Date: Saturday 11^th of June

Venue: TIO Stadium

Gates Open: 2:30pm

Kick off: 5:30pm (5:00pm CST)

Head Referee: Gavin Badger

Assistant Referee: Chris Butler

Head to head: Player 13, Titans 9, Eels 4, Drawn 0

Head to head odds: Eels ($ 2.15), Titans ($ 1.73)

Broadcast: Live Fox Sports, 5:30pm

 

Last four encounters:

 

1. Titans 24, Eels 14 at Cbus Super Stadium (2015)
2. Titans 38, Eels 16 at Pirtek Stadium (2015)
3. Eels 24, Titans 18 at Cbus Super Stadium (2014)
4. Titans 42, Eels 4 at Glen Willow Regional Sports Stadium (2013)

 

Preview:

This weeks round fourteen encounter will feature the 5^th placed Parramatta Eels (with salary cap related points deduction pending) squaring off against the 8^th placed Gold Coast Titans. The Titans enter this one off the back of a thrilling controversial golden point victory over the Souths Sydney Rabbitohs who were denied the win due to the bunker call penalising a Souths blocker in the Adam Reynolds field goal. Titans halfback Ashley Taylor didn’t miss his opportunity and secured the win with a well-taken field goal. The Eels on the other hand enter this one fresh off the bye but still have a fair few injured players on the sideline, including star halfback and captain Kieran Foran and the previous replacement for Foran, Brad Takairangi. This game shapes as a crucial one for both teams, especially for the Titans who would take a small step towards entrenching themselves in the NRL’s top eight with a victory.

 

Value Bet:

My value bet is for big Eels winger Semi Radradra to claim the first try at $6. Other first try favourites include Michael Jennings at $11 and Titans pair, Anthony Don and Nene MacDonald, at $9.50.

 

Interesting fact:

It’s no secret Semi Radradra is a massive metre eater for the Eels in every game. The Eels last match a fortnight ago was no exception for the flying Fijian, as Radradra went on to make a grand total of 215 metres against the Newcastle Knights.

  

It will be a big week for:

This week shapes as a big one for 2nd NRL game rookie Bevan French. French, predominately a fullback/half in the lower grades at the Eels, finds himself thrust onto the wing. In his first game against the Newcastle Knights he was very impressive. Beginning with a 50 metre line break down the sideline, his highlight package went on to include running down Knights centre Nathan Ross, crossing for his own four pointer, then capping it off with a 78th minute try saving and match saving tackle. In such a scrappy affair, French may have been the Eels best on the paddock. The Eels will be hoping the young gun is no flash in the pan and can repeat his heroic debut.

Given his feats from the NYC and the Auckland Nines, French may not be a bad bet for first try scorer if you fancy a punt.

 

 

Danger man:

This week’s danger man is Titans young gun halfback Ashley Taylor. The Titans signed the Brisbane Broncos junior last season after it became evident he would struggle to get a run in the Broncos top 17 with both Ben Hunt and Anthony Milford being regular halves. However, when Taylor signed it was not expected that he would earn the starting halfback role so quickly. Despite that expectation, the NRL can be a cruel and funny game and incumbent Titans halfback and highly praised rookie sensation Kane Elgey suffered a season ending ACL knee injury in pre season training. Following this injury, the Titans became the new favourites for the wooden spoon (along with the Wests Tigers). Certainly, the bookies didn’t count on the emergence of Taylor as a match winner. The rookie half, along with a number of Titans players, has gone on to have a breakout season.

The Titans have been the surprise packets of the 2016 NRL competition and currently sit in the NRL’s top eight despite all the criticism and all the odds in the pre season. They stand a very good chance of playing finals footy in 2016 at this stage (keep in mind the Eels are set to be deducted 12 competition points meaning Parra will drop from 5th to lower end of the NRL ladder). The Titans will be hoping the likes of Ashley Taylor can continue his outstanding 2016 form and maybe help the Titans to grab another two competition points this Saturday night.

 

 

 

Team lists:

 

Parramatta Eels (5^th coming into the round, pending 12 point deduction)

 

1. Michael Gordon
2. Semi Radradra
3. Michael Jennings
4. Clinton Gutherson
5. Bevan French
6. Kenny Edwards
7. Corey Norman (C)
8. Daniel Alvaro
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. Rory O’ Brien

 

Coach: Brad Arthur

 

Late mail: No late changes expected for the Eels. Expect them to be 1 to 17.

 

Gold Coast Titans (8^th coming into the round)

 

1. William Zillman
2. Anthony Don
3. Josh Hoffman
4. Nathan Davis
5. Nene Macdonald
6. Tyrone Roberts
7. Ashley Taylor
8. Luke Douglas
9. Nathan Friend
10. Ryan James
11. Zeb Taia
12. Chris McQueen
13. Greg Bird

 

14. Nathan Peats
15. Leivaha Pulu
16. Agantius Paasi
17. Eddy Pettybourne

 

18. Konrad Hurrell, 19. Cameron Cullen

 

Coach: Neil henry

 

Late mail: Konrad Hurrell may be a late inclusion for this one It is unknown whom he will replace if he does come into the final 17. There is also speculation that former Eel Nathan Peats could start the game at hooker, meaning a possible swap with Nathan Friend.

 

Two Key Match Ups:

 

Corey Norman vs Ashley Taylor:

The first key match up features a battle of the halfbacks, as the Eels makeshift halfback Corey Norman squares off against Titan young gun Ashley Taylor.

On the field, Norman has had a fairly successful year. When the Eels have won, it has typically been off the back of a good performance from Norman. However, of late the Eels star has just been a tad off his best compared to his early season form. One could speculate Norman’s dip in form could stem from a few controversial issues off the field. However, that isn’t for me to delve into. The point is we know that on his day, he is an amazing half.

Norman possesses an outstanding passing and running game as well as a strong short kicking and long kicking game. When it comes to halves, Norman is definitely in the upper echelon of the game’s playmakers. From this week onwards, Norman’s job becomes a lot harder with usual Eels halfback and club captain Kieran Foran out for the remainder of the 2016 NRL season with a shoulder injury.

To make matters worse, Eels back up halves Luke Kelly, Mitch Cornish and Brad Takairangi are all currently sidelined with injuries. Having all those injuries, the Eels have resorted to naming utility forward Kenny Edwards at five eighth. Whilst Edwards is no stranger to doing a bit of ball playing he has never been named to start a game at five eighth at NRL level. The fact Edwards isn’t what you’d call a natural or gifted playmaker means that a lot more pressure will fall on the shoulders of Norman.

Expect Norman to carry out almost all of the Eels kicking duties. Bevan French has had some experience in the halves, but it’s unexpected that he will be thrown into the deep end this weekend against the Titans.

In the absence of Kane Elgey, Ashley Taylor  has impressed in every way possible. I have sung Taylor’s praises earlier in this post. However, the most impressive part of his game has been his kicking. Taylor has been able to place his kicks to perfection and on occasion catch out some of the game’s best back threes. Come this Saturday night the Eels back three will be facing the same challenge as they try to neutralise Taylor’s kick placement through good positioning and kick returns. If the Eels can keep Taylor’s impact on the game to a minimum they will go a long way towards winning the game and picking up the all important two completion points.

 

 

Issac De Gois vs Nathan Peats:

The second key match up is a battle of the hookers as the Eels Mr. Consistent Isaac De Gois squares off against Titans mid-season signing and former Eels hooker Nathan Peats. The fact that these two are lining up against each other is quite remarkable. At the start of this season Peats was having a tremendous year in an Eels team that looked destined to make the top eight, probably even the top four. However, fate can be cruel as the Eels were hit hard by penalties due to multiple salary cap breaches over the past few seasons. Due to these penalties, the Eels had to shed some players just to get under the salary cap for this season and Peats, along with Anthony Watmough and Junior Paulo, were the unlucky ones to make way.

Peats was visibly devastated to leave the Eels and had some choice words for the then five executives of the Parramatta Eels board. Eels fans were also devastated to see him leave. After being released by the Eels, Peats would immediately sign a deal with the Gold Coast Titans and that’s how we arrive at the situation where Isaac De Gois and Nathan Peats find themselves in opposite teams.

As Peats hasn’t played many games for the Titans, he hasn’t really had a significant chance to make an impact, even though he already has one try to his name in Titans colours. Much like  De Gois at the Eels, he shares his hooking duties with another player and does not play the full eighty minutes. Given the type of player that Peats is, expect him to try to become an eighty minute player in the very near future.

Many esteemed judges of the game believe Nathan Peats should be the next NSW Origin hooker after Robbie Farah; there are even some who believe he should be the NSW Origin hooker now. Given the fact he is coming up against his former team, expect Peats to give it his all. Make no mistake, Peats will be one to watch in this one.

The role of Eels hooker Isaac De Gois has greatly increased at the Eels since Nathan Peats departed the club. De Gois is  yet to put his stamp of authority on the hooking duties this season, being good without being great. He is your typical work horse style of hooker, being no frills and getting his job done, yet rarely being noticed as one of the best performers on the field. De Gois will look to do his job again this Saturday night as he helps his team gain a victory against the Gold Coast Titans in Darwin.

 

 

My tip: My tip for this one was a real toss of the coin. The Titans have been fairly up and down of late and the Eels are carrying so many injuries. On paper you would probably have this one going to golden point. However, I’m going to give the edge to the Eels who have demonstrated the ability to get the job done in some tight contests in big games this season.

Put me down for an Eels victory, Eels 22, Titans 18.

 

Man of the match: Corey Norman/Michael Jennings

 

Enjoy the game, GO THE EELS !!!

Nathan