Besides pride and bragging rights, the R.S. Cup is at Stake.
Both met at Parramatta once in a blue moon. Twice in a decade. This is one to frame.
Both are struggling. One win separates them. The Raiders have won two of their last five. The Eels one from five.
Both are depleted. No Mitchell Moses, Junior Paulo, Hudson Young or Ethan Strange.
Both are coming off losses. The Eels lost a tight one to the Dogs (14-12) while the Raiders were smashed out of the park by the Roosters (26-0).
But the Raiders have the wood on the Eels of late. We have lost the last 4-straight against the Raiders.
We have conceded 131 points at 44 per game in the last three games against the Raiders. 41-8, 50-12, 40-16.
We have also fought for seven-straight weeks, putting their gloves up admirably. For little result.
The Raiders will be desperate to smoke the Eels and honor Captain Courageous, Joseph Tapine's 250th NRL game.
Eels 16th vs Raiders 13th, CommBank, 7.35pm
Weather: 18°, cloudy, 4km/h winds
TAB: Eels $2.10, Raiders $2.90
Referees: Ziggy Przeklasa-Adamski (on-field), Ziggy Przeklasa-Adamski, Jon Stone (touch judges), Grant Atkins (Senior Review Official)
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 9. Tallyn Da Silva 10. Jack Williams (c) 11. Kelma Tuilagi 12. Kitione Kautoga 13. Jack de Belin
Bench: 14. Dylan Walker 15. Sam Tuivaiti 16. Teancum Brown 17. Harrison Edwards 18. Apa Twidle 19. Charlie Guymer
Reserves: 22. Araz Nanva
Cut: 20. Toni Mataele 21. Ryley Smith
Head Coach: Jason Ryles
Raiders: 1. Kaeo Weekes 2. Jed Stuart 3. Sebastian Kris 4. Matthew Timoko 5. Xavier Savage 6. Daine Laurie 7. Ethan Sanders 8. Corey Horsburgh 9. Tom Starling 10. Joseph Tapine (c) 11. Ata Mariota 12. Zac Hosking 13. Jayden Brailey
Bench: 14. Owen Pattie 15. Vena Patuki-Case 16. Morgan Smithies 17. Chevy Stewart 18. Coby Black 19. Joseph Roddy
Reserves: 20. Jordan Uta
Cut: 21. Jake Clydsdale 22. Sione Finau
Head Coach: Ricky Stuart
Stat Attack
The Eels have only won 1 of their last 5 at CommBank.
The Eels have only played the Raiders at Parramatta twice since August 2016 (2 from 15 games).
The Raiders last beat Parramatta at Parramatta 11 years ago (2015).
Josh Addo-Carr has scored 12 tries in his last 10 games at CommBank.
Struggle City
Both sides produced an error-a-thon in last week's losses: 26 errors combined with ordinary completion rates of 73%.
For the Eels, that along with some discipline at the death and a controversial last first half no-try (Galvin had no control of the ball) proved to be the difference.
That's the third close loss this season that the Eels should have won. It would have changed the complexion of the season.
The Eels have made 43 errors in their last three games. A consistent theme. Along with band-aid teams and the worst injury toll in the game.
Where the game will be won or lost
The Raiders need a response. Redemption. The Eels need some reward. Any reward.
Underdogs. Undermanned. Inexperienced. Branded bottom-tier, non-NRL level, by many Eels' fans. How have they not put up the white flag?
For seven weeks the Eels have been fighting, swinging above their ladder position for little return. Do they have enough left in the tank to keep doing it?
Replies