Parramatta have described their finals exit as an "opportunity thrown away", but have vowed to learn from the experience and return a better side in 2018.

• ANALYSIS

We should have trusted the ballot box. It knew what was going to happen. Parramatta aren't quite ready for that change yet.

Parramatta's season is over, but perhaps so too is that of North Queensland wrecking ball Jason Taumalolo.

Parramatta will take the field on Saturday night with three players on the NRL's minimum wage and another three players earning less than $180,000 a year.

Troy Grant supports Newcastle but it has been difficult for him not to feel a sense of satisfaction about the progress of Parramatta this year.

Peaking early, derailing Jason Taumalolo and who's favourite to body slam the referees in week two?

North Queensland isn't one of the half-a-dozen clubs Siosaia Vave has spent time at, but that's not from a lack of trying from the Cowboys.

Parramatta board elections, a constant source of factionalism and infighting, will not be allowed to resume until members first agree to a new constitution.

Long after they were ousted at the ballot box, Denis Fitzgerald and Roy Spagnolo continue to wield influence over Parramatta.

It's been described as one of the most important events in the history of the Eels - and we're not talking about their sudden-death semi-final against North Queensland.

Brad Arthur tells a story about Semi Radradra. It sums up just how far he's come since joining the club. "I remember our first session with Semi ... bloody hell, he didn't even know what the sideline was," he said.

It's the buy of the year against the game's best forward ... Parramatta's Nathan Brown versus North Queensland's James Taumalolo.

Melbourne Storm star Cameron Munster admits his side were "rattled" by the Parramatta Eels during the first half of their qualifying final and he won't be shocked if the Eels still make the grand final.

Parramatta halfback Mitchell Moses says he's spent very little time perfecting the highlight reel no-look inside pass that has led to two Eels tries over the past fortnight.

Brisbane will clash with Penrith on Friday night before the Eels and Cowboys tangle a day later, the NRL has announced.

The Parramatta Eels will head into their sudden-death semi-final with uncertainty surrounding the availability of their fullback and hooker.

Parramatta coach Brad Arthur has lashed out at the referees for failing to use the bunker to examine two controversial Melbourne Storm tries on Saturday afternoon.

• Live

Follow live as Steve Mascord takes you through Saturday's all-important NRL finals games.

Melbourne have survived an almighty scare from Parramatta, overcoming the sin-binning of Cameron Munster to book their passage into the preliminary final.