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. Plus the other $5m worth of Eels on the sidelines.
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 our 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
Hope the Eels can get a victory today. They desperately need a win to build some confidence after the past few losses some of which had questionable decisions go against them. Eels by 8
Raiders by 16
the raiders forward pack will kill them!
Great blog as always HOE!
FOR MINE TUIVAITI HAS TO START.
Italian stallion maybe better of the bench with big t.
Presume Edwards will start.
Hope we get a win and titians beat penruff.
The discrepancie of how many games between these two being played at home is ridiculous, it's very similar between the eels and knights too. It seems just about every time we play these teams only once in a regular season we play them at their home ground.
As for this game I think the raiders will be too powerful and fast for the eels but you never know, the raiders are developing a habit of not turning up fully focused.
Raiders 42 Eels 10
To big to fast.
Easy win for Canberra.
Raiders 58 Parra 12
I have a hunch that Joash is going to have a blinder today. 1st try scorer, in my multis and Kautoga playing outside him
Hopefully we can continue dragging teams down to NSW Cup level and give them a run for their money. Might even shock them if TDS plays within his ability and doesn't let ambition rule his thoughts with a couple of brain farts. I actually didn't mind most of what I saw from that 12 foot tall looking hooker from NQ we've acquired. TDS seems to be improving, but still has that make or break a game about him. Coach killer player.
I wish JA was still here just so we could run out with a 6"3 Halfback and a 6"2 Hooker.
I agree about dragging teams down to our level.
Unfortunately for TDS, that is going to happens when your only 21 years old and playing in a spine position. You will make rookie errors at really crucial times that can be costly, even if they have great moments in the match. They lack the composure and experience. Doesn't help when the full spine itself are under 50 NRL games of experience. Wonder what the total NRL games played is between the 1,6, 7 and 9? 70?
I would go back to start Smith and moved Edwards to lock. De Belin back to nsw cup. I get what JR is trying to do by trying to give move Smith & TDS as much as game time as possible but we need Smith right now.
I'm wondering if Smiths in Ryles plans long term.
Same and even if they are, would either be willing to be second fiddle to the other?