The Parramatta Eels are preparing to take on the Melbourne Storm in Round 18 of the NRL this week, when the Blue & Gold head to Melbourne’s AAMI Park to take on the Origin affected Storm line up.
Speaking ahead of the clash, Blue & Gold forward Daniel Alvaro knows that despite the Storm being without several players, their opposition will still prove to be a handful.
“You would love to play them at full strength too, but it will good to go down there and get the win.” Alvaro said when asked whether taking on the Storm this week was at an opportune time.
“It will still be a tough game, they have a really strong forward pack and their young guys really stand up when they come to play in their backline so it is going to be a really tough game.”
The clash against the Storm is an important one and Alvaro says that he is hoping the side can come away with the two points this weekend before focussing on their charge towards the Finals.
The Eels will have their bye following the clash against the Storm, and Alvaro says that whilst the side is just taking it one week at a time, the side has the final goal of pushing into the Top Four.
“It will be nice to get these two points, and make it four. But there is still a long time to go in the year, so we are just taking it one week at a time” Alvaro said.
“Hopefully we can get them this week and go on from there.”
“We want to get through this next week, and see where we are at, but we are hoping to push for the Top Four heading into the Finals.”
The Eels are coming off a 13-12 victory over the Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs last week, and Alvaro says the side made the victory hard on themselves.
Alvaro is hoping the Eels can learn from last week’s clash and says it is up to the Blue & Gold players to improve on their second 40 minutes.
“We just made it really hard on ourselves in that second half. Our first half was good and then we were a bit passive in the second half and we could of done a lot of things better to make it a bit easier.” Avlaro said.
“We have to make sure we start the second half well and carry it on. I think we have been a bit passive this year, in our second halves.” He added.
“We have just been trying to hold on for the win or not coming out hard enough and that’s going to be really big for us this week.”
“At the end of the day, it’s on us to go out there and fix it. They [BA and the coaching staff] look after us really well so it’s on us boys to aim up there.”
The Eels kick off against the Melbourne Storm at AAMI Park in Round 18 of the NRL Telstra Premiership. Kick off on Saturday 8 July is at 7:30pm.
