Traditional rivals Parramatta and Canterbury meet in a Bankwest Stadium blockbuster to kick-off the new season.
Having risen from last to fifth last season, the Eels have widespread expectation to improve again and challenge for the title.
The Bulldogs showed promise at the back-end of last year and were left rueing a slow start as they missed the finals by three points.
They have their work cut out to topple Parramatta at home, though, with Brad Arthur men's putting many a team to the sword on the fresh Bankwest Stadium turf in 2019.
Match: Eels v Bulldogs
ROUND 1 - THURSDAY 12TH MARCH
Home Team
Eels
Away Team
Bulldogs
- $1.32
- Away Team Bulldogs Odds$3.30
Venue: Bankwest Stadium, Sydney
The Rundown
Team news
Eels: Marquee forward recruits Ryan Matterson and Reagan Campbell-Gillard will make their official club debuts. Centre Waqa Blake (shoulder) is the only injury concern as he races the clock to return from off-season surgery.
Bulldogs: Kieran Foran's long-term shoulder injury has opened a spot in the halves, with Brandon Wakeham the frontrunner ahead of Jack Cogger to partner Lachlan Lewis. Fullback Dallin Watene-Zelezniak (back) and wingers Christian Crichton (knee) and Nick Meaney (hamstring) sat out the final trial but should be available for selection. Jeremy Marshall-King (shoulder), Marcelo Montoya (knee) and Sauaso Sue (knee) didn't see any pre-season action but will push to play. Raymond Faitala-Mariner (ankle) and Chris Smith (knee) will join Foran in watching from the sidelines.
Key match-up
Clint Gutherson v Dallin Watene-Zelezniak. Both men are leaders. Gutherson's strength is working with his fellow attacking players while Watene-Zelezniak boasts a running game capable of lifting any team.
For the Eels to win
They'll take confidence from last year but Parramatta will have to crawl before running again in 2020. If the Eels do the basics right, we know they've got the firepower to blow anybody off the park.
For the Bulldogs to win
It was Canterbury's gritty defence that inspired their late-season charge in 2019 and more of the same is required if they're to get off to a flyer. The kicking games of Lachlan Lewis and Jack Cogger will be crucial given Parramatta boasts one of the best back fives in the competition.
Brett Kimmorley says
I'm expecting Parramatta to make Bankwest Stadium a fortress again in 2020. Mitchell Moses would have already benefited from Andrew Johns's tutelage, while Reagan Campbell-Gillard could return to the best prop in the game at his new club. Eels by 8.
Stat Attack
The Eels had plenty of individual chart-toppers last year, led by Mitch Moses finishing first in try assists (25), kicks (343) and kick metres (9,413). Maika Sivo was the NRL's leading try-scorer (22), Reed Mahoney topped the tackle count (1,221), while Junior Paulo was equal first in offloads (59) with Bulldogs back-rower Corey Harawira Naera.
And another thing ...
The Eels' top-four hopes were dealt a massive blow in round 23 last year when they were upset 12-6 by the Bulldogs at Bankwest Stadium. It was just the second loss all season at Bankwest for Brad Arthur's men as their much-vaunted attack was restricted to a single try by a red-hot Bulldogs side which was coming off impressive wins over the Panthers, Wests Tigers and Rabbitohs.
Replies
Actually Bulldogs win percentage at Bankwest stadium is about the same as ours at around 60% so we really need to win the should win games there before we start calling it a fortress.
Dogs only played 2 games at Bankwest last year and won them both.
Go through then first before going wide dominate the ruck And dominant field position . No no off loads just loads of pressure, out bankwest crowd gets us home..