7.50pm, Friday, 1^st September 2017

ANZ Stadium, Homebush, NSW

How good does it feel that this is the final game of the home and away season, but it isn’t the final game for the Eels for 2017!

With the Eels currently sitting in 4^th spot, a top four finish is ours to lose. To secure this outcome, we need to overcome a South Sydney side who would be desperate to put a disappointing year behind them and finish on a high.

Incredibly, if results fall our way this weekend the Eels could actually finish second. We would need to put a score on the Rabbits, have the Cowboys beat the Broncos and also rely on the Titans to defeat the Roosters. Ahhh yes we can dream. The one thing that could happen is that the Cowboys do beat the Broncos and we finish 3^rd. That is a real possibility.

So as well anxiously wait for the Blue and Golds to hit the field on Friday, let’s look at the numbers between these two rivals.

Last 10 Games

The last 10 games between these two sides sees the Rabbitohs hold a healthy 7 wins to 3 advantage over the Eels.

Score Aggregate

Eels – 165

Rabbitohs – 236

Score Average

Eels – 17

Rabbitohs – 24

Quick Facts

• The Eels and Rabbitohs have played each other 123 times
• Rabbitohs lead with a 67 to 53 win loss record
• At ANZ they have played each other 13 times with Souths leading 9 wins to Parra’s 4
• The Eels at ANZ have played 74 times with a 36 – 37 win loss record
• The Eels last 10 games at ANZ sees them with 8 wins to 2 losses
• The Rabbitohs have played at ANZ 152 times for a 80 – 70 win loss record
• The last 10 games at ANZ sees the Rabbitohs with a 5 – 5 record
• 2017 – Eels sit 4^th with 15 wins and 8 losses. The Eels scoring at 20.6 points p/g and conceding 19.2 points p/g
• 2017 – Souths sit 11^th with 9 wins and 14 losses. Souths score at 19.5 points p/g and let in 23.6 points p/g

By Quarters (And Golden Point)

As you can see, a great first half will put the Rabbitohs away and see the Eels cruise to a well-deserved victory.

However,if it is tight at half time, Souths have the capacity to come out and kick ahead after the break. Souths come out great after oranges, but it’s before oranges that they aren’t going to much to bother the scoreboard attendant.

The Eels will be looking to maintain their win loss record when ahead at the half time break. On 13 occasions, Parra have led at the break and have not been run down. I’m sure this would be a great stat that the Eels can be very proud of come the end of this game. Only Parra can hold that stat aloft if they lead and win on Friday night.

Attack:

*average per game (Ranking)

Defence:

*average per game (Ranking)

Discipline:

*average per game (Ranking)

Souths will struggle to get any ascendency in this game. Adam Reynolds does have a great long kicking game, but with no attacking weapons on hand with Alex Johnston sidelined, you would think the Rabbitohs won’t have the strike or class to pull off an upset over the Eels.

The Burgess boys are renowned for a few errors especially early in the tackle count and Sam doesn’t mind giving a penalty away either! He seems to become frustrated quite easily.

All this and some great field position for set starts should see the Eels comfortable winners.

So as the home and away rounds come to a conclusion, let’s hope we can finish off the season with a resounding victory over the Rabbitohs.

We need to keep our momentum going, especially if we do face Melbourne in the first week of the finals. A very polished performance will give the other top 8 sides another team to fear bar the Storm.

The Blue and Gold band wagon will be rolling out to ANZ and hopefully we can get a crowd of close to 30,000 if not more to cheer the Eels boys home to victory and wish them well going into the finals.

Don’t forget it is also Members Appreciation round for the Mighty Blue and Gold faithful. So lets get a lot of bums on seats Friday night.

Yours in Blue and Gold

Colmac

Stats courtesy of Champion Data. All these stats and more can be viewed on our match centre at http://mc.championdata.com/nrl/ including live game stats.

Champion Data

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