The last-placed Eels host the dangerous Redcliffe Dolphins tonight at Commbank. They've only faced each other twice in high-scoring encounters producing 128 points. The Dolphins are 14th and will be desperate to make a statement despite an atrocious record in Sydney losing six of their last seven.
Teams
Details: Thursday 8 May, 7.50pm AEST
Parramatta Eels vs Dolphins, CommBank Stadium
Referees: Wyatt Raymond, Kasey Badger (touch judge), Ziggy Przeklasa-Adamski (touch judge), Chris Butler (bunker)
Ground Conditions: good
Weather: around 13-15˚C, 2kmh winds, partly cloudy, 77% humidity
Sportsbet: Eels $1.78, Dolphins $2.08
Eels: 1. Isaiah Iongi 2. Bailey Simonsson 3. Viliami Penisini 4. Sean Russell 5. Josh Addo-Carr 6. Dylan Brown 7. Mitchell Moses 8. Jack Williams 9. Ryley Smith 10. Junior Paulo 11. Charlie Guymer 12. Kitione Kautoga 13. J’maine Hopgood
Bench: 14. Dylan Walker 15. Luca Moretti 16. Jordan Samrani 17. Matt Doorey
Extended: 19. Joash Papali’i
Cut: 18. Ryan Matterson 20. Dean Hawkins 21. Toni Mataele 22. Brendan Hands
Head Coach: Jason Ryles
Dolphins: 1. Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow 2. Jamayne Isaako 3. Jake Averillo 4. Herbie Farnworth 5. Jack Bostock 6. Kodi Nikorima 7. Isaiya Katoa 8. Francis Molo 9. Kurt Donoghoe 10. Felise Kaufusi 11. Kulikefu Finefeuiaki 14. Ray Stone 13. Tom Gilbert
Bench: 12. Connelly Lemuelu 15. Mark Nicholls 16. Josh Kerr 18. Harrison Graham
Extended: 17. Sean O’Sullivan
Cut: 19. Oryn Keeley 20. Max Feagai 21. Kenny Bromwich 22. Junior Tupou
Head Coach: Kristian Woolf
Injuries
Eels: Zac Lomax (R11), Sam Tuivaiti (R20, ight ankle Syndesmosis), Kelma Tuilagi (R12), Joey Lussick (R11), Dan Keir (R12-14), Arthur Miller-Stephen (Season), Ethyn Martin (TBC), Apa Twidle (TBC). Dolphins: Jeremy Marshall King (TBC), Thomas Flegler (TBC), Trai Fuller (indefinite), Max Plath (R13), Daniel Saifiti (R11), Kurt Don
Stat Attack
- It's one a piece for the Eels versus the Dolphins (Eels won 48-20 in 2023 but lost 44-16 in 2024) with two games producing 128 points in total.
- The Eels have scored 61 points in their last two games at CommBank Stadium.
- The Dolphins have won only one of seven games played in Sydney.
Recap: Last Week
The Eels were brave against the Sharks going down 28-18. Despite a mountain of possession against the Eels (56%-44%), the Sharks being camped in the Eels red-zone in the second-half (24-4 tackles in 20m zone), and some dodgy officiating, the Eels came back from 22-6 down in the 60th minute to stay in the fight.
Eels winger Josh Addo-Carr (above) has scored five tries in his last three games. Will Penisini has also scored three tries in two games against the Dolphins.
The Eels have shown improvement in their resilience, defence and linespeed. In round six they had a bottom four average for their linespeed (pre-contact metres) - now, they're sixth.
| Rank | Team |
Pre-contact metres |
R6 rank |
| 1 | Broncos (5th) | 6.63 | 13th |
| 2 | Cowboys (9th) | 6.32 | 2nd |
| 3 | Dogs (1st) | 6.21 | 14th |
| 4 | Dolphins (14th) | 6.17 | 11th |
| 5 | Dragons (10th) | 6.17 | 3rd |
| 6 | Eels (17th) | 6.13 | 12th |
| 7 | Knights (12th) | 6.07 | 4th |
| 8 | Manly (7th) | 6.05 | 7th |
| 9 | Panthers (15th) | 6.02 | 6th |
| 10 | Raiders (2nd) | 6.01 | 17th |
| 11 | Roosters (11th) | 5.95 | 5th |
| 12 | Sharks (6th) | 5.91 | 8th |
| 13 | Souths (13th) | 5.89 | 15th |
| 14 | Storm (4th) | 5.85 | 2nd |
| 15 | Tigers (8th) | 5.77 | 10th |
| 16 | Titans (16th) | 5.72 | 16th |
| 17 | Warriors (3rd) | 5.62 | 9th |
R10 Linespeed: Pre-Contact Metres
The problem for the Eels has been their lapses. The Eels have only had more possession in two games (R5 Dragons, R7 Tigers) - winning both games. They have only made more run and less errors than the opposition in three games (R3 Dogs, R5 Dragons, R7 Tigers) - winning two of those. They're a young, rebuilding team and have used 29 players (the highest amount of any team).
Should those lapses continue, the Eels could be in strife.
The Dolphins are a team capable of punishing defences as Storm found out in round seven a few weeks ago. The Storm were ahead 16-2 in the 28th, but the Dolphins run away with the game 42-22. Remember round seven last year at TIO? The Eels led 10-4 at the 49th and looked to be in the game. But over the next 30 minutes the Dolphins pulverized us 40-6 to run home with the game 44-16. It was typical of the Eels second-half last year.
With speedsters Hamiso-tabuai-fidow (above) who has scored seven tries in his last five games, Jake Averillo, Herbie Farnsworth and rising half Isaiya Katoa, the former Panther wunderkid - there is a clear and present danger.
Last week, the Dolphins went down to the Roosters 36-26 to record two-straight losses. But they fought back from 32-8 down in the 66th minute. A reminder of their ability to scored quickly.
The problem for the Dolphins this year has been inconsistency: LLLLWWWLL. They seem to get into losing and winning habits and fall in and out of them.
Some dubious officiating against us has been another consistent theme - especially over the last month. Under Wyatt Raymond (above) the Dolphins have won two from two, while the Eels have won one from five - conceding 42 points per game on average. Not a sight for sore eyes. Let's hope history doesn't keep repeating itself and we get a fair rub of the green.
The Eels were full of spirit at training this week (image supplied by the Eels' club)
Despite the Eels sitting last, there have been green shoots in both their attack and defence under the Ryles' rebuild. But tonight the Eels will need enough go-forward, control the ball, limit their errors, control where the Dolphins get the ball with good kick chases to reduce the stress on their defence - or else we've seen what the Fins can do.
| For (Attack) | ppg | Against (Defence) | ppg | |
| 1 | Storm (4th) | 31.0 | Dogs (1st) | 14.8 |
| 2 | Raiders (2nd) | 28.7 | Sharks (6th) | 18.4 |
| 3 | Broncos (5th) | 27.6 | Knights (12th) | 18.8 |
| 4 | Dogs (1st) | 26.5 | Storm (4th) | 21.5 |
| 5 | Manly (7th) | 26.3 | Broncos (5th) | 21.6 |
| 6 | Dolphins (14th) | 24.2 | Tigers (8th) | 21.6 |
| 7 | Cowboys (9th) | 24.0 | Warriors (3rd) | 21.8 |
| 8 | Sharks (6th) | 23.9 | Manly (7th) | 21.8 |
| 9 | Tigers (8th) | 23.8 | Raiders (2nd) | 22.0 |
| 10 | Panthers (15th) | 23.8 | Souths (13th) | 23.0 |
| 11 | Dragons (10th) | 23.0 | Dolphins (14th) | 23.6 |
| 12 | Roosters (11th) | 22.7 | Panthers (15th) | 24.0 |
| 13 | Warriors (3rd) | 21.8 | Dragons (10th) | 24.8 |
| 14 | Titans (16th) | 20.3 | Cowboys (9th) | 25.8 |
| 15 | Eels (17th) | 16.9 | Roosters (11th) | 27.3 |
| 16 | Souths (13th) | 15.2 | Titans (16th) | 31.3 |
| 17 | Knights (12th) | 12.8 | Eels (17th) | 31.5 |
Round 10 For and Against Stats for the season
Replies
This is a very winnable game. Dolphins record in Sydney is offset by Wyatt Raymond who has been dreadful with us, just cannot stand the bloke as a referee. Thankfully we have won a game with him in the middle.
This is crucial for us avoiding spoon. We jump Dolphins in points as we do Gold Coast and Penrith. Then have Newcastle and Manly in Origin. Both of those are winnable.
This will be a missed opportunity game if we get done, it is big for Moses if anything. He alone can steer us to a gritty win if needed but need to start fast as Dolphins can score and score quickly. Now weather might play a factor to attack.
Apprentice get the sack after last week mate ?
It's become untenable.... If I disappear, please invetigate HOE.
Haaha, Wiz and NoS. Actually, NOS, your game day blog last week was streets ahead of this one.
Pay some of his freight and fuck him off to The Kennel . He can post his game day threads on Tuesdays over there !
Great work, HOE. Sensational read.
So good to see those line speed stats are matching the eye test = improving.
Important one for the players (and us of course) tonight, imo.
We can see the fight & improvement, but, feel the players need a result to show for it.
If the Eels make 11 or less errors & have 51% or more of the ball, Eels 34-22.
Good luck Parra.
Thanks again, HOE. Another cracking effort.
Great preview HOE, really enjoy them. Thanks a lot. I think the comment above by NOS could not be truer in that "We can see the fight & improvement, but, feel the players need a result to show for it."
Such a win I think, would be a huge confidence builder and help the team make further improvements. I hope it happens but gee I feel the loss of young Sam is a big one for a team already struggling in the middle.
Hopgood this is your coming out party I recall a year 1 for you and the Phins in Brisbane where we put 40 on them in a half and Jmaine you were the catalyst.We need a foward to stand up and show us the way Jmaine I'm looking at you.
I'm also looking at this team to cull its errors and improve its completion % off the back of it and get in and win some arm wrestles.That goes a long way to beat a dangerous side like the Dolphins.You cough up cheap pill on these guys and they'll make you pay.
Fantastic stats HOE, and great read. If we can hold the ball and get some good 50/50 calls go our way, we can win this one. I'm liking our line speed improvements, i'd like to see the boys not being last off the deck after making a tackle. It leaves our line short on too many occassions putting us under enormous pressure.
Some reason I thought of a heading for Poppa's Corner and for some abstract reason I came up with "Cry me a River"
This Dolphin's side really is Jeckyl & Hyde. I actually backed them after they lost their first game, and said to myself, I will never back you guys again....you really are horrible.
If we take away their opportunities, they will fold, my concern is that it becomes an open game.....they will murder us if that happens ah la! Darwin last year. WE could be in front by 20 and with 25 minutes to go, still would not be good things.
I hope they (we) have been told about relaxing!!
Its been a tough week for me, I would like a little respite for the remainder of this week.
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