Date: Friday 1st of September
Venue: ANZ Stadium
Gates Open: 5:20 pm
Kick off: 7:50 pm (NYC 5:35 pm)
Head Referee: Gavin Badger
Assistant Referee: Chris Butler
Head to head: Played 123, Rabbitohs 67, Eels 53, drawn 3
Head to head odds: Eels ($ 1.16), Titans ($ 5.50)
Broadcast: Live Channel Nine (Broadcast kick off: 7:30pm)
Last four encounters:
01. Eels 22, Rabbioths 16 at ANZ Stadium (2017)
02. Eels 30, Rabbioths 12 at ANZ Stadium (2016)
03. Rabbitohs 22, Eels 20 at Pirtek Stadium (2016)
04. Rabbitohs 14, Eels 12 at ANZ Stadium (2015)
Preview:
This Friday night’s encounter between the Parramatta Eels and Souths Sydney Rabbitohs marks the final game in the home and away NRL season for both teams, and regardless of the outcome, the Eels will be playing finals football for the first time since 2009.
The Rabbitohs won’t be involved in this year’s finals but they will be determined to end the year on a positive note with a win against the currently 4th placed Parramatta Eels.
A win for the Eels means a top four finish and a valuable second chance should they lose their first finals match up.
The Eels and Rabbitohs enter this clash in very contrasting fashions, the Eels having put more than 50 points on the Broncos and the Rabbitohs having had more than 50 points put on them by the Storm.
One week can make plenty of difference in the game of Rugby League and on their day any team stands a chance of defeating another. For that reason, the Eels will be unlikely to take the Bunnies lightly.
For the fans, your support Is important. Be there at ANZ to cheer the Eels on.
Value Bet:
My value bet is the Parramatta Eels to win at the line with a -15.5 points start valued at $1.91 (all odds via Sportsbet).
The first try market sees the Eels’ Semi Radradra at a very short $5.50 and Kirisome Auva’a out at $9. The Rabbitohs have two very long odds first try favourites in Campbell Graham and Robert Jennings both valued at $19 to claim the first try. If you fancy a Rabbitohs bolter for first try, look to Angus Crichton at $26.
Interesting fact:
The Eels have lost just one game since the end of round fourteen, and remarkably that loss came at the hands of likely wooden spooners, the Newcastle Knights, in round 23.
Danger man:
This week’s danger man is Rabbitohs young gun back rower Angus Crichton. The rookie back rower is arguably Souths shining light in what has been an otherwise bleak season.
It could be argued that the Bunnies never really recovered from the injury to Greg Inglis, despite putting in a strong performance here or there.
Crichton on the other hand will look back on this season as the time he announced his arrival as a genuine NRL star. Every time he touches the ball he looks dangerous. He has amassed seven tries and ten line breaks – decent statistics for a back rower.
Crichton has the ability to run the ball and break multiple tackles, and is arguably one of the fastest forwards – as evidenced by his chase on Melbourne Storm flyer Suliasi Vunivalu.
Without doubt, Crichton will feature prominently in the Eels tip sheets.
Team lists:
Parramatta Eels (4th coming into the round)
01. Will Smith
02. Semi Radradra
03. Michael Jennings
04. Brad Takairangi
05. Kirisome Auva’a
06. Corey Norman
07. Mitchell Moses
08. Daniel Alvaro
09. Cameron King
10. Tim Mannah (C)
11. Manu Ma’u
12. Tepai Moeroa
13. Nathan Brown
14. David Gower
15. Kenny Edwards
16. Siosaia Vave
17. Suaia Matagi
18. Kaysa Pritchard
20. Beau Scott
Coach: Brad Arthur
Late mail: Both Beau Scott and Kaysa Pritchard stand a chance of making their returns, although Scott is more likely to return than Pritchard.
Souths Sydney Rabbitohs (11th coming into the round)
01. Bryson Goodwin
02. Campbell Graham
20. Siosifa Talakai
04. Tyrell Fuimaono
05. Robert Jennings
06. Cody Walker
21. Luke Kelly
08. Thomas Burgess
09. Damian Cook
10. Sam Burgess (C)
11. John Sutton
12. Angus Crichton
13. Cameron Murray
14. Robbie Farah
15. George Burgess
16. Kyle Turner
17. Dean Britt
18. Jason Clark
19. David Tyrell
Coach: Michael Maguire
Late mail: Both Aaron Gray and Adam Reynolds have been ruled out through injury with Siosifa Talakai replacing Aaron Gray and former Eel Luke Kelly replacing Adam Reynolds. Apart from those changes expect the Rabbitohs to enter this one with an unchanged line up.
Key match up:
Daniel Alvaro vs Sam Burgess:
This battle of the front rowers pitches the Eels young workhorse Daniel Alvaro against the Rabbitohs captain, Sam Burgess.
Alvaro started this season on the fringe of the Eels first grade team, but after forcing his way onto the Eels bench he quickly made himself an integral part of the Eels top seventeen. Polar’s strong performances and work ethic resulted in him earning a spot in the Eels starting line-up on numerous occasions.
The Eels success this season wouldn’t have been possible without the hard yards made by the “engine room” and Alvaro has been a key contributor. The young bull has upped his game in the second half of the year, bending the line with his charges and averaging around 30 tackles per game.
On the verge of playing in his first NRL finals series, you can bet Danny can’t wait to test himself against one of the game’s elite, and I don’t expect this country boy from Mittagong to back down.
Speaking of elite forwards, former Clive Churchill medal winner Sam Burgess will present a mighty challenge for the Parramatta pack.
The rugged Englishman is always amongst the Rabbitohs best performers week in week out. Though it’s hardly been a stellar season for many Souths players, Burgess still averages over 140 metres per game, scoring five tries in the process.
The big fella is often the go to man for the Bunnies, particularly close to the opposition try line. Standing at 196cm and weighing in at 116kg, he’s a difficult proposition to stop. His offload in traffic is another string to his bow and something that the Eels need to be wary of.
My tip: I see the Eels winning here and winning comfortably. The Rabbitohs are down on troops and to put it simply are out of the Eels league. Eels 40 – Rabbitohs 6.
Man of the match: Nathan Brown, Corey Norman, Mitchell Moses or Semi Radradra
Enjoy the game, GO THE EELS !!!
Nathan
Hard to predict a scoreline, but I have two scenarios to consider:
a) Souths are pumped and committed and come out with purpose against a Parramatta side that is up for it, but maybe not as much as they should be. Souths lead into the 35 minute mark 14 – 6. Then Parra score and convert halftime Souths 14 – 12. Second half Souths start like they did the first half scoring early to extend their lead to 20 – 12. Parramatta get a rocket from the sideline to be fair-dinkum and run out comfortable winners 32 -20.
b) Souths appear to be pumped for it in the early exchanges but the Eels ferocious defense and quick line speed soon overwhelm Souths play makers. This is followed up by pinpoint kicking to the corners from MM and CN. Our attack is sharp and decisive with our halves taking control on the back of our domination of midfield where our forwards make Souths big blokes tired and are run ragged. Parra lead 24 – 4 at halftime. Second half more of the same with our outside backs killin it. The Eels run out winners 48 – 10 with Souths picking up a consolation try to Bryson Goodwin backing up break from Sam Burgess who finds Angus Crighten trailing him on an edge where he is converged on by 3 or 4 Parra players scrambling to stop another try but Big Angus gets a lovely ball away to the faithful Goodwin who’s had a shocker all game but has never given up. BA nearly breaks the glass in the coaches box smashing his water bottles a little too hard.
I’ll take scenario two!
Souths will be slaughtered even though they have promoted one of Parra’s former best players, Luke Kelly.
Hahahahah. Good one Glenn!
I wondering if Souffs would be keen to offload their best forward for this season in much the same way they did last year?
Hard to believe they didn’t rate Brown. Wrong accent for a forward at Souths?
their loss our gain and one which has worked better for us than them
How good is it!