The Dolphins' fairytale start to the season is turning into a nightmare after Parramatta flexed their muscles as NRL premiership contenders to deliver a 48-20 thrashing.
Both teams entered the clash on 18 competition points and, with the Dolphins coming off a bye, the sold-out crowd at Sunshine Coast Stadium settled in for what most expected to be a close contest.
Instead they copped an early eyeful of the electric Eels and diabolical Dolphins.
The Eels scored seven tries in the first half to lead 42-4, the most first-half points they have scored in their 77-year history.
Halfback Mitchell Moses was in magic touch, orchestrating the rout and landing seven from seven goal kicks in the first half to become the third Eels player to notch 1000 points, behind Michael Cronin (1971 points) and Luke Burt (1793).
The Dolphins have now lost three games in a row and the Eels have marched up the NRL ladder with five wins on the trot.
"We haven't done that in my time at the club," Eels coach Brad Arthur said.
"We were in a bit of hole at the start of the year in terms of results so to turn it around and win five games in a row is a good effort and it sets us up for a nice rest in the bye and then we can come back and reassess."
The Dolphins' edge defence in the first half was all at sea as the Eels ran riot.
Lock J'maine Hopgood continued his blockbusting start to the season and centre Will Penisini scored a double.
Eels second-rower Bryce Cartwright had three line-break assists with three trademark offloads that all led to tries inside the opening 25 minutes.
Dolphins winger Brayden McGrady scored in the fourth minute on debut and could have had a second inside 10 minutes but tried a flick pass when he could have scored under the sticks himself.
The ball went to ground and from that moment the Eels ran riot.
Minutes later Eels winger Maika Sivo was put on report for a raised elbow before a Hopgood try but the Dolphins did not receive a penalty.
"I'm more than concerned about it," Dolphins coach Wayne Bennett said of the Sivo incident.
"That was weird. Everybody saw it...but there was no penalty."
The Dolphins started the year playing with grit and flair but the resilience has disappeared from their recent performances.
They conceded 58 points in their most recent loss to Manly and that lack of defensive resolve was on show again.
They did play a lot better in the second stanza with fullback Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow scoring a stunning double and centre Valynce Te Whare crashing over as the Eels took their foot off the gas.
"They reminded themselves in the second half what they have to do to play well," Bennett said.
Eels skipper Clint Gutherson finished with a double and Moses, backing up after NSW's 32-6 loss to Queensland, finished the afternoon with 1005 career points for the Eels.
