This Saturday 3rd August the Pirtek Parramatta Eels will take on the Manly Warringah Sea Eagles in a special anniversary match round at Parramatta Stadium. It has been 30 years since the Eels defeated the Eagles in the 1983 NRL Grand Final and many of the original players will be in attendance, reunited for the occasion.
With only 4 rounds since the last clash between the Eels and Sea Eagles at Brookvale Oval, the memory of the last game will still be fresh for both sides.
For Parramatta, playing on home ground is always an advantage. Luke Kelly, who sustained a hamstring injury from the last match against the Canterbury Bankstown Bulldogs, is out for the next 1-2 weeks and will be replaced by Ben Roberts as acting half back.
Api Pewhairangi returns from injury as five-eigth. An early guilty plea from Willie Tonga means he will also be playing after not missing a game.
The visitors will march out with the same team as their last encounter with the Eels but coach Geoff Toovey is keeping his options open with a six-man bench. George Rose will be back from an ankle injury and Toovey has confirmed that Steve Matai will play.
Spectators will be keen to see Matai face Mitch Allgood after their last confrontation at Brookvale Oval, but Parramatta prop Fuifui Moimoi says Allgood isnt concerned about that.
With only 6 rounds left in the season for the Eels, they will be scrambling for a chance to end the season on a high note.
Click here to see all our '83 celebrations for Saturday's match at Parramatta Stadium, including how to buy tickets!
With only 4 rounds since the last clash between the Eels and Sea Eagles at Brookvale Oval, the memory of the last game will still be fresh for both sides.
For Parramatta, playing on home ground is always an advantage. Luke Kelly, who sustained a hamstring injury from the last match against the Canterbury Bankstown Bulldogs, is out for the next 1-2 weeks and will be replaced by Ben Roberts as acting half back.
Api Pewhairangi returns from injury as five-eigth. An early guilty plea from Willie Tonga means he will also be playing after not missing a game.
The visitors will march out with the same team as their last encounter with the Eels but coach Geoff Toovey is keeping his options open with a six-man bench. George Rose will be back from an ankle injury and Toovey has confirmed that Steve Matai will play.
Spectators will be keen to see Matai face Mitch Allgood after their last confrontation at Brookvale Oval, but Parramatta prop Fuifui Moimoi says Allgood isnt concerned about that.
With only 6 rounds left in the season for the Eels, they will be scrambling for a chance to end the season on a high note.
Click here to see all our '83 celebrations for Saturday's match at Parramatta Stadium, including how to buy tickets!
