Brad Arthur says Parramatta are "happy to be boring" and credits that approach for their rise into the top eight after a losing start to the season.
The Eels' 34-4 win over Manly, their fourth victory in a row, will result in last year's grand finalists finishing round 16 inside the NRL top eight for the first time this year.
The Eels' seven losses have all been by a margin of 10 points or less, including three defeats by just four points in the opening three rounds.
They have also had several big wins which is why they have a positive points difference of 104.
"Everyone looked at me very strangely after three or four rounds (when I said) I thought we started the season better than we started last year in terms of the footy we were playing," Arthur said after the Manly win.
"I knew there were a lot of really good signs. Defensively we were still adjusting to some changes we made but we got better each week defensively.
"You can see from our for and against that we were in every game. A lot of those games we could have turned into wins.
"We just found ways to beat ourselves. At the moment we are happy to be boring."
In a way the Eels have been anything but pedestrian this year.
They have scored 392 points, more than any other side.
Arthur was making a point about their playing philosophy and how it has worked a treat.
Against Manly, middle forwards Ofahiki Ogden, Reagan Campbell-Gillard and J'maine Hopgood dominated and won the collision battle.
Ryan Matterson, in the unaccustomed position of No.6, ran like a trooper all night and half Daejarn Asi kicked superbly with his left boot in the absence of Dylan Brown and Mitchell Moses.
"We enjoyed being boring. We knew we were missing some personnel in the spine and it is hard to enjoy that, but I was really proud of the boys that they wanted to get their tackle count up and have plenty of possession ... keep it simple and defend really well," Arthur said.
"The bit I'm really pleased with at the moment is that they are enjoying the tackle and working together in defence."
Captain Clint Gutherson was the standout player on the field at fullback but was modest about his form.
"I didn't do anything different to what I do any other week. Our middles let us play the footy we did," Gutherson said.
The skipper suggested the criticism that came the Eels way for their early season losses was water off a duck's back
"We don't listen to anything outside our group. Whatever Brad says, we do. That's it," he said.
