Parramatta captain Tim Mannah says the Eels shock loss to the Newcastle Knights in Round 23 was exactly what they needed.

After winning six games straight, Parramatta were expected to beat the 16th placed Knights easily but were instead hammered 29-10 at ANZ Stadium. They bounced back last week to trounce the Gold Coast 30-8.

“It was a slap in the face we needed,” Mannah said.

“I think we were a bit guilty of believing we were killing it. It was good to get that hurt feeling and that slap in the face this time of the year.

“It has made us a lot more focused and a lot more driven this next few weeks.”