UPDATE: Both teams struggled, and the low restart and penalty count meant teams could figure it out for themselves. The clunky Dogs had the lion's share of field position, and possession. Again the Eels fought hard for the seventh week straight for no result. Too many errors at critical moments (12-9), poorer completions (78% v 83%) and a few critical penalties against them. There were forward passes from both sides but not all made by the Dogs were picked up. The controversial no try ruling at the death of the first half – where Galvin seemed to lose control of the ball –proved a critical call against the Eels. That's three games and six competition points that have gone begging this season.
The Eels face their oldest foe in their 160th clash in a must win for the Dogs with their season on life-support.
Monday clashes and Accor Stadium have not been happy hunting grounds for the Eels in recent years.
History paints a grim picture for the Eels. They have won only one Monday clash against the Dogs since 1955, losing 6 from 7. The Eels have lost 7 of their last 9 games at Accor in the last five years. They have lost 3 of their last 4 against the Dogs. Their only win against the Dogs since 2022 was round seven's 38-20.
They also carry the worst injury toll in the competition and will have used 30 players, the most of any club alongside the struggling reigning premiers, after Teancum Brown's debut. Congratulations to Eel #872. We wish you a long NRL career. With us.
The Dogs will be desperate and look to bash, barge and ambush the Eels early.
Dogs 14th v Eels 15th
Weather: 18°, cloudy, some earlier showers possible
Referee: Todd Smith (on-field), Dave Munro and Belinda Sharpe (touch judges), Adam Gee (bunker, senior review official)
TAB: Dogs $1.43, Eels $2.85, Eels odds have lengthened a bit as the week went on.
Key team notes: Connor starts at one, with Kiraz to the wing. Edwards starts with Tayln Da Silva to the bench.
Dogs: 22. Connor Tracey 1. Jacob Kiraz 3. Bronson Xerri 4. Stephen Crichton 5. Enari Tuala 6. Matt Burton 7. Lachlan Galvin 8. Max King 14. Bailey Hayward 10. Leo Thompson 11. Sitili Tupouniua 12. Jaeman Salmon 13. Harry Hayes
Bench: 2. Jethro Rinakama 15. Jed Reardon 16. Jack Underhill 17. Josh Curran 19. Sean O’Sullivan 21. Lipoi Hopoi
Cut: 9. Kurt Mann 23. Marcelo Montoya 20. Logan Spinks
Head Coach: Cameron Ciraldo
Eels: 1. Isaiah Iongi 2. Brian Kelly 3. Jordan Samrani 4. Sean Russell 5. Josh Addo-Carr 6. Joash Papali’i 7. Ronald Volkman 8. Luca Moretti 17. Harrison Edwards 10. Jack Williams 11. Kelma Tuilagi 12. Kitione Kautoga 13. Jack de Belin
Bench: 9. Tallyn Da Silva 14. Dylan Walker 15. Sam Tuivaiti 18. Apa Twidle 19. Teancum Brown (debutant) 20. Charlie Guymer
Cut: 22. Araz Nanva 16. Toni Mataele 21. Ryley Smith
Head Coach: Jason Ryles
Under Fire
The Eels remain short on experience in key positions and have had little time to build combinations, with Joash Papali'i and Ronald Volkman only playing their second NRL game together in the halves. It is very much a rebuilding roster in progress.
The Eels showed plenty of character against Newcastle last week. If not for a stack of errors and several bombed try-scoring opportunities, they likely would have walked away with a genuine upset victory. If they won the golden point against the Tigers they would be in finals contentions. What Eels fans? Yes. So close, yet so far. A game of inches, momentum and critical moments.
They are Undermanned. Inexperienced. Lambasted by many of their own fans on social media 24/7 as bottom-tier and not NRL quality. If the club, coaching staff and players listen to that noise, they may as well put up the white flag hand in their NRL licence.
The Dogs are under pressure. Last year's top-four contenders desperately need a win and should come out firing. They have injury concerns of their own, with Viliame Kikau and Jacob Preston sidelined, while Jacob Kiraz has overcome some minor concerns and is expected to play.
They have improved over the past fortnight and, if not for some courageous Tigers defence last week, could easily be coming into this game on a two-match winning streak. Kiraz has been averaging close to 300 metres a game at fullback, and their outside backs have consistently generated strong yardage.
Where the I4Give Cup could be won or lost
The Dogs will try to play up-tempo, force errors, and gain momentum through the middle and exploit Parramatta's edges, particularly the right side, which has leaked more tries than any corridor across both teams.
To stand a chance, the Eels need to do the fundamentals better. Some of the things they failed to do against Newcastle. Starting with Ben Gardiner's Three Pillars: reduce errors, play direct rather than side-to-side, and manage the ruck better. They also need to kick for at least 600 metres, maintain that output in the second half, improve their kick chase, and take their opportunities when they arise.
If the restart count balloons under Todd Smith in the Dogs favor in the first half, the game will almost be lost by then even if the ledger gets balanced later.
Bottom line
The Eels' fight over the past six weeks, despite little reward, has impressed even hardened Bulldogs fans such as Chad Townsend's faboulous sidekick, Hectic Eric, who despises Parramatta with a passion. Is this the week the Eels drop away? Or will the fight continue?
The bookmakers, history, and most experts will favour the Bulldogs. Not many outside the Eels camp will give them much chance. Few will believe in the Eels.
But the players must believe.
Replies
I think one of Ryley or TDS will take over from Dylan Walker when he moves on at the end of the year
I noticed Ryley was moved from hooker and playing first or 2nd receiver late in NSW cup and it wasn't first time I noticed this. Maybe he will be developed for the Dylan Walker type role next year. His defence is better then Tallyn but not sure he has the speed or skill Walker has.
But he cant and he spends about 5mins more on the field once TDS comes on. He and Moretti played less then 30mins each. That allows plenty of room to include Riley. The longer TDS plays the dumber he gets. Cost us the game today with dumb penalties plus 30 tackles, 8 misses and 3 inefective. TDS is not a long minutes DH yet. His service is often pretty slow and looping. What is Edwards providing Riley cant? 5 mins at lock? Not worth what we lose in Rileys effort areas such as marker harrassment and high work rate.
What do you mean he can't? He passes just fine and defends well. Except for his pressures, what doesn't he do that Smith does? What can Edwards do compared to Smith? Play in the middle and be somewhat effective.
Edwards provides versatility if needed. Regardless if it is for 5-10mins, if he is needed due to injuries he can be used. He also becomes an option if Walker goes down as he is not bad linking in the middle. Smith is a specialist. As is Da Silva. Smith is the better defender where Da Silva is way better in attack. So which is easier to replace? Edwards, though not a complete clone, is able to do most of what Smith does already but can be someone you call on if you lose Walker for example and need a link man, or need a back-rower or a Lock or a Prop due to injuries.
The only thing Edwards does not do is chase the kicker. In terms of work Edwards gets throught it. 27 tackles in 27 mins. Including 1 ineffective. Ryles said last week he rathers one Hooker playing big mins in NRL and another in NSW Cup. instead of it being 50/30 it can be 65/80.
Also, you said with Edwards and Moretti, leaves room for Smith on the bench as a specialist. Ok out of the 17 he is using who do you drop out if not Edwards?
8. Moretti
9. Da Silva
10. Williams
11. Tuilagi
12. Kautoga
13. De Belin
14. Walker
15. Tuivaiti
16. Brown
17. Edwards
Are you dropping Edwards? Where Ryles seems content on the fact he prefers Edwards at the moment as he can play in the middle in a pinch if needed. His passing is fine, he is good in defence. Only thing he doesn't do is chase the kicker.
Ryles is going for high upside development of Da Silva. Now if the season is gone, which it was weeks ago, why not give Da Silva big minutes so when he gets to 2027 he is better for it as opposed to playing 30-40mins each week?
Finally, Smith's performance in Cup was nothing to be excited over. Yeah the team is bad and he played in the halves but didn't do anything in attack that screamed "put him in NRL". He missed 5 tackles in Cup today and missed 6 last week. So Da Silva missing 8 today compared to Smith missing 11 in NSW Cup a lower quality?
Gutted we lost. But what do you expect with nsw cup halves. Look at our 17 no paulo,hopegood,moses,penisini,pezet,doorey,simmonson to name a few. Dogs were a top 4 team last year if thsts the best they can do against us they have more to worry about. Even last week knights only got us by 6 and again two weeks in a row our ball control is shit yet we were in the contest.
They are playing with effort and we can applaud them for that BUT, our defence is disgraceful and it's not the system its the individual technique and physicality. This has been an issue all season and it hasn't improved, who is our defensive coach?, not good enough. Our game smarts are school boy level and that's understandable to an extent considering the reserve grade halves we are currently playing with. Our handling is also not up to first grade standard and like our poor defence it's been this way since the start of the season. Our assistant coaches should be on notice, this isn't good enough and needs to improve over the remainder of the season or your fired with ryles then being on notice.
We do need new assistants.
Yes it's not only a lot of injuries but injured groupings also.
Starting Middle.
Starting Halves.
Centre/Wing Pairing.
Another game we lost due to a referee calling a penalty. Burton and Curran stayed down to milk it.
Annoying loss because it's another team that is not really better than us.
If we had one experienced half there we would've be on it.
Teancum is a player, tho.
We are missing a lot of our cap though
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