decide.

Stuart blamed himself for not having Kris in the 17 this week, after the youngster had been impressive over the opening five rounds.

That not only puts the Raiders outside backs on notice. But those on the bench and in the middle as well.

Stuart was emphatic when asked if they were out-enthused by the Eels.

"One hundred per cent we were. Not the team. Individuals. Don't put everybody in that category," he said.

"There's individuals there that are leaning on others. Individuals there waiting for someone else to do it.

"Individuals there that are happy to put on an NRL jumper and thinking they're an NRL player."

If Aekins proves astute, then Papali'i's pure genius.

He was one of Parramatta's best and finished with two tries, two linebreaks, 130 metres and five tackle busts.

His first was after just three minutes - after Raiders winger Jordan Rapana dropped a Mitchell Moses bomb on their very first set.

His second finishing off a nice short ball from fullback Clint Gutherson, who was also excellent.

Rapana atoned with a try himself, but he several other chances in the first half - only for the Eels defence to force him into touch.

Apart from the finishing, Stuart was mostly happy with their attack in the first half and felt they produced some of their best play of the season.

The second half was a different story.

Raiders winger Bailey Simonsson will have to complete concussion protocols during the week having failed a head injury assessment in the second half after landing heavily.

It forced a massive Raiders reshuffle, with Curtis Scott going to the wing, Elliott Whitehead into the centres and Siliva Havili in the second row.

The Raiders will drop out of the top eight if the New Zealand Warriors beat St George Illawarra at Kogarah Park on Sunday.

AT A GLANCE

PARRAMATTA EELS 35 (Isaiah Papali'i 2, Maika Sivo, Shaun Lane, Reed Mahoney, Clint Gutherson tries; Mitchell Moses 5 goals; Moses field goal) bt CANBERRA RAIDERS 10 (Jordan Rapana; George Williams tries; Jarrod Croker goal) at Canberra Stadium. Referee: Ben Cummins. Crowd: 20,089.