Date: Monday 23^rd of May

Venue: Pirtek Stadium

Gates Open: 5:30pm

Kick off: 7:00pm

Head Referee: Ashley Klein

Assistant Referee: Adam Gee

Head to head: Played 30, Eels 12, Storm 18, drawn 0

Head to head odds: Eels ($ 1.80), Storm ($ 2.05)

Broadcast: Live Fox Sports, 7:00pm

 

Last four encounters:

 

1. Eels 26, Storm 22 at AAMI Park (2015)
2. Storm 28, Eels 10 at Pirtek Stadium (2015)
3. Storm 46, Eels 20 at AAMI Park (2014)
4. Storm 64, Eels 4 at AAMI Park (2013)

 

Preview: This round 11 encounter is a clash between two great rivals as the Parramatta Eels prepare to do battle with the Melbourne Storm. The Storm enter this one off the back of a tight victory against the North Queensland Cowboys, a task more easily said than done. The Storm were able to come away with the 15 to 14 victory thanks to a field goal by veteran hooker Cameron Smith. The Parramatta Eels enter this one off the back of a narrow loss to the Souths Sydney Rabbitohs. The Eels looked to have the game won with a little under 20 minutes to play however two quick tries to the Rabbitohs helped them to secure the upset victory against the Eels. After that devastating last minute loss the Eels will be more desperate than ever to get back on track with a victory against the Storm, especially with a 12 competition points deduction imminent.

 

Value Bet: My value bet is Eels centre Michael Jennings to claim the first try at $13. The first try favourites are Semi Radradra at $ 6 and Clinton Gutherson at $ 11 for the Eels and Marika Koroibete and Suliasi Vunivalu at $ 10 for the Storm.

 

Interesting fact: Whilst not confirmed as yet, the Storm are likely to select former Eel Ryan Morgan as a late inclusion at centre. If this happens it’s likely Tohu Harris will shift back to the back row. This means the Storm centres will be made up of two former Eels in Cheyse Blair and Ryan Morgan.

 

It will be a big week for:

This week shapes as a big one for Eels part time hooker Kaysa Pritchard. With the sudden departure of regular Eels hooker Nathan Peats (to the Titans) last weekend due to salary cap restrictions a lot of pressure has been put on Eels back up hookers Issac De Gois and Kaysa Pritchard to fill the void left by Peats. Issac De Gois, a mid season transfer to the Eels a couple of seasons ago, has been quite valuable having filled in for Peats on many occasions. Though he doesn’t look out of place, De Gois’s very best footy might be behind him. With that being said there have been plenty of wraps on Eels youngster Kaysa Pritchard for quite a while now. Pritchard, who has had a horror run of injuries since debuting for the Eels in 2013, will see this as a massive opportunity to claim the Eels number nine jersey for many years to come. Given the fact De Gois’s may not be far from calling time on his career Pritchard may be viewed as potential long-term option at nine for the Eels. Unlike his older brother Frank, Pritchard is far from the biggest player on the field but has never lacked heart and always gives 110%. He has received many wraps over the years from notable league observers with some even comparing the lion hearted Eels nine to a young Issac Luke. The Eels will be hoping the Issac Luke comparisons for Pritchard ring true in the future, as the void left by Peats will not be easy to fill.

 

 

Danger man: This week’s danger man is Storm young gun fullback Cameron Munster. When usual Storm fullback and superstar of the game Billy Slater was ruled out for the entire 2016 season with a shoulder injury the Storm’s premiership hopes began to dwindle. However, with the emergence of young gun Cameron Munster the Storm are still very much contenders for the 2016 NRL premiership. Although it’s a massive call to make this early on in a player’s career Munster may very well be a future rep player. He is a very similar style of player to Billy Slater, which is not unusual after learning under Slater for the past couple of seasons at the Storm. Munster’s similarity to Slater would strike alarm bells for the Eels as Slater has dominated the NRL for over a decade. With the occurrence of various niggling injuries over the past couple of years the end of Slater’s career maybe fast approaching and Munster is almost previewing the future.

 

 

Team lists:

 

Parramatta Eels (6^th coming into the round, pending 12 point deduction)

 

1. Michael Gordon
2. Semi Radradra
3. Michael Jennings
4. Vai Toutai (expected to drop out with the inclusion of Kieran Foran)
5. Clinton Gutherson
6. Brad Takairangi (expected to play centre)
7. Corey Norman (C) (expected to play five eighth)
8. Junior Paulo
9. Issac De Gois
10. Danny Wicks
11. Manu Ma’u
12. Beau Scott
13. Tepai Moeroa

 

14. Kaysa Pritchard
15. Peni Terepo
16. Danny Gower
17. Kenny Edwards

 

Coach: Brad Arthur

 

Late mail: Kieran Foran will return from his leave to captain the team and take his place at halfback with Vai Toutai likely to drop out of the team and Brad Takairangi shifting back to centre. Corey Norman should return to five eighth.

  

Melbourne Storm (3^rd coming into the round)

 

1. Cameron Munster
2. Suliasi Vunivalu
3. Cheyse Blair
4. Tohu Harris
5. Marika Koroibete
6. Blake Green
7. Cooper Cronk
8. Jesse Bromwich
9. Cameron Smith (C)
10. Jordan McLean
11. Kevin Proctor
12. Kenny Bromwich
13. Dale Finucane

 

14. Nelson Asofa-Solomona
15. Tim Glasby
16. Christian Welch Nichol
17. Felise Kaufusi

 

Coach: Craig Bellamy

 

Late mail: Expect Ryan Morgan a former Eel and mid season signing for the Storm to come into the team as a late inclusion in the centres. Expect Tohu Harris to shift into the back row with Kenny Bromwich moving to the bench. Christian Welch Nichol may be the man to miss out on the final 17.

  

Two key match ups:

Junior Paulo vs Jesse Bromwich: The first key match up will feature the battle of the props as Eels monster Junior Paulo squares off against Storm and New Zealand superstar Jesse Bromwich. So far this season both Paulo and Bromwich have been amongst the game’s best props. Bromwich is a big man who can make big metres and play for big minutes whereas Junior Paulo is a man with no fear who makes an impact every time he carries the ball often knocking over defenders who stand in his way. Paulo has also been responsible for a number of the games biggest hits of the year and his young age means that there is so much more room for improvement. Unfortunately, that improvement will not come with the Eels in the years to come as Paulo has signed with the Canberra for next two seasons.

Jesse Bromwich, still a reasonably young man at the age of 27, is entering the prime of his rugby league career. Not too long ago he led his home country New Zealand onto the field in the ANZAC test (albeit in the absence of Kieran Foran, nevertheless still an amazing feat). Bromwich could be added to a dangerous category of players in the Storm that includes Cooper Cronk, Cameron Smith and Cameron Munster. Bromwich averages 143 metres per game this season whilst averaging 15 runs per game. However, I believe the biggest danger posed by Bromwich is his ability to attract defenders whilst making metres and then offer an offload for some second phase play. When you have the likes of Cameron Munster, Cooper Cronk and Cameron Smith working off the back of that second phase play, Bromwich can become even more of a danger to opposition teams. With departures of Ryan Hoffman and Ryan Hinchcliffe from the Storm over the recent years the big Kiwi has assumed the role as the leader in the engine room with Cameron Smith considered more as a primary playmaker.

Eels big man Junior Paulo has had some simply outstanding moments this year and could be classed as one of the best props in the game and a vital part of the Eels good form this season. He has averaged just under 115 metres per game this season and is a very different type of prop to Bromwich. Paulo is more of an impact player who’s current form could be compared to that of a young Willie Mason when he was playing for the Bulldogs. With two tries for the Eels this season he will be looking to add to that tally and he is a player who is very much capable of doing that, especially close to line. Paulo, much like Bromwich, attracts multiple defenders and has great leg drive. He also has the ability to bust tackles almost at will, making him a danger man for any opponent.

 

 

Michael Jennings vs Cheyse Blair:

The second key match up is the battle of the centres as Eels superstar outside back Michael Jennings squares off against Storm centre Cheyse Blair. Blair a former Eel from the “dark years” in 2012 and 2013 was often a permanent fixture in the centres or on the wing. Whilst the Eels weren’t too competitive in that period from memory he put in a few good performances. Ricky Stuart’s arrival to the Eels in 2013 resulted in Blair being one of 12 players sensationally told to depart the club at the end of the season. However, unlike most of those 12 players, Blair went on to continue his NRL career signing with the Manly Warringah Sea Eagles for two seasons and now the Storm for the 2016 season. Whilst only playing in two games for the Storm this season, with injuries to the likes of Will Chambers, Blair will be hoping to lock down a spot in the Storm backline and possibly impress for a new contract that extends beyond next season. Whilst yet to notch up 50 career games in the NRL, Blair is still young has plenty more time to impress and potentially become a permanent fixture in the NRL in the years to come.

Michael Jennings has settled in nicely in the Eels line up and was recently the 19^th man for the Kangaroos in the ANZAC test. Jennings now seems a certainty to be named in the NSW team for Origin 1, (barring injury or ill health of course). Cheyse Blair, Tohu Harris or Ryan Morgan will have their hands full marking him. Jennings is one of the fastest centres in the game and on his day could probably match it with the likes of Brisbane Broncos centre James Roberts. A factor that makes Jennings even more dangerous for opposition teams is the players he has both inside and outside of him. With the likes of Corey Norman and Manu Ma’u inside him Jennings has players to run off, players who can pass and offload very well. Add Semi Radradra outside him, And you have a whole extra dimension of potency. If you have a winger like Radradra outside you, it’s possible in various stages in the game you could be overlooked and given an opportunity to create havoc. The Jennings and Radradra combination can go a long way to securing the all important two competition points.

 

 

My tip:  This game was a very hard one to pick. Both teams have been relatively consistent all year and whilst without Kieran Foran I may have been leaning toward a Storm victory, the inclusion of Kieran Foran makes me think the Eels stand a massive chance of claiming the victory, especially given the fact this is an Eels home game.

With the loss of Nathan Peats due to salary cap complications the Eels were definitely missing a playmaker last Friday night against the Rabbitohs. However, Foran should ease the pain the Eels suffered from losing Peats.

In conclusion, put me down for an Eels victory, Eels 22, Storm 18.

 

Man of the match: Beau Scott/Michael Jennings

 

Enjoy the game, GO THE EELS !!!

 

 

And from everyone here at TCT a special welcome back to club captain Kieran Foran. We wish him all the best in his return to the NRL and with his future.

 

 

Welcome back Foz.

Nathan