Parramatta led from start to finish and got a bonus point in beating Southern Districts 31-12 at Forshaw Rugby Park on Saturday.
It was only against the bottom-placed team and still left the Two Blues 10 points adrift of sixth-placed Eastern Suburbs.
But it halted a run of losses against the top teams for a team that hasn't been playing badly but needed a confidence boost. The Two Blues opened up a 17-0 half-time lead, and although both sides scored two tries in the second half the Rebels had given too much of a head start.
Parramatta will need a lot of luck to be present at the business end of the season but the win keeps the dream going.
Aaron Mattin starred for the Two Blues with 16 points from a try, a penalty and four conversions from as many attempts.
Parramatta 31 (Brian Sefanaia, Aaron Mattin, Andrew Brown, Winney Paulo tries; Aaron Mattin 4 cons, pen) d Southern Districts 12 (Jackson Mullane, Ben Rigon tries; Michael Black con).