The Dyldam Parraamtta Eels take on the Canberra Raiders this afternoon at GIO Stadium for their Round 24 clash of the NRL Telstra Premiership.
Previewing the game thanks to betting.club, Blue and Gold Assistant Coach Steve Murphy expects a tough clash right across the park, starting with the Raiders forwards.
"A big powerful forward pack that roll down the field pretty easily and pretty impressively over the past few weeks," Murphy said.
"We will have to do a job their first and if we can control their middle, we can control the game."
"They have been running very aggressively with theI ball in hand which has been allowing their halves to get on the back of that. It is a pretty simple plan for us but we will have to stop their go forward," Murphy added.
The Raiders currently sit top four of the NRL Telstra Premiership, and after victories over the Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks and Melbourne Storm in the past fortnight, Murphy says the Blue and Gold will also need to be wary of their dangerous outside backs.
"They have scored the most tries in the competiion, and those two guys in Rapana and Leilua have the most tackle breaks," Murphy said.
"They start their sets well and their big forwards get off the back of that with a bit of momentum so we will have to do a job on those but if we worry about one or two players, we won't be able to focus on what we need to do so it will be an important 1-17 performance."
For the Eels, Head Coach Brad Arthur has welcomed back winger Semi Radradra from injury.
"Semi is a class player, an Australian representative and gives the boys plenty of confidence just with his presence in the changeroom and on the field, that gives him a lot of believe and confidence" Murphy said.
The Eels kick off against the Canberra Raiders this afternoon at GIO Stadium, kick off at 2pm.
