The Dyldam Parramatta Eels take on the Gold Coast Titans at Darwin's TIO Stadium tonight, for Round 14 of the NRL Telstra Premiership.
Previewing the game thanks to betting.club, Blue and Gold Assistant Coach Pete Gentle expects a tough physical encounter up front and possession in the hot and humid conditions to detemine the result of the game.
"It's been a great to get out of Sydney and spend some time together, and at least being in camp spending a lot of time with eah other has been good," Gentle said.
"The previous two games up here, the handling and completion rates were pretty poor and that does play a big part in the game."
"They'e got a lot of big, skilful players and a lot of big boppers so they've got some skill and we'll have to be on our game" Gentle added.
The Titans, who are coming off three wins including a thrilling victory victory over the Rabbitohs will be a tough test says Gentle.
"We're expecting Konrad Hurrell to run out for them and make his debut for them, and they're in good form and they've won their last three so it's definitely a tough test for us." Gentle said.
"He [Ashley Taylor] has done a really good job. It just shows that with their young blokes, given the opoortunity and the right people around them, they can do the job."
"They are going well and we have done our homework on them."
And for the Eels who will have club debutant Rory O'Brien coming off the interchange bench, whilst Kenny Edwards will partner Corey Norman in the halves, Gentle predicts the two to handle the condiitons well.
"Rory has played NRL before, last year he had three games. He has worked very hard, his body shape has changed," Gentle said of the forward.
"He's a completely different person to what he turned up in. We are really looking forward to it, he has worked hard and has been one of the best in reserve grade with Daniel Alvaro so it is good to see them both in first grade."
"Kenny always loves to talk, has been very good for that edge and he is always very vocal. He has had his kicking license revoked, but he will do the job for us there. We know what he can do and he is quite capable." Gentle added.
