Draw

After yet another largely soul-less 0-26 slaughter at the hands of the rampant Rabbits, some Eels' fans might well be asking, "Can things get much worse?" Clearly, they can. None of us should forget what the Bulldogs (then 16th) did to us on Black Monday on the Queen's Birthday; mauling and skinning us alive 4-34.

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And that was with Moses at Accor stadium. Nevertheless, after the Souths' R22 slaughter, one question Eels fans will have this week is "Will Moses return?" 

This time it's at home at Commbank, where the Eels usually perform better. The Eels have won 2 of their 3 games v the Dogs; last losing a tight game 6-12 in 2019 (R6) on a Thursday night; over three years ago.

Recent history also favours the Eels. The Eels have won 10 of the last 13 - and winning 65% (11 / 17)  to boast one of their better records against any club under Arthur's reign from 2014.

Saturdays favour the Eels, too. The Eels have won the last 5-straight Saturday games for the last 17 years (R8,2005, 30-16 slaughter at Accor). In fact, the Eels haven't lost a Saturday home ground in Parramatta since 1961. Back when Cumberland Oval was standing. The year before we made our first finals appearance in 1962. Over 60 years ago. 

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But this coming Saturday if the Dogs are on, they pose a threat. The Burton-Carr show was in full show with the Fox scoring a hat-trick in their last encounter. He has 9 tries in 10 games against the Eels. 

The Dogs are no longer the chump food they were. The Potter-Gould show seems to have expedited some recovery and hope for their future.

And if the Dogs play like they did back then on Black Monday and the Eels play like they did last week against Souths, expect a comfortable loss for the Blue and Golds.

When the Eels lose, there's a good chance they get their pants pulled down in the process.

In round 22, the Eels recorded their 4th loss over 21 points; the anti-thesis of premiership defence and resilience. The Eels lose on average by 17.1 points. The worst of all top 10 teams. Only the Knights, Warriors, and Dragons have lose by worse average margins. Here are the Eels losing margins:

• 3 losses between 1-7 point margins (Cronulla, Tigers, Roosters).
• 1 loss for 18 points (Souths)
• 4 losses between 22-31 points (Dogs, Souths, Cowboys, Broncos)

Unsurprisingly, against the Dogs, we'll be favourites again (currently $1.37 to $3.10 on Sportsbet).

Of concern in the post-Rabbits pressor was head coach Brad Arthur's apparant loss of answers as to why the Eels were off their game once again. Why the Eels were "bashed" and "steamrolled" in the middle by the Rabbits. And once again as has been the case for the last six straight games v Souths they tore shreads off the Eels edges and in particular our right edge. He noted he would look into it. If he hasn't been able to find the answers all year - recording their fourth heavy loss of the season and after nine years at the helm - will he find it over the next few weeks?

It would seem quite late in the day, to be digging for answers at the eleventh hour. 

For the Eels now, the top four is probably a lost cause. Highly unlikely. They probably don't even deserve it. Additionally, considering their dicey for and against, to ensure they make the finals, they probably need at least one more win.