The Pirtek Parramatta Eels will travel to the Australian capital this Saturday the 20th of July to take on the Canberra Raiders in a bid to prove to the Blue and Gold Army that their 2013 season is not over just yet.
Ricky Stuarts faith in the Eels improvement may have something to do with the fact he has left the squad unchanged from their recent match against the Penrith Panthers. In the Post-Match Media Conference, Stuart admitted he was pleased with the teams commitment and attitude on the field.
Currently 10th on the NRL Ladder, Canberra coach David Furner has also named an unchanged side, with the Raiders fresh from a bye in Round 18 after defeating the North Queensland Cowboys 26-18 in Round 17.
To increase the excitement of the weekend battle, past results show that in the past 47 games played between the two teams, Parramatta has won 24, with the Raiders close behind on 23 wins. However with 16 of those matches played at Canberra Stadium, the Eels have returned with only 4 wins, which increases their hunger for victory even more.
This will be the Eels first and only meeting with the Raiders in the 2013 season. The boys are preparing for a tough match against the Raiders, hoping to break the tradition of their previous matches leaving the Eels defeated.
Parramatta is hoping to take advantage of missing Canberra players; centres Jack Wighton and Hayden Hodge, wing Sandor Earl and front row Tom Learoyd-Lahrs. The Raiders second row is expected to be weak with three players Joe Picker, Mark Nicholls and Edrick Lee also ruled out due to injury.
Panthers prop Brett White has returned to the squad, but it is undecided if he will play this weekend. Eels second row will be missing Ben Smith and Kelepi Tanginoa, with centre Jacob Loko still ruled out with a knee injury.
The Eels will be keeping an eye on Raider fullback Anthony Milford as their own regular fullback Jarryd Hayne is still out with a hamstring injury.
Kick-off is at 5:30pm at Canberra Stadium. Click here to buy tickets for our supporters' bus travelling to Canberra this Saturday.
Ricky Stuarts faith in the Eels improvement may have something to do with the fact he has left the squad unchanged from their recent match against the Penrith Panthers. In the Post-Match Media Conference, Stuart admitted he was pleased with the teams commitment and attitude on the field.
Currently 10th on the NRL Ladder, Canberra coach David Furner has also named an unchanged side, with the Raiders fresh from a bye in Round 18 after defeating the North Queensland Cowboys 26-18 in Round 17.
To increase the excitement of the weekend battle, past results show that in the past 47 games played between the two teams, Parramatta has won 24, with the Raiders close behind on 23 wins. However with 16 of those matches played at Canberra Stadium, the Eels have returned with only 4 wins, which increases their hunger for victory even more.
This will be the Eels first and only meeting with the Raiders in the 2013 season. The boys are preparing for a tough match against the Raiders, hoping to break the tradition of their previous matches leaving the Eels defeated.
Parramatta is hoping to take advantage of missing Canberra players; centres Jack Wighton and Hayden Hodge, wing Sandor Earl and front row Tom Learoyd-Lahrs. The Raiders second row is expected to be weak with three players Joe Picker, Mark Nicholls and Edrick Lee also ruled out due to injury.
Panthers prop Brett White has returned to the squad, but it is undecided if he will play this weekend. Eels second row will be missing Ben Smith and Kelepi Tanginoa, with centre Jacob Loko still ruled out with a knee injury.
The Eels will be keeping an eye on Raider fullback Anthony Milford as their own regular fullback Jarryd Hayne is still out with a hamstring injury.
Kick-off is at 5:30pm at Canberra Stadium. Click here to buy tickets for our supporters' bus travelling to Canberra this Saturday.
