Sterlo's Parra Preview - Eels v Bulldogs, Round 19
The Parramatta Eels take on the Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs at ANZ Stadium on Thursday 19 July in Round 19 of the NRL Telstra Premiership.
Blue & Gold Head Coach Brad Arthur has been forced to make one change from the 18-16 loss to the Newcastle Knights last week.
Cameron King’s knee injury is likely to keep him unavailable until Round 24 and Kaysa Pritchard fills the spot at dummy-half for his first match since Round 9.
Tepai Moeroa is named to come off the bench again after returning from suspension against the Knights. Kane Evans, Jaeman Salmon, Suaia Matagi and Reed Mahoney are the reserves.
The Bulldogs make no changes from their team that lost to the South Sydney Rabbitohs 24-6 last week. They field a significantly different squad that beat the Eels 20-12 at ANZ Stadium in Round 10.
Head Coach Dean Pay is without Moses Mbye (mid-season transfer to Wests Tigers), Aaron Woods (mid-season transfer to Cronulla Sharks), Kieran Foran (injury), Raymond Faitala-Mariner (injury) and Marcelo Montoya (injury).
The visitors are forming a new combination in the halves with Lachlan Lewis, nephew of Wally Lewis, and Jeremy Marshall-King playing their fourth match together in the NRL.
The Eels have got the best of the Bulldogs rivalry in recent times, with four of the last five clashes being Parramatta wins.
Mitchell Moses led the Eels in two wins against Canterbury in 2017. In Round 17, Moses provided a clutch field goal in extra time for a 13-12 win. In Round 22 he backed it up by assisting on two tries and displayed a strong kicking game in wet conditions for a 20-4 result.
Arthur this week said Jarryd Hayne’s played his best football of the season in the last month and enters this match after 15 tackle breaks, two linebreaks and one try assist against the Knights.
Both teams have played and lost their first three Thursday night matches this season. If Parramatta win, it draws them level with the Bulldogs on the ladder. A 30-point Eels win would shift Parramatta off the wooden spoon position.
This Friday night clash will kick off at 7:50pm. Click through to get your tickets!
Arthur: Both teams are more than desperate
Eels: 1 Clint Gutherson (c), 2 Bevan French, 3 Michael Jennings, 4 Jarryd Hayne, 5 George Jennings, 6 Corey Norman, 7 Mitchell Moses, 8 Daniel Alvaro, 9 Kaysa Pritchard, 10 Siosaia Vave, 11 Marata Niukore, 12 Brad Takairangi, 13 Nathan Brown
Interchange: 14 Tepai Moeroa, 15 Tim Mannah (c), 16 David Gower, 17 Peni Terepo
Reserves: 18 Kane Evans, 19 Jaeman Salmon, 20 Suaia Matagi, 21 Reed Mahoney
Bulldogs: 1 Will Hopoate, 2 Brett Morris, 3 Josh Morris, 4 Kerrod Holland, 5 Reimis Smith, 6 Lachlan Lewis, 7 Jeremy Marshall-King, 8 Aiden Tolman, 9 Michael Lichaa, 10 David Klemmer, 11 Josh Jackson (c), 12 Rhyse Martin, 13 Adam Elliott
Interchange: 14 Fa'amanu Brown, 15 Clay Priest, 16 Ofahiki Ogden, 17 Danny Fualalo
Reserves: 18 Greg Eastwood, 19 Matthew Frawley, 20 Francis Tualau, 21 John Olive
Match Details: Parramatta Eels v Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs, Thursday 7:50pm at ANZ Stadium
Head-to-head: Played 143; Bulldogs 76 wins, Eels 62 wins, 5 draws
Previous result: Bulldogs won 20-12 at ANZ Stadium in round 10
Matches at venue: Played 29; Canterbury 16, Parramatta 13
Points per game: Eels 14.8; Bulldogs 16.4
Points conceded per game: Eels 23.1; Bulldogs 21.2
Televised: Live on Nine, Fox League
Live Radio: Triple M, ABC, Crocmedia
