UPDATE: GUYMER STARTS AT HOOKER, SMITH TO BENCH. Eels comeback from 20-8 down to win in extra time 23-22 on the back of Lomax heroics.
The last-placed, winless Eels host the eleventh-placed Dragons. Last week, the Dragons picked up their first win in a narrow grind over the Storm, the premiership favourites. The rebuilding Eels are 4-0 the worst start since the annus horribilis of 2018. Despite that there have been some "green shoots" and improvements in attitude and defence over the last wo weeks. In the first two weeks they leaked 88 points (44ppg), whilst the last two weeks only 42 points (21ppg). Will improvement continue and make the game another closer affair or could the Eels pull off an upset?
Team Lists
Parramatta Eels vs St George Illawarra Dragons
Saturday, 5 April 2025, CommBank, 3.00pm AEDT
Ground Conditions: Good
Weather: Predicted to be fine
Sportsbet: Saints 1.55 Eels $2.47
Eels: 1. Isaiah Iongi 2. Sean Russell 3. Viliami Penisini 4. Zac Lomax 5. Josh Addo-Carr 6. Dylan Brown 7. Dean Hawkins 8. Joe Ofahengaue 19. Charlie Guymer 10. Junior Paulo 11. Shaun Lane 12. Kitione Kautoga 13. J’maine Hopgood
Bench: 9. Ryley Smith 14. Dylan Walker 15. Luca Moretti 16. Sam Tuivaiti
Extended/18th Man: 18. Joash Papali’i
Cut: 20. Bailey Simonsson 21. Brendan Hands 22. Ronald Volkman 17. Dan Keir
Head Coach: Jason ‘green shoots' Ryles
Dragons: 1. Clinton Gutherson 2. Tyrell Sloan 3. Moses Suli 4. Valentine Holmes 5. Christian Tuipulotu 6. Kyle Flanagan 7. Lachlan Ilias 8. Toby Couchman 9. Damien Cook 10. David Klemmer 11. Luciano Leilua 12. Jaydn Su’A 13. Jack de Belin
Bench: 14. Jacob Liddle 15. Blake Lawrie 16. Hamish Stewart 17. Dylan Egan
Extended/18th Man: 20. Sione Finau
Cut: 18. Mathew Feagai 19. Raymond Faitala-Mariner 21. Lyhkan King-Togia 22. Loko Jnr Pasifiki Tonga
Head Coach: Shane ‘Pep’ Flannagan
UPDATE: In a shock Charlie Guymer starts at nine, with former Panther’s junior Ryley Smith (who replaced Joey Lussick dropped to Cup) back to the bench. You'd imagine it's to take the heat of the Dragons big lads early on. 232-gamer Dylan Walker is in at No. 14 jersey to provide experience, creativity and composure around the middle. Luca Moretti returns from injury.
For the Dragons, new recruit David Klemmer starts alongside young gun prop Toby Couchman who’s in for Emre Guler (suspension). Blake Lawrie (dropped last week) returns on the bench.
Stats Attack
- The Eels have scored 118 points in their last three games against the Dragons.
- The Dragons have lost four of their past five games at CommBank Stadium.
- Eels winger Josh Addo-Carr has scored eight tries in six games against the Dragons.
- Dragons fullback Clint Gutherson has scored four tries in his last two games at CommBank Stadium.
- Eels centre Zac Lomax requires one try for a half century of NRL tries.
- The last time the Eels and Dragons met at CommBank 84 points were scored with the Eels just emerging victorious (44-40). The Eels were leading 44-12 with 12 minutes to go, before St George scored 28-0 in 12 minutes to almost pull off the comeback of all time. That was something the 2024 Eels were known for – last quarter implosions.
Attack & Scoreboard Pressure Matters
No Eels players feature in the top 30 list for points scored; Zac Lomax has 12 points from 4 games played, a total of 44 points, which includes 8 tries from 4 games.
Possession: Eels 48% ranked 14th, the dragons' 48% possession ranked 13th
Completions: Eels 76% ranked 12th, Dragon’s 74% ranked 14t
Support play: What happens off the ball – Eels 196, Dragons 113 ranked last.
Line engagement: Eels 40 ranked 17th and last! Panthers & Sea Eagles ranked 1 (91) & 2 (85).
Post Contact Metres: Eels 1,874m ranked 14th, Dragons ranked 16th with 1,524
Tackle Breaks: Eels 115 ranked 12, Dragons 88 ranked 17 from 3 games played
Decoys: Eels 191 ranked 7th, encouraging stat suggests more is being done off the ball – Dragons 125 ranked 15th – the Sea Eagles ranked 1 with 270.
Dummy half runs: Eels 20 ranked 16th, not a good sign! We pose no threat around the ruck that must change! The Panthers are last with 17 & the Warriors lead the way with 45.
Offloads: Eels 41 ranked 4th, Dragons not adventitious 31 offloads ranked 14th
Defensive Stats & Negative play
Missed Tackles: Eels 146 ranked 4th – Dragons ranked 16th with an impressive 74 from 3 games played!
Errors: Eels ranked 14th with 49, Dragons very disciplined with 36 errors, ranked 16th.
Penalties conceded: Eels 20 ranked 10th; Dragons again very disciplined in this area 16
Handling Errors: Eels with 40 ranked 5th, Dragons 32 ranked 12th from 3 games played
Replies
Take a Gawk at this Ryles side (you know the tune Lou)
Got a frontrow but Often-how-he-im-gay (bum-bum bum bum)
Going gets rough it oh-no goes away
Hides in a flap of Jnrs' skin
Talagi 'em all in the coconut bin
I said woah man....take a gawk at this Ryles side
It's all woe bro.. we goin' on a Ryles slide
and the fans they go they go
"Nope..de nope de nope
nopey nope nope..de nope de nope
Nopey nope Noooooooooooooooooo
I don't give a-shit how catterson feels...(bum-bum bum bum)
I don't care how-loud shaun Lane squeals..(bum-bum bum bum)
They all need to go-with dylho these shits
Again we stay and pick up the bits
If Eels call this a first grade pack
we might need to get off the crack
by 3rd round it has turned high Noon
Lookin' at a headshot with the spoon
I say ewww urghh.....get a load of this Ryles side
They say hell yeah...you goin on a Ryles slide
I said aargh man.....take a look at this Ryles side
like Fuck bro........we goin' on a Ryles slide
and the fans
they go, they go.....
They go, They go - They just went !
Very funny Randy. I liked it.
Raandolph, .............we might need to get off the crack.
How are the sleep over requests going?? I thought you might give it up after the 150th attempt... anyway, it's working really well for you... bhahaha
I can survive even with the knock backs from Wiz, but you have to understand that we once had regular sleepovers. LOL.... don't worry Micky you will get your chance eventually, everyone else has!
PS Mickey, you never will really ever be part of the group, your fundamentally just too "stupid" just sick to being a sychophant member of the "mob". You may be a sergeant of arms one day, if you can ingratiate yourselve with some clever arse licking!
What a dopey, frantic and pathetic offering...lol
I feel like Bobby Fisher
Always four moves ahead of
My competition, listen they ain't gonna stop me ever
Funny stuff Rando , very clever indeed.
You know The Fong swings a mean axe , he has a big collection of them. You and he could collab and play this at the Leagues Club entry as the board walk in .
Do we have any drummers in the group ? Ploppa goes ok on the skin flute he tells us , but he's not allowed within 10m of MON so he may need to perform his solo off site.
Thanks Maximus.
Wonder if the inclusion of Dylan Walker will stiffen up the middle. He is a talker, which may benefit us.
On Dylan's, I hope Brown decides to show up this week. His stats across the park are so far down, his form so weak that surely the only way is up. This week would be nice. I'm calling an Eels win. Not sure why but, i'm just over being the NRL laughing stock.
Wow Eels ranked 7th for decoys. Thats surprising I suspected we would be first as i'm sure the whole team was running decoys each play, as no one was putting their hand up to be the main focus in attack. Lets hope that changes this week as well, and some resemblance of an attack shows up.
All good Bluey, team effort mate.
I'm really looking forward to seeing Dylan walker go around, he will add some much needed experience and ball playing around the ruck - hopefully we can mount some scoreboard pressure.
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