The Parramatta Eels take on the Gold Coast Titans on Thursday 17 August at ANZ Stadium in Round 24 of the NRL Telstra Premiership.
For the clash, Blue & Gold Head Coach Brad Arthur has made one change to his line up that suffered a defeat to the Newcastle Knights last week with fullback Bevan French set to return to the field.
Daniel Alvaro, Kenny Edwards, Suaia Matagi, Peni Terepo, David Gower, Will Smith, Frank Pritchard and Josh Hoffman are on the extended bench.
For the Gold Coast Titans, Neil Henry yesterday named a side with just the one change to the line up that suffered a 42-16 defeat to the St. George Illawarra Dragons last week, with Tyrone Roberts recalled into the starting team at five-eighth moving Kane Elgey back to the bench.
However on Wednesday morning, the Gold Coast Titans confirmed former Eels Jarryd Hayne had been ruled out of the Round 24 clash with an ankle injury.
There has also been plenty of build up at the Titans leading into the clash, with the innter struggle between Hayne and Titans head coach Neil Henry becoming public over the last seven days.
Before last week’s defeat, the Eels had a six game winning streak and had moved their way up to fifth on the NRL ladder. The Titans have had a tougher season, with just seven wins this season, and currently sit 14th on the ladder. They enter the clash after suffering four straight defeats.
Histroically however, the Titans hold a strong advantage over the Blue & Gold, with 11 wins from 16 clashes. They have won seven of the past nine clashes including a 26-14 victory at Cbus Super Stadium earlier this year (Round 3, 2017).
The Eels and Titans have never played at ANZ Stadium.
Kick off is at 7:50pm.
Please note, the Eels NYC clash will not occur before the NRL clash. The NYC side play the Titans on Friday 18 August at Ringrose Park. Kick off at 3pm.
Get tickets to the clash
Match Details: Parramatta Eels v Gold Coast Titans, ANZ Stadium, Thursday 17 August. Kick off at 7:50pm.
Televised: Channel Nine – Live from 7.30pm; Fox League – Live from 7pm
The History: Played 16; Eels 5, Titans 11. In terms of winning percentage the Titans represent Parramatta's most difficult opponent in the club's history with the Eels victorious in just 31.25 per cent of their meetings to date.
The Titans have won seven of the past nine clashes including a 26-14 victory at Cbus Super Stadium earlier this year (Round 3, 2017).
The Eels and Titans have never played at ANZ Stadium.
Parramatta Eels squad: 1. Bevan French 2. Semi Radradra 3. Michael Jennings 4. Brad Takairangi 5. Kirisome Auva’a 6. Corey Norman 7. Mitch Moses 8. Siosaia Vave 9. Cameron King 10. Tim Mannah (c) 11. Manu Ma’u 12. Tepai Moeroa 13. Nathan Brown
Interchange: 14. Daniel Alvaro 15. Kenny Edwards 16. Suaia Matagi 17. Peni Terepo 18. David Gower 19. Will Smith 20. Frank Pritchard 21. Josh Hoffman
Gold Coast Titans squad: 1. Jarryd Hayne 2. Anthony Don 3. Dale Copley 4. John Olive 5. William Zillman 6. Tyrone Roberts 7. Ash Taylor 8. Jarrod Wallace 9. Nathan Peats 10. Ryan James 11. Kevin Proctor 12. Joe Greenwood 13. Max King
Interchange: 14. Kane Elgey 15. Nathaniel Peteru 16. Leivaha Pulu 17. Paterika Vaivai 18. Morgan Boyle 19. Ben Nakubuwai 20. Phillip Sami 21. Eddy Pettybourne
Match Officials: Referee: Grant Atkins; Assistant Referee: Gavin Badger; Touch Judges: Ziggy Przeklasa-Adamski and Kasey Badger; Review Official: Bernard Sutton; Senior RO: Luke Patten.
