Kenny Edwards gets away from Jake Granville and Matthew Scott.

The Eels bashed and bruised the Cowboys in a defensive ambush in front of 12,194 at Pirtek Stadium, relegating North Queensland to an error-riddled mess that looked far from the team that won last year’s gripping grand final against Brisbane to claim the club’s first NRL title.

It was the first time life as premiers hasn’t been rosy for the Cowboys, who won the World Club Series last month and hadn’t lost since September 12 last year against the Broncos.

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Nathan Peats celebrates his opening try against the Cowboys.Source:Getty Images

Marginal calls went the other way and they were terrible with the ball for most of the game making 15 errors, completing just 60 per cent of their sets and finishing on the wrong end of a 10-4 penalty count.

Parramatta captain Kieran Foran said the Eels rose for the occasion of hosting the reigning champions and Scott said it was something the Cowboys had to get used to.

“We’re going to experience that every game we play,” Scott said.

“There’s going to be a bit more pressure on us. Teams are going to lift to play us. We’ve got to handle that pressure better.

“If we hold the ball it’s a totally different game. It’s pretty simple.”

Cowboys coach Paul Green made a crucial change to his starting side, benching dynamite hooker Jake Granville for the first time since Round 4 last year in place of Rory Kostjasyn.

Granville had started the past 26 matches for the Cowboys and his only three previous games watching from the sideline resulted in North Queensland losses.

“I don’t know,” Green said when asked if he’d bench Granville again.

“I was playing around with the interchange a bit.

“We only used up one interchange that way.”

Johnathan Thurston in action against the Cowboys.Source:AAP

Ethan Lowe was a rare shining light for the Cowboys but couldn’t do enough as Parramatta took a 14-6 lead into halftime thanks to Nathan Peats and Kenny Edwards, whose try on the stroke of halftime followed a controversial blocking penalty against Kyle Feldt.

Justin O’Neill won his centre duel with Michael Jennings to bring the Cowboys back into the game but Brad Takairangi hit back and Parramatta’s defence lifted to hold on for a tight victory despite a late try to Jason Taumalolo.

The Cowboys were solid in defence and didn’t stop trying but Gavin Cooper dropping a penalty tap summed up just what sort of night it was.

Kenny Edwards on the run for the Eels.Source:AAP

“You don’t write any game off,” Green said.

“There’s no cause for concern. We know we can be better.

“There’s some areas in the game where we are better than what we showed.”

The Cowboys only have four days to iron out their issues before they host the winless Roosters in Townsville on Thursday.

PARRAMATTA 20 (K Edwards N Peats B Takairangi tries M Gordon 4 goals) beat NORTH QUEENSLAND 16 (E Lowe J O’Neill J Taumalolo tries J Thurston 2 goals) at Pirtek Stadium. Referee: Jared Maxwell, Adam Gee. Crowd: 12,194.