Draw

The equal-last placed Eels and 14th placed Souths are in polar opposite recent form. Souths are red-hot winning won four-straight, while the Eels are in a rut winning just two from their last twelve.

After getting hit by more injuries, there isn’t much for Eels’ fans to be positive about other than seeing another two débutantes this week. 

Souths with their two big guns returning this week, will probably have too much points in them and back their recently improved defence. Overall for the season, the Eels (concede 29.2pg) and the Bunnies (concede 28.4pg) have the worst and second-worst defences in the competition, respectively. 

But if we did a competition ladder from round twelve, Souths would be top of the competition with an average score of 31-12.5 pg over four games. Over the same period the Eels have scored 24.4 - 29.6 pg.

The Eels face a tough road ahead - facing the likes of Storm, Panthers and Roosters. If they don’t start winning soon, the spoon is a possibility. Something few would have imagined at the start of the season such has been the free-fall.

Teams

Date:  7:50pm,  4 July 2024,  CommBank Stadium
Odds: Souths $1.64 Eels $2.27
Referee: Liam Kennedy
Touch Judge: Belinda Sharpe, Dave Munro
Senior Review Official/Bunker: Adam Gee
Weather: 12-13C, cloudy, chance of showers, circa 53% humidity

Eels: 1. Clinton Gutherson Jake Tago 3. Viliami Penisini 4. Sean Russell 5. Blaize Talagi 6. Dylan Brown 7. Mitchell Moses 8. Reagan Campbell-Gillard 9. Brendan Hands 10. Junior Paulo 11. Ryan Matterson 12. Bryce Cartwright 13. Shaun Lane 14. Matthew Arthur 15. Joe Ofahengaue 16. Matt Doorey 17. Charlie Guymer 18. Daejarn Asi 19. Makahesi Makatoa 20. Wiremu Greig 21. Morgan Harper 22. Luca Moretti  Head Coach: Trent Barrett

Rabbitohs: 1. Latrell Mitchell 2. Alex Johnston 3. Taane Milne 4. Richard Kennar 5. Jacob Gagai 6. Jack Wighton 7. Cody Walker 8. Davvy Moale 9. Damien Cook 10. Sean Keppie 11. Cameron Murray 12. Jai Arrow 13. Keaon Koloamatangi 14. Peter Mamouzelos 15. Tallis Duncan 16. Thomas Burgess 17. Michael Chee Kam 18. Jye Gray 19. Liam Le Blanc 20. Fletcher Myers 21. Adam Christensen 22. Thomas Fletcher Interim Coach: Ben “Piss-face” Hornby

Hope for the future?

The Rabbits are strengthened by the return of Origin starts Latrell Mitchell and Cameron Murray. For the Eels, Maika Sivo (hamstring) joins Hopgood (season) on the sidelines.

The Eels have two new debutants: youngster Charlie Guymer and Jake Tago, the older brother of Panthers’ superstar Izack Tago.

Counting Matt Arthur (last week), Talagi and the outgoing Ethan Sanders it means the Eels have debuted five this year to date - four from the winning 2023 SG Ball Cup winning team.

Considering, 11 of the Eels regular top 17 will be 30-32 next year, they will need some of these to become NRL ready sooner rather than later. Perhaps, quicker than initially planned.

Stats: 

• The Eels have won only two of the last nine against Souths over the last 5 years since 2019 when the Eels were once a more competitive finals’ force.
• Eels winger Blaize Talagi has scored at least one try in his last six NRL games.
• Rabbitohs winger Alex Johnston has scored 18 tries in 14 games against the Eels.
• Under referee Liam Kennedy, the Eels have won 3 of the last 4 under while Souths have won 5 of the last 8.

Commbank: It’s been five years

The Eels have not defeated the Rabbitohs at CommBank Stadium since 2019 - for five years - when Wayne Bennett was last head coach (R12, 26-14).

 The Eels  have lost the last-three-straight at Commbank to Souths. Three big loses: 38-0 (2020), 38-24 (2020), 26-0 (2022)

 The Eels have won 6 of the last 11 (55%) games at Commbank and won only 1 from the last 12 (8%) outside Commbank (but not once this year).

Barrett:  We’ve been in every game in the last five weeks to win

Earlier today, Trent Barrett faced the media to preview tomorrow's night's clash.

He was quickly asked about the ongoing coaching saga and whether there was any decision following last night's board meeting that reportedly was D-Day on the next head coach.

“I’m not sure what happened [at last night’s board meeting]. The main thing is our game", Barrett responded.

“[But] Once it’s all out in the open it will be better for everyone. We just have to get on and win some games.

“He [Zac Lomax] need to knows as well. He did sign here under the assumption Brad would be coach.

Meanwhile, the media's attack on the club continue. Yesterday, veteran reporter Paul Crawley on Foxsport's 360 Panel fired a few missiles on the Eels’ coaching mystery-thriller saying, “It’s been a disaster.”

After last week's Asked about whether “Parramatta had forgotten to win.”

“Again, it’s the bounce of the ball, at the end of the game. We won that game two or three times, and lost it two or three times.”

“Winning is a habit, and unfortunately sometimes you can get into a rut. Confidence is a big thing as well.”

“The good thing is they’ve been in every game in the last five weeks to win.”

“And we will get the bounce of the ball soon.”

“We just need to stick to what we’re doing. Keep believing in the players. Some of them are playing really good footy.”

 It should be noted that in last week's pressor Barrett also believed the Eels' did not get the rub of the green with a lot of crucial refereering decisions.

 How the bunker and Annesley dissallowed this try defies belief. But it was just one among a host of very dubious decisions that make fans wonder if something nefarious is in the NRL waters.

Despite losing the last three straight, Barrett was bullish.

“If you’ve watched the games, I’m pretty happy with the performances, we just haven’t been able to get that win in the end.”

“The score [38-26 against the Knights] doesn’t reflect the closeness of the game.”

“It was a frustrating game for us, because they worked hard to put themselves in the position to win. To come up with an error, when we should be putting the ball over the line, for them to run 90m [and score, twice], it’s cost you two points.That one was hard to take.”

Barrett has a point, yet the Eels have been in most games this year ahead in the second half in 11 from 15 games. Unfortunately, the Eels have faded at the back-end of every game. Like Clockwork.

Last week the Eels were ahead 20-16 with around 15 minutes to play but faded badly to lose 34-26 after some self-sabotaging errors on the right edge and a lack of speed to cover a runaway Bradmen Best. 

It continued the trend of second half fades ; typically from around the 60-65th with Moses, and from around the 50th without Moses. 

Lane on mentality:  It’s hard dealing with the ups and downs; it's on the senior players to lead by example

Yesterday, Shaun Lane was in high praise for how far Moses had come in his career.

He noted the immense "quality and value" Moses provides for the Eels is “a talent you can’t replicate”.

“To put out the performance he [Moses] did on the big stage for the Blues that was pretty amazing. And for him to come back and back it up with a pretty great performance for us as well just shows the maturity. And how good he has now become mentally at dealing with the highs and lows, and putting out the most consistent performances he can week in, week out.”

“He’s a bloke, ever since he came into the league, he’s had cameras on him and everyone talking about him. So, I can imagine the kind of pressure he’s been under his whole career. It’s impossible to not let it get to you in some ways. He’s just shown his true character the way he’s dealt with it…He’s grown from everything he’s been through. He’s become a good person and a good player out of it.”

 “I think everyone does when they’re young [not deal with the pressure and highs and lows].You’re not made for it.”

 “You have to get used to it and exposure to it.”

Asked how the Eels are dealing with the pressure and confidence levels in the changerooms in a season from hell.

“It’s not too bad, actually."

"I think because we have sucha senior team. A few older heads getting around. We’re able to deal with those highs and lows, and get on with our job. We’re pretty accepting of the things that have happened to us. There’s just no other way to deal with it, you know.”

“And that kind of helps the younger boys a little bit. How you need to react in these times. Because that’s the only way out of it.”

“We’re trying as hard as we can. Some of the results just haven’t gone our way. [We] missed a bunch of big moments in games over the last few weeks. But, if we keep sticking at it, eventually those moments will become ours and we’ll starting getting the results.”

“I know when I was young, I’d learn mostly by observing how the older players were. So, you’ve got to be that good example for young blokes coming through. They’ll watch you and learn by your actions. Then, they know how to deal with things by watching.”

“You’ve got to Lead by example.”

Souths deserve favouritism for tomorrow night's clash and should probably win by a healthy margin, but let’s hope Eels’ senior leaders lead the team to a much-needed win showing the youngsters the way home.

Sportsbet have the Eels are equal second favourites for the spoon with the Titans ($3.60) after the Tigers ($2.10). Souths are fourth in betting ($23).