Date: Thursday 17th of August
Venue: ANZ Stadium
Gates Open: 5:20 pm
Kick off: 7:50 pm (NYC 5:35 pm)
Head Referee: Grant Atkins
Assistant Referee: Gavin Badger
Head to head: Played 16, Titans 11, Eels 5, drawn 0
Head to head odds: Eels ($ 1.20), Titans ($ 4.60)
Broadcast: Live Channel Nine (Broadcast kick off: 7:30pm)
Last four encounters:
01. Titans 26, Eels 14 at Cbus Super Stadium (2017)
02. Titans 34, Eels 14 at Cbus Super Stadium (2016)
03. Eels 22, Titans 12 at TIO Stadium (2016)
04. Titans 24, Eels 15 at Cbus Super Stadium (2015)
Preview:
This week’s Thursday night, round twenty four encounter shapes as a battle of two states as the 5th placed Parramatta Eels come up against the 14th placed Gold Coast Titans. Both the Eels and the Titans enter this match off the back of losses, with the Eels being upset by competition cellar dwellers the Newcastle Knights and the Gold Coast Titans being comprehensively defeated by the St George Illawarra Dragons in Wollongong.
Whilst the Gold Coast Titans are no chance of playing finals football this season, the Parramatta Eels currently sit in 5th place on the NRL competition ladder and are odds on to play in the big September matches. Depending on results, a top 4 berth is still a possibility for the blue and golds.
Despite a disruptive week, the Titans will be determined to upset the Eels and potentially ruin their top four aspirations. Look for them to come out firing in what could prove to be another challenging match for the Eels.
Value Bet: This week’s value bet is for the Eels to defeat the Titans by a margin of 13 point or more at $ 1.91 (All odds via Sportsbet). As for first try favourites, the Eels have Semi Radradra at $6 and Kirisome Auva’a out at $9, whereas the Titans have Anthony Don at $11 and Will Zillman at $15.
Interesting fact: The Titans have a very good record against the Eels, winning four of their past five encounter against the Western Sydney based club.
Danger man:
With Jarryd Hayne out, this week’s danger man is now Gold Coast Titans hooker Nathan Peats. Like Hayne, the current Origin rake, is also a former Parramatta Eel. Whilst the Gold Coast Titans may have had a fairly disappointing season, Nathan Peats could count this season as a personal success.
Much of the Titans attacking plays involve Peats given the fact he will often touch the ball more than once in one phase of play. Peats is exactly what you want in modern day hooker, a player that can do the hard yards, making multiple runs and tackles per game. You also want a hooker that can also be a play maker and Peats can do just that. Peats possesses the ability to lay on a range of passes close to the try line.
The opportunity of playing against his former club is sure to be a source of motivation for Peats. He’s proven himself to be a big match player this year, so he’s certain to feature on the Eels’ tip sheets this week.
Team lists:
Parramatta Eels (5th coming into the round)
01. Bevan French
02. Semi Radradra
03. Michael Jennings
04. Brad Takairangi
05. Kirisome Auva’a
06. Corey Norman
07. Mitchell Moses
08. Siosaia Vave
09. Cameron King
10. Tim Mannah (C)
11. Manu Ma’u
12. Tepai Moeroa
13. Nathan Brown
14. Daniel Alvaro
15. Kenny Edwards
16. Suaia Matagi
17. Peni Terepo
19. Will Smith
20. Frank Pritchard
Coach: Brad Arthur
Late mail: No late changes for the Eels are expected at this stage.
Gold Coast Titans (14th coming into the round)
01. Jarryd Hayne* (ruled out through injury)
02. Anthony Don
03. Dale Copley
04. John Olive
05. Will Zillman
06. Tyrone Roberts
07. Ash Taylor
08. Jarrod Wallace
09. Nathan Peats
10. Ryan James
11. Kevin Proctor
12. Joe Greenwood
13. Max King
14. Kane Elgey
15. Nathaniel Peteru
16. Leivaha Pulu
17. Paterika Vaivai
18. Morgan Boyle
19. Ben Nakubuwai
20. Philip Sami
21. Eddy Pettybourne
Coach: Neil Henry
Late mail: Jarryd Hayne has been ruled out through injury and is expected to be replaced by Tyrone Roberts at fullback with Kane Elgey coming into the starting line up to play five eighth. Who replaces Elgey on the bench at this stage is unknown.
Key match up:
Corey Norman vs Kane Elgey:
Corey Norman and Kane Elgey are not listed in the current team lists to be playing the same postions. However, with Jarryd Hayne ruled out through injury earlier in the week, it is widely tipped that Tyrone Roberts will replace Hayne at fullback (as he has done multiple times this season). Kane Elegy will come into the starting team to play Five eighth, thus creating a Corey Norman/Kane Elgey key match up.
Corey Norman started this season in very good form and looked to be one of the major contenders to claim the prestigious Dally M Medal. Unfortunately a couple of injuries have derailed his chances of the claiming the Dally M medal and resulted in some inconsistent form.
Norman excels at playing his own game, so much so that Moses has probably become the dominant organising half for the Eels.
All that said, when they click, the Parramatta halves complement each other’s play well. In attack they don’t limit themselves to a particular side and it’s not unusual to watch them link up in backline sweeps.
The key to a strong performance from Norman will be decisiveness in both his kicking game and the way in which he takes on the line. Eels fans will be hoping for a big lift on his performance against the Knights.
Titans five eighth Kane Elgey hasn’t found the form that fans would have expected in 2017. The young star has the potential to be a top shelf playmaker, but has been outshone by his halves partner in Ash Taylor.
Obviously injury has played a part, but Elgey’s form of late has seen him drop out of the Titans starting line up (as he was named on the bench for this game originally). With the Titans expected to sign a new coach for next season Elgey would be wanting to impress. The Eels will be hoping that doesn’t start this week.
My tip: I think the Eels will come out firing after an embarrassing loss the last placed Newcastle Knights at home. Therefore, I’m tipping the Eels to come out on top in this one fairly easily, Eels 40, Titans 10.
Man of the match: Mitchell Moses or Corey Norman.
Enjoy the game, GO THE EELS !!!
Nathan
Sami is the official replacement at fullback (at this stage) with Hayne and Pettybourne dropping out of the 21. But you’re right, it would have to be Elgey into the halves with Roberts at the back.