The Dyldam Parramatta Eels are looking to extend their home record at Pirtek Stadium in Parramatta to six straight games when they take on the St George Illawarra Dragons for Round 10 this Saturday.
With all three grades playing at Pirtek Stadium in the return of Saturday afternoon football to the ground, the game is set to be a blockbuster event that is not to be missed.
After coming off a 42-24 win over the Sharks last Monday, the Eels are brimming with confidence, but know they have to improve further to get past a desperate Dragons outfit.
“It’s good to get another win, but there’s still plenty to work on,” Parramatta five-eighth Corey Norman said.
“We leaked 24 points which is not good; if we want to be there at the end of the year we need to fix that.”
The Dragons have plenty on the line, coming off back-to-back losses, including a 38-6 defeat by the Bulldogs in Round 9.
“I think our lapse in performance on the field comes down to attitude and a lack of focus on doing the little things and getting our hands dirty,” Dragons fullback Josh Dugan said.
“Once we start to focus our energy on doing those things we’ll be in the games a lot more and play better than what we have been over the past few weeks.”
The Eels have named an unchanged side from the line-up that defeated the Sharks, but Head Coach Brad Arthur admits he may have to make some alterations due to the short turnaround.
“We’ve got a few bodies that have been bashed around a little bit, so we’ll gave to wait until the end of the week to see which team will take the field,” Arthur said.
“I hope we don’t have to make any changes, but there are a couple of boys nursing a few injuries.”
The Dragons are keeping mum on whether star recruit Benji Marshall will make his return to the NRL this week, with the halfback not named but still a chance to play.
“I will make a decision later on as to who will take the field; [but] I don’t think I’ll be naming Benji,” Dragons Coach Steve Price said.
“He’s trained really well but it’s still a long week and we’ve got a few things to tick off before we go down that path.”
Gates open at 10.30am with NYC and NSW Cup played before the main event kicks off at 3pm!
Click here to buy tickets and support the Blue and Gold over the Dragons!
Dyldam Parramatta Eels
1. Jarryd Hayne (c)
2. Semi Radradra
3. Will Hopoate
4. Willie Tonga
5. Ken Sio
6. Corey Norman
7. Chris Sandow
8. Tim Mannah (c)
9. Nathan Peats
10. Darcy Lussick
11. David Gower
12. Manu Ma’u
13. Joseph Paulo
Interchange:
14. Pauli Pauli
15. Peni Terepo
16. Junior Paulo
17. Mitch Allgood
St George Illawarra Dragons
1. Josh Dugan
2. Brett Morris
3. Joel Thompson
4. Gerard Beale
5. Jason Nightingale
6. Gareth Widdop
7. Sam Williams
8. Tyson Frizell
9. Mitch Rein
10. Leeson Ah Mau
11. Bronson Harrison
12. Ben Creagh (c)
13. Trent Merrin
14. Jack Stockwell
15. Dan Hunt
16. Jack de Belin
17. Will Matthews
