Date: Saturday 9^th of April

Venue: Pirtek Stadium

Gates Open: 10:30am

Kick off: 3:00pm (NYC 10:40am, NSW Cup 12:40pm)

Head Referee: Adam Devcich

Assistant Referee: Chris James

Head to head: Played 51, Eels 25, Raiders 26, drawn 0

Head to head odds: Eels ($ 1.55), Raiders ($ 2.45)

Broadcast: Live Fox Sports, 3:00pm

 

Last four encounters:

 

1. Eels 24, Raiders 28 at Pirtek Stadium (2015)
2. Raiders 33, Eels 20 at GIO Stadium (2014)
3. Eels 18, Raiders 10 at TIO Stadium (2014)
4. Raiders 14, Eels 0 at Canberra Stadium (2013)

 

Preview:

Round five has come and gone and now we are onto round six. This encounter will feature two teams both currently placed in the top eight as the 8^th placed Parramatta Eels square off against 3^rd placed Canberra Raiders.

The Eels enter this match off a devastating last minute loss against Western Sydney rivals the Penrith Panthers. The Eels, who looked in control for the majority of the match, let their intensity slip for the final moments of the match and that was all the Panthers needed to make the Eels pay and claim the victory away from home.

As for the Raiders, they managed to pull off the upset of the round by defeating the Canterbury Bankstown Bulldogs at Belmore Sports Ground. Though the Bulldogs were well below average in that game, the Raiders were able to close out the match in somewhat convincing fashion.

Over recent years Eels vs Raiders matches have been highly anticipated due to the history between the Parramatta club and now Raiders coach Ricky Stuart. Having originally signed a long-term deal to coach the Eels, Stuart controversially departed the club after serving only one season. As we exit the early stages of the season, this shapes to be a crucial match up for both teams, I encourage fans of both teams to make their way out to Pirtek Stadium to show their support.

 

Value Bet:

My value bet for this one is for Eels centre Brad Takairangi to grab the first try. Takairangi has been in pretty good form of late and it would not surprise me if he manages to salute at the juicy price of $20. 

As for the first try favourites for both teams, the Raiders have Edrick Lee at $10 and Jarrod Crocker at $11, whereas the Eels have Semi Radradra at $5 and Clinton Gutherson at $10.

 

Interesting fact:

Eels prop Junior Paulo has been the first try scorer in the Eels last two games against the Tigers and Panthers. It is extremely rare for a prop to be the first try scorer in a match two weeks running.

  

It will be a big week for: Clinton Gutherson.

This week shapes as a big one for Eels winger Clinton Gutherson who had a mixed game against the Panthers last Sunday afternoon. Gutherson would know that consistency is the key to him finding his best form at his new club, although getting used to his surroundings on the Eels right hand wing should come with time and effort. We must remember it is early days in terms of the 2016 season and Gutherson is still finding his feet.

Speaking of the Eels right hand edge, the combination of Brad Takairangi and Clinton Gutherson is one that has the potential to be talked about in the same breath of excellence as the Eels much renowned left hand edge of Michael Jennings and Semi Radradra. Takairangi has started this season in very nice form on his preferred side of the field. He is a player who has great ball skills, possessing both a nice offload and the ability to draw and pass. A number of times this season he has created opportunities down the Eels right hand edge, although only a few of these opportunities have resulted in tries. The combination of Takairangi and Gutherson is new and will take time to gel, but when and if this combination is allowed to gel, it shapes to be a combination that will allow the Eels to score frequently. Many edge combinations rely on the ability of the winger to finish off the play and, if Gutherson can do this on a consistent basis, I have no doubt he will become an integral part of the Eels line up.

 

 

Danger man:

This week’s danger man could have been any number of players from the Raiders line up. Given that I intend to highlight Blake Austin later on in this preview, I will highlight Raiders’ hooker Josh Hodgson as this week’s danger man.

The Canberra Raiders currently sit 3^rd on the NRL competition ladder and a big reason for that has been the form of Raiders’ rake Josh Hodgson. The English international has been in outstanding form and is arguably the form player in the Raiders line up. It could even be said that Hodgson is a smokey for this year’s Dally M medal, truly a testament to his current form.

Hodgson can be classified as a danger man for a number of reasons, but the main one is his ability to get the big Canberra forward pack on the front foot by targeting the centre field and ruck area of his opposition. If teams aren’t particularly solid in the middle of the field when coming up against a player like Hodgson, it could mean game over! The talented rake possesses the vital attribute of sharp bursts of speed, which makes him even more dangerous around the ruck area than your average hooker. On top of all that, Hodgson is a very nicer kicker of the ball and already has a couple of 40/20s to his name this season, including that vital one a few weeks ago that helped clinch victory against the now winless Sydney Roosters.

 

 

Team lists:

Parramatta Eels (5^th coming into the round)

 

1. Michael Gordon
2. Semi Radradra
3. Michael Jennings
4. Brad Takairangi
5. Clinton Gutherson
6. Corey Norman
7. Kieran Foran (C)
8. Junior Paulo
9. Nathan Peats
10. Daniel Alvaro
11. Manu Ma’u
12. Beau Scott
13. Tepai Moeroa

 

14. Issac De Gois
15. Peni Terepo
16. Danny Wicks
17. Kenny Edwards

 

Coach: Brad Arthur

 

Late mail:

The Eels are expected to line up as named 1 through 17.

  

Canberra Raiders (3^rd coming into the round)

 

1. Jack Wighton
2. Edrick Lee
3. Jarrod Crocker (C)
4. Joseph Leilua
5. Jordan Rapana
6. Blake Austin
7. Aidan Sezer
8. Shannon Boyd
9. Josh Hodgson
10. Frank Paul Nuuausala
11. Josh Papalii
12. Elliot Whitehead
13. Shaun Fensom

 

14. Kurt Baptiste
15. Luke Bateman
16. Paul Vaughan
17. Joseph Tapine

 

Coach: Ricky Stuart

 

Late mail:

The Raiders much like the Eels are expected to be 1 through 17.

  

Two Key Match Ups:

Corey Norman vs Blake Austin:

The first key match up is battle between the five eighths – the Eels’ superstar Corey Norman up against Raiders’ potential NSW blue, Blake Austin.

This time last year Austin was the toast of the NRL – he could do no wrong. Signed from the Wests Tigers the year before (2014), Austin shaped to be the buy of the 2015 season and it was hard to argue with that given that everything Austin did seemingly turned to gold. Scoring tries, setting up tries and making try saving tackles – you name it, Austin was doing it. It was the type of form that had Wests Tigers fans tearing their hair out as it appeared they had just let go of another really good player in the making. Unfortunately, just as things looked up for Austin, injury struck and his season was cruelly ended in the mid to latter stages of 2015. This injury struck the Raiders very hard. Canberra looked very likely to make the top eight with Austin in their line up, but slumped out of finals contention without the lively five eighth.

Whilst Austin has yet to hit his stride this season, all clubs facing the Raiders would be wary of what he could potentially do. He is a little different from you average five eighth. Your stock-standard five eighth tends to kick or pass the ball to the men out wide, whilst Austin is a running five eighth. This means Austin’s first instinct is to run and he does that very well. The biggest factor that makes him such a potent attacking player is his ability to break tackles and step incoming defenders. His step is potentially the most dangerous in the NRL and some judges even go as far as to compare the step of Austin to all time great, Brad Fittler. The Eels must be up to their defensive best to contain Austin’s threat.

Eels’ superstar five eighth Corey Norman continues to have a stellar season in spite of the hiccup loss to the Panthers. Although guilty of a number of errors, Norman remained one of the Eels most dangerous players on the park. This season has seen the talented player maker take his game to a new level through his ability to kick, pass, run the ball and read the game as a whole. His recently formed combination with Kieran Foran isn’t currently where they would like it to be, but the route of the Eels’ potentially outstanding attack starts with the likes of Foran and Norman. It’s still early in the season, and it will take time to gel. Nonetheless, the Eels will be happy that they are winning games and sit in the top eight even though their halves are still getting to know each other’s games.

 

 

Brad Takairangi vs Jarrod Crocker:

The second key match up is a battle of the centres – Eels ball playing centre Brad Takairangi up against Raiders captain Jarred Crocker.

Croker leads the NRL’s top point scorer tally this season. The talented centre is one of the game’s best goal kickers and has also crossed for four tries. Based on that, you would identify Crocker as one of the better attacking centres in the NRL. This product of Goulburn has been a mainstay in the Raiders’ centres for over six years now. As such, Croker is an NRL success story, having come through the Raiders’ system and making his debut in 2009. Ever since then he has not looked back, claiming a large haul of points as a consistent try scorer and prolific goal kicker.

In recent years,  Croker has been touted as a potential future NSW Origin centre, although his critics believe his defence would not be good enough to hold up in an Origin arena. In my opinion, Croker will be good enough to play Origin, although he’s not quite there yet. Whilst having many strong seasons since his debut in 2009, Croker is yet to have that boom breakout year where he could be recognised one of the two best centres in NSW.

If Croker intends playing Origin this season, he has a great opportunity to state his case for selection in this game. Eels centre Michael Jennings is a current NSW Origin centre, so if Croker could outplay someone like Jennings, he may be able to get NSW selectors thinking about him for the 2016 Origin series. The fact that he is a brilliant goal kicker may also work in his favour as Origin games more often than not tend to be close and every point counts. Croker is a man you would like kicking for you in pressure situations as his NRL point scoring record would suggest.

Eels centre Brad Takairangi has had a very impressive start to this year. The multi-talented player has been one of the most dangerous players in the Eels backline and that is a big statement to make given the potent attacking players such as Jennings, Radradra and Gordon. Takairangi has an uncanny ability to beat his man and draw the opposition winger. His ball handling skills are probably his best feature as a centre, creating a lot of try scoring opportunities. Having Takairangi on one side of the field and Jennings on the other gives the Eels two very viable attacking options. As mentioned earlier in the preview, Takairangi is now playing on his preferred side of the field and, provided he stays fit, we are likely to witness his best football.

 

 

My tip:

This is really a game that could go either way and if it were being played in Canberra, I’d probably be leaning towards tipping the Raiders. But, since this game is being played in Parramatta, I think I’m going to have to tip the home team. In saying that I’m not tipping the Eels with a whole lot of confidence.

Put me down for an Eels victory –  Eels 20, Raiders 12.

 

Man of the match: Corey Norman/Junior Paulo or Blake Austin/Josh Hodgson

 

Enjoy the game, GO THE EELS !!!

Nathan

Credit to the Parramatta Eels and Canberra Raiders for all images used.