The Town Cryer has yet to bring news. Nevertheless, despite Eels' fans sweating on Dylan Brown's fate hovering under the NRL's guillotine, the Warriors and the Eels can be proud of their efforts this year. Both have shown mental resilience many fans haven't seen for some time. And definitely not at the same time.
The Eels have the bye in R18, so it's a long wait for fans. The Warriors have the stalling Rabbits in R18.
Hopgood was at his destructive best against the Dolphins in the 48-20 R17 win. Getty Images
After hammering the Dolphins 48-20, the Eels are 7th heading into the R18. The highest they've been all year. Even when they were bottom four, seven weeks ago (R11), they were telling everyone who'd listen as many pundits had written them off, they had faith in themselves to turn it around. They are redeeming themselves from a gruesome start, if not yet, last year's painful grand final lost.
The evolution and redemption of Bryce Cartwright seemed complete in the Eels R17 demolition against the Dolphins. He ran hard, tackled hard, and his brutal offloads contributed to a plethora of line breaks and tries. Getty Images
The Eels' fate in the top-8, from here on, is now theirs. And theirs alone.
Pensini's rise continues. Here he bumps off and makes mince meat of Euan Aitkin to score the Eels R17 demolition of the Dolphins. Getty Images
Meanwhile, the Warriors are 5th heading into R18. That's the highest they've been at this stage of a season in 21 years; second only to 2002 when they were 4th heading into R18.
Charnze Nicoll-Klocstad has been a revelation in 2023 and more than made up for the loss of superstar Walsh. Getty Images
They're enjoying one of their best seasons ever - perhaps since 2002 (won minor premiership) and 2011 when they landed in their only two grand final appearances. That's saying something both about what kind of year they're having, and where they've been. They haven't been in the finals for 5 years (since 2018).
DWZ has been on fire this year. He scored 4 tries in the Warriors' R17 48-18 whitewash over the Saints. Getty Images
Both teams are in a purple patch.
The Eels have won 5-straight. It's been 6 years since they won 6-straight (between R15-R22, 2017).
Meanwhile, the Warriors have won 4 of the last 5 and play Souths this week (R18) while the Eels enjoy the bye.
It's been a remarkable rise of the Warriors under rookie head coach Andrew Webster (above right). Getty images.
As much as Brad Arthur et al should be lauded for managing the get the Eels to click this year, after losing so many from last year's squad, so to should Andrew Webster. He flew a little under the radar, as most expected Cameron Ciraldo his other Penrith counterpart to be enjoying a more successful year with the Dogs. It has not panned out that way.
At the start of the year most pundits had the Warriors somewhere near the bottom four perhaps even competing for the spoon. At the beginning of the season, Sportsbet bookies give the Warriors the same odds as the Tigers ($46) and only a whisker above the Dragons, Knights, and Dolphins ($51). The Eels were $18 at the start of 2023 far from one of premiership favorites, despite some pundits calling them that to dramatize their early fall from grace.
This 2023 Warriors have some steel in their defence. It's comparable to their minor-premiership 2002 feats. Heading into R18, the 2023 Warriors are conceding only marginally more per game than 2002 (18.4ppg v 18.1ppg).
Recent History: It's been 5 years
Eels have won 4-straight against the Warriors; the Eels best record against them in 17 years (since 2004-06).
It's been 5 years since the Eels lost to the Warriors (last loss was 14-24, R11, 2018 at ANZ Stadium).
The Eels last lost to the Warriors 5 years ago in R11, 2018 at ANZ Stadium with Beau Scott getting injured (above). Getty images.
In the Eels' last loss to the Warriors, Ice was playing second row for the Warriors back then (above). Getty images.
It was the year the Warriors last made the finals, and the Eels last won a wooden spoon. It was also the last time that the Warriors were in the top eight heading into R18 (8th then).
The Warriors, back in R11, 2018. The year they last made the finals and showed some resilience. Getty images.
At Parramatta: It's been 8 years
The Eels haven't lost to the Warriors at Parramatta in eight years (13-17, R10, 2015, at Parramatta Stadium). Shaun Johnson is the only surviving member of that game of any players involved with either club in 2023.
Shaun Johnson looked washed up in recent years, but has bounced back in 2023 to be one of the competition's form players. He's enjoying his relationship with Webster (above). Getty images.
High Scoring affair likely
Over the last 15 years (since 2009, 19 games) only 2 games have been less than 38 points collectively, for an average collective score of 45.3 per game. Both teams' defence hasn't always been top notch.
Despite that, in recent times scores have been relatively close. 7 of the last 10 games between these two (2015-now) have been close; between 1-12 point margins. The other blowouts were margins of 13, 16, 22.
The last major blowout score was almost a decade ago (R18,2014) at Mount Smart, Auckland when the Warriors smashed the Eels 48-0, and Shaun Johnson kicked 8 from 8.
The R19 clash is set for an intriguing battle between two teams that have begun to redeem themselves. But, there can only be one winner.
It's also Shaun Johnson's 200th. They should be up for this one.
Comments
Adam Gee is Ref with Kasey Badger (no relation) in the Bunker
No Gutho Moses DB RCG tall order this one even though we are at home.
The Warriors are no joke this year and I think with our outs they can match us in the fowards.
There back 5 are very under rated and are in outstanding form.
We'll have to play faultlessly to get a result here.
Yeah I think we may lose this one. It's a massive ask for any team in the nrl to go into a match against another top 8 side without their staring 1 6 and 7 and win. I actually don't think any side would be able to do it.
Agree with you gents. I'm leaning towards a loss (although you never know).
Our entire starting spine is out - except for Hands. Gutho is a huge loss. Defensively, and energy wise.
The Warriors should be revved up to atone for their R18 loss to stay in the hunt.
They also have some a few milestones like Johnson's 200th and a few others celebrating some smaller ones (though big player milestones more often than not tend to count against teams).
Not sure the CommBank factor will be enough to get us home.
We'll need to really keep it simple.
Asi and Hands are the keys now (assuming Hodgo is still out). We'll need to play the 1%ers like men possessed to have a chance.
With high scoring affairs the norm between these two, we've got to stay in the grind. We can't afford a blowout loss, (which would be out first this year). We'll still need a spirited performance to keep the glue and connection going; not mess with the foundation.
I always like the truth. Every one hear happy BA looking good after is it 10 big ones. Can I give praise to a former assistant trainer at Eels, assistant at Tigers and Panthers and now Coach of Warriors. It hasn't taken him 10 years but a little over half a season and a great halfback playing for the jumper.