Both Eels junior sides are playing for spots in the Grand Final on the weekend.
Harold Matthews are looking to defend their title against Wests at 2:45, while SG Ball will play against Balmain at 1:15pm. Both at St Mary's Stadium.
If you're not doing anything, it's a great way to spend a Saturday avo.
Here;s the NSWRL previews
SG Ball Cup
Parramatta Eels (4) Vs Balmain Tigers (6)
St Marys Stadium, Saturday, April 27
Kick-off: 1.15pm
Referee: Trent Cini
Summary: After causing a major upset last weekend when they ended South Sydney’s season, the Balmain Tigers can lay claim to being the dark horse in this year’s finals series. Finishing the regular season in sixth position, most people were looking at South Sydney and Penrith as the major contenders for this year’s title – but nobody told the Tigers that. Centre Tom Satterthwaite has been in great form for Balmain and Chris Moana and Jeremy Marshall-King are players capable of keeping the Tigers fairytale alive for at least one more week. Parramatta could also lay claim to being dark horses after they defeated Minor Premiers Penrith in week one and earned themselves a week off leading into this clash. The Eels finished the regular season in forth position and boasted the best defence in the competition, and will need to keep the Blue and Gold wall intact against the Tigers attack. Co-Captains Sione Tonga and Joey Lussick are tremendous young prospects, and the Tigers will need to shut them down.
Prediction: This game will come down to the wire and the Tiger’s fairytale will continue. Tigers by 1.
Harold Matthews Cup
Western Suburbs Magpies (2) Vs Parramatta Eels (5)
St Marys Stadium, Saturday, April 27
Kick-off: 2.30pm
Referee: James Vella
Summary: Having defeated Penrith in Week One of the Finals, the Western Suburbs Magpies enter this game with the benefit of a week’s rest behind them. The Magpies are one of the hardest working sides in the Harold Matthews Cup and the chance to refresh their bodies ahead of a big game would have been well received. With a solid forward pack and pace out wide, the Magpies can attack from anywhere on the field and the Eels defence will need to be on high alert throughout the game. Toa Mata’afa has been in excellent form and will feature heavily for Wests. Parramatta has been in red-hot form throughout the Finals and has been very impressive in their victories over Canterbury and Newcastle. We highlighted the form of halves Michael Doolan and Troy Dargan last week, and they were at it again last weekend dismantling the Knights defence with their clever ball work. This game shapes up as a real battle between two quality outfits.
Prediction: Parramatta look to be a team with plenty of momentum leading into this game and at this time of the year, momentum is the key ingredient to success. Eels by 4.
Be sure to stay across all of the Jnr Rep scores from Saturday by following us on twitter @NSWRL or you can join in the conversation by using the #HMATTS & #SGBALL hashtags.
Replies
P.S. if anyone does go, can they please give us a report. Would love to get out there myself, but I make my official coaching debut on Saturday avo with my sixes.
Any scores in yet?
Didn't go but Parra beat Wests 54-10 Harold Matthews. http://www.nswrl.com.au/default.aspx?s=hm-draw
They play the grand final at 10.30am at St Mary's Leagues Stadium.
When I saw video of the Tigers SG Ball team they looked huge and monstered our boys. Hopefully we'll see a few of them move up into NYC soon; Joey Lussick, John Fomai, Sione Tonga, Tyrell Fuimaono and Josh Aloilai and we can get rid of some of the nuffies in our Holden Cup team.