Date: Friday 11th May
Venue: ANZ Stadium
Kick Off: 7:55PM
Head Referee: Ashley Klein
Assistant Referee: Peter Gough
Head-to-head: Played 152, Parramatta 65, Canterbury 82, Drawn 5
Odds: Eels $1.85 Bulldogs $2:00
Broadcast: Simulcast on Channel 9 & Foxtel from 7:30PM
Last Four Encounters:
- Parramatta 20 def. Canterbury 4 @ ANZ Stadium (2017)
- Parramatta 13 def. Canterbury 12 @ ANZ Stadium (2017)
- Parramatta 20 def. Canterbury 12 @ ANZ Stadium (2016)
- Parramatta 20 def. Canterbury 6 @ANZ Stadium (2016)
The Warm Up:
It’s stunning to think that Round 10 would feature a Bulldogs and Eels clash being billed as a battle of the wooden spoon. The reality is that the loser could be anchored to the bottom rung of the ladder for some time.
Even though both teams have each won two matches, the Dogs have probably been the more competitive of the two clubs across the first nine rounds. The boys from Belmore were justifiably angered by the circumstances surrounding their last minute loss to the Broncos. Can they harness the pain to work to their advantage or will that defeat take more wind out of their sails?
The Eels were back into their bad habits in the loss to the Sharks. The last minute flurry really masked their inability to execute Rugby League 101 on the field – be patient, be disciplined, build pressure.
Having a Punt:
This week’s value bet is for the Parramatta Eels at -1.5 with under 33.5 total match points paying $5.25 via TAB Sportsbet..
The first try favourites are listed below:
Eels: Bevan French $9
Bulldogs: Brett Morris $10
Feed Your Footy Brain:
The numbers are very similar for both teams this year. In attack, the Bulldogs average 15.2 points per game against the Eels 14.9. In defence, the Bulldogs again hold the slimmest advantage in conceding 21.1 points per game to the Eels 22.9.
Tracking: Siosaia Vave
Can Siosaia Vave cement a first grade spot?
It’s taken ten rounds and a raft of injuries in the roster for Siosaia Vave to make his first appearance in the top grade for 2018. He’d be the first to admit that he needed to improve his conditioning to earn that NRL spot this year, and his minutes have been built up via the Wenty Magpies feeder team.
On the plus side, Vave offers the bigger body shape missing since the injury to Tony Williams. He’s an awkward conveyance to tackle and will draw multiple defenders into the middle of the ruck. The Eels will be looking for his charges and post contact metres to get the Bulldogs defence back pedalling and unsettled.
Danger man:
This week’s danger man is Bulldogs’ back rower Raymond Faitala-Mariner.
The powerful Kiwi forward may not get the headlines, but his damaging charges and ability to generate second phase football must have featured heavily in the Eels tip sheets.
Andrew Fifita clearly demonstrated the impact that a strong running big man with an offload can have against the Eels. If Faitala-Mariner is allowed to showcase his skills, it could just kick start an avalanche of points for the Dogs.
Team lists:
Bulldogs: 1 Moses Mbye, 2 Brett Morris, 3 Josh Morris, 4 Will Hopoate, 5 Marcelo Montoya, 6 Matt Frawley, 7 Kieran Foran, 8 Aaron Woods, 9 Jeremy Marshall-King, 10 David Klemmer, 11 Josh Jackson (c), 12 Raymond Faitala-Mariner, 13 Rhyse Martin
Interchange: 14 Adam Elliott, 15 Danny Fualalo, 16 Renouf Toomaga, 17 Kerrod Holland
Eels: 1 Clint Gutherson (c), 2 Bevan French, 3 Michael Jennings, 4 Brad Takairangi, 5 George Jennings, 6 Corey Norman, 7 Mitchell Moses, 8 Daniel Alvaro, 9 Will Smith, 10 Suaia Matagi, 11 Manu Ma’u, 12 Tepai Moeroa, 13 Peni Terepo
Interchange: 14 Beau Scott (c), 15 Kenny Edwards, 16 David Gower, 17 Siosaia Vave
Will Smith vs Jeremy Marshall-King:
It’s the battle of the converted halves when the number 9s line up this week.
Marshall-King made the move from the Tigers to the Bulldogs this season in search of opportunity. The acquisition of brother Benji Marshall and star recruit Josh Reynolds would have limited the young half’s chances this year at his local club. Now, having earned his chance in the halves for the Dogs, Marshall-King has found himself at dummy half as coach Dean Pay looks to inject greater punch around the ruck.
The younger Marshall has proven himself to be a tough competitor, having survived the hit of the year delivered by Dean Whare. He’s no stranger to dummy half, having played there in ISP for the Tigers, and possesses good pace off the mark. Carrying the ball skills of a half into the role, the biggest question will centre on his ability to cope with the defensive workload in the middle.
The versatile Will Smith
Will Smith is another converted half, though he finds himself shifting from a bench utility role due to the injury to Kaysa Pritchard. His elevation to the number 9 signals the work that lies ahead for Cameron King to reclaim the job he owned at the start of the season.
Smith is one of the fastest players at the Eels and a well timed dart could cause problems for the Dogs. His kicking game adds an extra dimension to the Eels attack and takes some pressure off the Eels halves.
The question hovers over Smith’s ability to deliver quality service for 80 minutes. His fitness is not a concern, but he’s transitioning from short stints to focussing for the entirety of a match
And The Winner Is:
I’m certain that I’m not alone in feeling tense about this match.
When the Eels named their 21 for this week, they only had one more fit player from the top 30 at their disposal. Just like a couple of other clubs, the Eels are suffering from a significant injury toll.
Bulldogs and Eels clashes are always tense affairs, regardless of the result. This may well be the worst time to face the Dogs. However, if the Eels are disciplined and patient, they can force errors from a Dogs team that’s just as frustrated with their attack as their Parramatta opponents. To do so, they’ll also have to employ a much better kicking game than what was witnessed against the Sharks.
Based on form, this shouldn’t be a high scoring affair. Put me down for an Eels win 16 to 6
Man of the match: Mitch Moses
Eels forever!
Sixties
I believe the eels can win, its make or break for both teams as you said 60’s, well in other words anyway.
I would really like to see Marata get a run this week, its the first time this year, at least I think it is, that he has survived the first cut. He played prop in his last outing in ISP and understand he did ok. Who to replace, I would suggest Matagi. Marata is not that much lighter 4 kg, has the same height as Vave, and should be enthused if he gets a run.
I hope to see Scott have a big game as he needs it in order to keep playing in the top squad he has been down in form so far this year but if it becomes redemption time and his legs hold out he could be a winner.
Hope you’re right brother…
So do I Brother, So do I.
Interesting, Sixties. I am of the belief we have a glass half full of hope when it comes to the selected team. A few of the selected 17 could be game breakers for us, I’m referring to Scott and Vave from the glass half full perspective.
Both men know what their mission is and I believe it is just to bring the best version of themselves to this game. If they do that when they come on or if one of them actually starts the game it will be the impetus for the rest of the team to start well and complete their sets, kick to the corners and be patient.
If we can do that I believe we will blow the Dogs off the park through the middle with our bench rotation much stronger than the Dogs.
I like that thought and plan Rowdy; plans make sure that you communicate it to the boys……
Good write up sixties.
Like most on here I’m looking forward to the game.
I think if parra can bring that last 6 minute form in the game vs cronulla n play like that for 80 minutes I think we can win n win well.
I hope buea plays out of his skin IMO he needs to or it’s back to Wenty for him n that would be a sad way for him to finish his career.
He need to fire up n get in forans face all night n make klemmer go mad n give away penalty’s n then sin bin. That is we’re we should take even more advantage of a man down.
Our halfs have to start gelling start playing as one not as individuals if they can play as one we are on the way to winning.
Our forwards need to lay a solid platform as they say forwards win matches backs decide by how much. If our halfs fire I can see our backs running all over a back line yet to fire.
Mom. Moses.
Winner. Eels
Score. Eels 28 / dogs 12
#Eels4life#
I think the (eels )team owes it to Foran Rev to sort him out…..
Milo he did us no favours. In fact it was BA’s handling of Foran that gives me the confidence to know that he will deal with under performing players currently at the Eels
Agreed and i was inferring that our fwds sort him…as in give him a welcome!
I like the confidence shown on here fellas and hope we do win; but i cannot see it unless we have a superb forward display. I have lost some confidence tbh and seeing Mr Klein is ref and in light of Dean Pays spray last week i see the penalties an issue for the eels’ C’bury big fwds may be hard to stop.
The team is already under pressure and the staff and another loss will only add to this unless they pull something out.
I would be disappointed if Marata can not get a go – and we have heard that Vave is not v fit….
Has Vave ever been fit at any time in his career
I am not in a position to answer this….
Praying for Marata to get the call up over Scott
Is it possible that some players have been tapped on the shoulder already and been told their services are not required next season? Just wondering
Sixties, remember that little conversation we had earlier in the year.
That 2017 finals campaign seems a so distant now mate.
I’m about to go to bed, I sat & watched the game on Tele, its been finished now for ? I held on unto Gutho muffed putting the ball dead. At that point I was gutted.
I have watched the coach talk of how the team played and the aspect of effort, and for me it was there tonight, trouble for me is that after we scored the first two tries, they once again changed the style of play and played into the dogs hands.
Just some gut feelings. Scott should retire, he was game but when he did his shoulder, (again?) I think he needs to hang up the boots. Matagi and Vave are not NRL players, both had a couple of big runs but overall just played enough to be noticed.
A bad head hit on the ground took Alvaro out, who was VG.