Eels Blogs

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

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.

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.  

Round 10 For and Against Stats for the season