The Parramatta Eels take on the New Zealand Warriors in Round Six of the NRL Telstra Premiership, travelling to Mt. Smart Stadium, Auckland, New Zealand for their clash on Sunday 9 April.
For the Round Six clash, Blue & Gold Head Coach Brad Arthur has made a handful of changes to his side that suffered a 30-18 defeat to the Canberra Raiders last week with forward Tepai Moeroa returning from injury, named in the starting line up.
The return of Moeroa sees Frank Pritchard move back onto the bench alongside Nathan Brown, Daniel Alvaro and Siosaia Vave.
David Gower joins an extended bench alongside Peni Terepo, Kirisome Auva’a and George Jennings with Jeff Robson ruled out from the side from injury.
Warriors Head Coach Stephen Kearney has named the same players that came away with a come-from-behind 28-22 victory over the Gold Coast Titans last week, notching up their second win of the season.
The only change comes on Kearney’s bench, with hooker Nathaniel Roache named despite Mafoa’aeata Hingano named a late inclusion ahead of him in last week’s playing line up.
Half Kieran Foran made his return to the football field last week, his first clash in almost 12 months since departing the Blue & Gold.
In the last time these two sides met, the Parramatta Eels came away 40-18 victors in a wet and soggy affair. The clash occurred in Round 26, 2016 at Mt Smart Stadium with Bevan French scoring a hat-trick of tries and hooker Isaac De Gois crossing for a double.
Whilst the Eels came away victors in their last head to head clash, the Warriors enjoyed success in their last three previous encounters. The Eels have only won six times at Mt Smart Stadium, and only once since 2007 however have an overall head to head lead.
Kick off is at 4pm.
LAST TIME WE MET
Match Details: Parramatta Eels v New Zealand Warriors at Mt. Smart Stadium on Sunday 9 April. Kick off is at 4pm local NZ time (2pm AEST).
Televised: Fox Sports – Live coverage from 2pm (AEST). Sky Sports - Live coverage from 4pm (NZT).
The History: Played 36; Warriors 16; Eels 20.
Whilst the Eels came away victors in their last head to head clash, the Warriors enjoyed success in their last three previous encounters. The Eels have only won six times at Mt Smart Stadium, and only once since 2007 however have an overall head to head lead.
Parramatta Eels squad: 1. Bevan French 2. Semi Radradra 3. Michael Jennings 4. Brad Takairangi 5. Josh Hoffman 6. Clint Gutherson 7. Corey Norman 8. Suaia Matagi 9. Kaysa Pritchard 10. Tim Mannah (c) 11. Manu Ma’u 12. Tepai Moeroa 13. Beau Scott (c)
Interchange: 14. Nathan Brown 15. Daniel Alvaro 16. Frank Pritchard 17. Siosaia Vave 18. David Gower 19. Peni Terepo 20. Kirisome Auva’a 21. George Jennings
New Zealand Warriors squad: 1. Roger Tuivasa-Sheck (c) 2. Blake Ayshford 3. David Fusita’a 4. Solomone Kata 5. Ken Maumalo 6. Kieran Foran 7. Shaun Johnson 8. Charlie Gubb 9. Isaac Luke 10. Jacob Lillyman 11. Bodene Thompson 12. Ryan Hoffman 13. Simon Mannering
Interchange: 14. Nathaniel Roache 15. James Gavet 16. Sam Lisone 17. Ligi Sao 18. Albert Vete 20. Bunty Afoa 21. Mafoa’aeata Hingano 22. Mason Lino
Match officials: Referee: Henry Perenara. Assistant referee: Matt Noyen. Sideline officials: Anthony Elliot and Ziggy Przeklasa-Adamski. Review official: Ben Galea. Senior review official: Ashley Klein.
