Parramatta Eels coach Brad Arthur has praised his team's extra efforts in defence after a dominant 26-6 win over the North Queensland Cowboys in Townsville on Friday night.
After starting the season with two wins followed by four straight losses Arthur is happy that the commitment shown across the field has earned the Eels three wins in a row.
"Very happy with the defence… it was a bit more than just effort tonight there was a lot of extra efforts from in particular our forwards," Arthur said.
"We're really happy about the defence part of it, we had to defend four or five sets on our try line and we kept turning up. It's what's needed against very good teams."
The Eels dominated the Cowboys defensively, with their consistently impressive line speed choking even Jason Taumalolo to only 106 metres – the highest from a Cowboys forward.
"It's something that we try to work hard at but you need to make sure you get numbers into the tackles and we're winning them so we can get off the line, but the boys found another gear," Arthur said.
Eels fullback Clint Gutherson, who scored two tries against the Cowboys, and centre Michael Jennings, who continuously split the home team up the middle with scoots form dummy-half, were standouts on Friday against the Cowboys.
"[Gutherson] has probably been our most consistent player all year," Arthur said.
"It doesn't matter where we put him his game doesn't change he lives on the football. That's probably a benefit of how he trained throughout the pre-season.
"[Jennings'] class has shown in the last couple of weeks… He had a really good pre-season for us and his involvement has been great… but I think in the last couple of games he's just shown his class."
The Eels will need to be at their best again in Round 10 if they're to beat the fourth-placed Sydney Roosters at home.
