Coach Tim Sheens joked he was living in a nightmare after Wests Tigers' latest defeat before insisting there are positives amid their worst-ever start to an NRL season.
In 24 years as a joint venture, the Tigers had never started a season with six consecutive defeats until they fell to Parramatta at Accor Stadium on Easter Monday.
They snapped a five-game slump in the corresponding Easter fixture last season and looked a chance to do the same on Monday night when they cut a 16-point deficit to two in the second-half.
Wests could not land the final blow, though, despite enjoying the bulk of possession and territory.
To make matters worse, centre Brent Naden and five-eighth Adam Doueihi suffered injuries in the loss, the latter facing the possibility of a season-ending third knee reconstruction.
"Ask me tomorrow, when I wake up and realise it wasn't a dream, or a nightmare," Sheens said when asked for his reaction post-match.
But despite the historic low and injury concerns, Sheens said the Tigers' second-half performances proved they were on the right track.
The winless Tigers have outscored their opponents in four of six second halves and beat last year's grand finalists 16-10 after the break on Monday.
"Overall we've been resilient, coming back at them," Sheens said.
"But giving them the start is always the problem.
Sheens lamented the Tigers' inability to defuse rival playmakers' kick games.
All three of the Eels' first-half tries came from Mitchell Moses grubberkicks, after Brisbane scored three tries against the Tigers in similar fashion last week.
"Three tries from kicks after last week, the kicking efforts by Brisbane, disappoints us. We put a lot of time into it," Sheens said.
The Tigers are poised for more contemplation of their slow start during their upcoming bye.
"This week coming will be analysing where we're going, what's happened in the first six round and where we need to improve," Sheens said.
"And then come back out fighting again. That's what the nature of the game is, we're not going to lay down. There's still plenty of football to play."
