Date: Friday 29^th of April

Venue: ANZ Stadium

Gates Open: 5:30pm

Kick off: 7:50pm (NYC 5:35pm)

Head Referee: Gerard Sutton

Assistant Referee: Adam Devcich

Head to head: Played 139, Eels 59, Bulldogs 75, drawn 5

Head to head odds: Eels ($ 1.86), Bulldogs ($ 1.98)

Broadcast: Live Channel 9 – Coverage from 7:30pm

 

Last four encounters:

 

1. Eels 20, Bulldogs 6 at ANZ Stadium (2016)
2. Bulldogs 28, Eels 4 at ANZ Stadium (2015)
3. Bulldogs 32, Eels 12 at ANZ Stadium (2015)
4. Bulldogs 18, Eels 16 at ANZ Stadium (2014)

 

Preview: This Friday night’s round nine encounter will see the 5^th placed Parramatta Eels square off against arch rivals the 6^th placed Canterbury Bankstown Bulldogs. The Eels enter this encounter one place ahead of the Bulldogs on the NRL ladder making this a crucial clash for both teams in terms of top four/eight aspirations. The Eels are coming off the back of a controversial 32 points to 16 loss against the North Queensland Cowboys at 1300 Smiles Stadium last Saturday night, whereas the Bulldogs nearly snatched defeat from the jaws of victory against the Gold Coast Titans last Saturday afternoon. Luckily for the Bulldogs they came away with the victory in golden point, 21 points to 20, thanks to a Josh Reynolds field goal. Eels versus Bulldogs encounters are always great spectacles so I encourage fans of both teams to catch this game however which way they can – it is sure to be a classic!

 

Value Bet:

This week’s value bet is for the Eels to defeat the Bulldogs by a margin of 13 points or more. The last time these two teams met the Eels scored a 14 point victory. That particular game at ANZ stadium was considered a Bulldogs home game whereas this one is an Eels home game.

Expect the Eels to be well and truly fired up, especially after that controversial loss to the Cowboys last Saturday night. The Eels are at $ 4.35 to defeat the Bulldogs by a margin of 13 points of more.

As for the first try favourites, the Eels they have Semi Radradra at $ 6 and Clinton Gutherson out at $ 11, whereas the Bulldogs have Curtis Rona at $ 9.50 and Sam Perrett at $ 11.

 

Interesting fact:

Recently chosen to represent the Australian Kangaroos in the annual ANZAC test, Eels winger Semi Radradra has averaged little over 140 metres per game this season. He has also scored five tries, two of which came earlier this year against the Bulldogs, a game where Radradra was deemed to be the best player of the field.

  

It will be a big week for: Manu Ma’u.

This week shapes to be a big one for Eels hard man Manu Ma’u. With the ANZAC test just around the corner there is a possibility a New Zealand test jersey may be waiting for Ma’u who so far this season has well and truly put his hand up for national selection. Despite only making his debut a hand full of seasons ago the powerful back rower has made himself an integral part of the Eels back row and forward pack, even earning himself a the title throughout the NRL as one of the game’s toughest players.

The Eels hard man would have to be one of the game’s hardest ball runners who also offers a nice offload. His tackle bust ability makes him a very valuable commodity in today’s modern game. This good form over the past few seasons has not gone unnoticed, and there is speculation that the next deal Ma’u signs will see him become quite a wealthy man. Rumours have been circulating that Ma’u has already been sounded out by a number of NRL clubs including the Sydney Roosters and Canterbury Bankstown Bulldogs. However, it’s an obvious assumption that the Eels would be expecting competition in retaining Ma’u in the coming years given his success in the NRL over the past couple of seasons.  One could imagine the Eels have already devised a plan in order to keep Ma’u, a player that could become a mainstay in the Eels back row for years to come.

However in saying all of that Ma’u won’t be focused on his future come Friday night, he won’t even be focused on the prospects of a potential test jersey. Ma’u will be focused on one thing and one thing only and that’s helping the Eels to claim the all important two competition points.

 

 

Danger man:

This weeks danger man is Bulldogs fullback and former Eel Will Hopoate. So far this season Hopoate has been in his best form in the NRL since returning from his two year Mormon mission which commenced at the end of the 2011 season and ended in 2013. Since signing his current Bulldogs deal Hopoate has never looked back, some judges (Brad Fitler) even saying the new and improved Hopoate would not be out of place in the NSW Origin team as fullback. Whether Hopoate is named in the NSW team or not he is still a valuable addition to the Bulldogs team, despite the fact that due to religion he has elected to no longer take place in Sunday afternoon football.

Hopoate is a player of immense talent; he has everything you would want from an NRL quality back. He possesses size, strength, ball playing ability and an ability to read the game, the latter of those talents making Hopoate’s transition from centre at the Eels to fullback at the Bulldogs fairly easy. Hopoate would love nothing more than to help his team claim the two completion points against his former club. However, only time will tell if he has any chance of doing that.

 

 

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: Tim Mannah is a slight chance of returning from injury; if Mannah does in fact return expect him to either replace Daniel Alvaro or Peni Terepo.

Kieran Foran is now a late withdrawal.

Canterbury Bankstown Bulldogs (6^th coming into the round)

 

1. Will Hopoate
2. Curtis Rona
3. Josh Morris
4. Kerrod Holland
5. Sam Perrett
6. Josh Reynolds
7. Moses Mbye
8. Aiden Tolman
9. Michael Lichaa
10. James Graham (C)
11. Josh Jackson
12. Tony Williams
13. Greg Eastwood

 

14. Sam Kasiano
15. Tim Browne
16. David Klemmer
17. Craig Garvey

 

19. Lloyd Perrett, 22. Raymond Faitala Mariner

 

Coach: Des Hasler

 

Late mail: Mid season transfer has Raymond Faitala Mariner has been named on extended bench along with Lloyd Perrett. There is some mail Faitala Mariner may make his debut for the Bulldogs, however these reports are unconfirmed.

  

Two key match ups:

 

Beau Scott vs Josh Jackson:

The first key match up is a battle of the back rowers as Eels war horse Beau Scott squares off against Bulldogs superstar back rower Josh Jackson. So far this season Bulldogs back rower Josh Jackson has been very impressive, even despite the fact he narrowly missed out on selection for Australia in the upcoming ANZAC test. He has averaged just under 100m per game, 11 hit ups per game and 40 tackles per game. Added to this he is an 80 minute player so it’s easy to see why he is among the games elite back rowers. That said, statistics aren’t everything and the one statistic you’re not going to be able to find is the number of times Jackson picks the perfect line to run in attack. Almost every occasion he runs a line he is able to find his way in-between defenders and as a defender this almost always would make Jackson a very tough attacking back rower to handle. His footwork and ability to put in the odd grubber kick makes him almost the ideal back rower in today’s modern game.

I see a player like Jackson as a combination of players. His ability to find a hole is very similar to Warriors back rower Ryan Hoffman who will go down as one of the best line runners in recent memory. His passing game, along with his ability to kick the ball on the odd occasion is very comparable to what Glenn Stewart used to produce for the Sea Eagles a few years ago. Jackson is a player to watch for the Eels, and keeping him quiet will go a long way to securing a victory this Friday night.

Eels warhorse back rower Beau Scott has had an outstanding season for the Eels thus far. Much like Jackson, Beau Scott could consider himself unlucky to not be named in the Australian team for the ANZAC Test. Whilst it is higher profile players such as Corey Norman, Kieran Foran and Nathan Peats that may receive the accolades for how well the Eels are playing this season, all three of those players will tell you that Beau Scott has been a major reason in the Eels change of fortunes in 2016. Scott is very much an experienced campaigner who has done it all in the modern game. He has been amongst the games toughest players for many years now. Scott is a tough as nails defender who has earned a reputation as a player to avoid in an opposition defensive line. He is also a workhorse in attack with the ability to even grab the odd try here and there. When you analyse Beau Scott’s game you can see why he would be considered still amongst the games elite back rowers.

This match up of Jackson versus Scott could nearly be described as a match up between young bull and old bull with neither willing to back down.

 

 

 

 

Michael Jennings vs Kerrod Holland:

The second key match up is a battle between centres as Eels speedster Michael Jennings squares off against Bulldogs rookie sensation Kerrod Holland. In terms of debut seasons they don’t come much better than what Bulldogs rookie Kerrod Holland has dished out so far. Whilst he may be classified as a rookie by NRL standards in terms of games played he is very much a late bloomer in terms of age, making his debut at 25 years of age. However in his debut for the Bulldogs Holland scored a try and was able to convert all of the Bulldogs tries that night (against the Panthers) Including the difficult conversion of what would be the match-winning try. Holland showed nerves of steel in the high-pressure moment and was able to help his team claim victory against the Panthers.

Despite being a handy goal kicker Holland is also a very handy centre. In the lower grades he was considered a quality defensive centre and he will need to be at his very best in defense if he is to attempt to shut down either of the Eels centres in Brad Takairangi or Michael Jennings, the latter of which has represented his state and country. Holland also knows how to find his way to the try line and last season was able to find the try line 18 times in 16 games for the Knights NSW Cup team, a remarkable statistic to say the very least.

Eels centre Michael Jennings would admit he was slow out the blocks to start the 2016 season. However, as of the past handful of rounds it is evident Jennings is really starting to hit his stride. Jennings is truly starting to show his class claiming three tries in his past two games for the Eels, including a double a fortnight ago against the Sea Eagles. Jennings so far this season has averaged over 100 metres per game, 3.5 tackles busts per game and even crossed the try line 6 times. He has even crossed the line more often than Eels try scoring sensation Semi Radradra. Jennings and Radradra have started to form a very nice combination on the left hand edge, combining for 11 tries in 8 games so far this season.

Although Jennings has been selected in the Australian squad for the upcoming ANZAC test, he was named as 19^th man which means he is not scheduled to play at this point in time. However, being selected in this squad is a testament to Jennings form this season. Come Friday night Jennings, along with Radradra, will be hoping to add even more tries to their tally.

 

 

 

My tip:

Based on current form you would have the Eels running out victors in this one. However despite the form guide the Bulldogs have a knack of getting up for big games such as this one. Furthermore, the Bulldogs will also be eager to avenge a loss suffered to the Eels earlier this season. The Eels will be equally eager to avenge a loss suffered at the hands of the Cowboys last Saturday night.

In conclusion either team has the potential to win this one but I believe it is the Eels who will walk away with the two competition points. I’m tipping a close encounter for the most part but in the end the Eels will run away with the victory, Eels 26, Bulldogs 10.

 

Man of the match: Beau Scott or Kieran Foran

Nathan

Images courtesy of the NRL and Parramatta Eels