Date: Friday, August 30, 2019
Venue: Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane
Kick Off: 7:55pm
Referees: Ashley Klein, Peter Gough
Head-to-head: Played 57 Eels 22 Bulldogs 33 Drawn 2
Odds: Eels $2.20 Broncos $1.70
Broadcast: Nine, Fox League, Kayo
Last Four Encounters:
Eels 38 Broncos 10 Bankwest Stadium (2019)
Broncos 18 Eels 10 Suncorp Stadium (2018)
Eels 52 Broncos 34 Suncorp Stadium (2017)
Eels 28 Broncos 14 ANZ Stadium (2017)
The Warm Up
Was it the loss the Eels had to have?
It’s been a theory put to me multiple times since the Dogs lowered Parra’s colours last week, but in my household it was as popular as Paul Kent at an Eels reunion.
Though the Eels played with intensity, passion and effort, the execution was not quite there and the discipline was disappointing.
Have the Eels learnt anything from the defeat?
With the next assignment taking place in Brisbane against the Broncos, we’ll soon have an answer to that question.
A massive home crowd will provide a hostile arena and the Broncos will be fired up for what could be their season defining game. A loss will place them in danger of missing the finals – an outcome that would leave Broncos fans and power brokers unimpressed.
The Broncos strength and their weakness lies in their forwards. They have incredible potential, and they also pack plenty of impact in this early stage of their careers.
On the other hand, they are relatively inexperienced and their errors and a lack of patience have been costly in important clashes throughout this season.
The Eels forwards controlled the middle when the two teams clashed at BankWest Stadium.
That contest in the forwards will again be instrumental this week.
Having a Punt
Feed Your Footy Brain
The Eels have a 50% record against the Broncos during the Brad Arthur era.
Teams who use the fewest numbers of players are usually more likely to play finals football. The Eels have used 28 different players this year, whereas the Broncos have used 32 players.
Tracking: Blake Ferguson
Have the Eels missed Blake Ferguson during his recent stint on the sidelines?
The results say no, and it’s reasonable to give Brad Takairangi an above average grade for his productive stint on the wing.
However, there’s an intangible quality that Fergo brings to every team he plays in. His competitiveness and will to win cannot be denied, and he’s one of the best talkers in the club.
So maybe the question should be, “Are the Eels a better team with Ferguson included?”
It’s a resounding yes!
Danger man: Payne Haas
I’ve channeled Captain Obvious in identifying this week’s danger man. Let’s face it, to ignore big Payne would be absurd.
The Broncos superstar prop is averaging an insane 175.3 running metres per game. Throw in 5.1 tackle breaks across those runs and you’re describing one of the most dynamic forwards in the NRL.
It may surprise people that the NSW Origin front rower only has 21 NRL appearances on his resume, but it’s a measure of his impact that he’s already becoming a household name.
Though the 6ft4 behemoth tips the scales at 119kg, he has the mobility to create havoc with opposition defences. The challenge is there for the Eels middle to contain him.
Team Lists:
Eels: 1. Clint Gutherson 2. Maika Sivo 3. Michael Jennings 4. Waqa Blake 5. Blake Ferguson 6. Dylan Brown 7. Mitchell Moses 8. Kane Evans 9. Reed Mahoney 10. Junior Paulo 11. Shaun Lane 12. Manu Ma’u 13. Marata Niukore
Interchange: 14. Peni Terepo 15. David Gower 16. Daniel Alvaro 17. Brad Takairangi 18. Tepai Moeroa 21. Josh Hoffman
Broncos: 1. Anthony Milford 5. Jamayne Isaako 3. Kotoni Staggs 4. Alex Glenn 2. Corey Oates 6. Darius Boyd 7. Sean O’Sullivan 8. Matthew Lodge 9. Andrew McCullough 10. Payne Haas 11. David Fifita 12. Matt Gillett 17. Patty Carrigan
Interchange: 14. James Segeyaro 15. Thomas Flegler 16. Gehamat Shibasaki 18. Rhys Kennedy 20. Herbie Farnworth 22. Shaun Fensom
Clint Gutherson vs Anthony Milford
It may not have solved the Broncos halves issues when Milford and Boyd traded jerseys, but the impact from fullback has certainly improved since that time.
His season returns aren’t anything to write home about, but it’s still impacted by his stint in the halves. Milford has an average of 76 running metres and 2.6 tackle breaks, but attention should be paid to his season high of 198 running metres and 7 tackle breaks.
Some players, especially halves, create time and space around themselves. I don’t consider Milford one of those. He’s at his best when given space to weave his magic. That’s the assignment for Parra’s defence.
The King
Clint Gutherson worked himself into a state of exhaustion against the Dogs last week. At one stage in the second half he seemed to be out on his feet and was barely able to defend a break. This may have been the price of a dummy half stint in attack.
It’s hard to deny what Gutherson brings to the team. Leadership, energy, support play, dummy half darts – it’s all there in his average of 162 running metres, and his season tallies of 11 try assists, 10 line breaks and 15 line break assists.
This has been a wonderful year in the career of the King. His near selection in Origin, coupled with a new Eels deal, have set the platform for his future. He’s about to cap that off with his first appearance in a finals match – having missed the Eels last finals series through injury.
And The Winner Is
Should the Eels be the underdogs in this encounter?
They were convincing winners against the Broncos at BankWest Stadium earlier in 2019, and they sit as confirmed finalists with two rounds remaining. The Broncos are still fighting for their season to extend beyond Round 25.
In going down to the Bunnies, Brisbane earned plenty of admirers for their tenacity and fight, right up to the final seconds.
In contrast, the Eels loss raised questions about their credentials and their capacity to match the competitions big guns when placed under pressure. The suspension of Nathan Brown added salt to the wounds and loaded further ammunition into the guns of the critics. And let’s not mention the Eels earlier trip to Suncorp this year.
But just as one win in isolation is not a measure of a team, neither is one loss. Brown’s absence has been covered by the switch of Takairangi to a bench forward position and the inclusion of Peni Terepo. Marata Niukore receives a well earned recall to the starting team.
Arthur will challenge his forwards to play with controlled aggression and Moses will be expected to better manage territory and attacking raids.
Eels to win. Just.
Eels 20 Broncos 16
Man of the Match – Junior Paulo
Eels forever!
Sixties
It really is the time to stand up, we are a far better team than last year, but we must consolidate our position and prove we are worthy of that. I’m predicting a win, many lessons have been learnt/endured during this growth season, but now is the time to action them.
It’s a key game for both clubs. The Broncos are fighting for their season, but I agree, we have to put our lessons into action here.
Its not an easy game to predict, even though the horses have 3 injured players out, they still have two very powerful forwards & a couple of other handy ones as well, if they run their 8-13 on to start the game our same pack should be able to contain them, but an ambush with one of their power boys to come on later rather than start could cause some damage,
Outside of that my main concern is when the bench players come on and especially when Mahoney is off we lose a lot of the intensity, in that aspect Alvaro has to really lift in his game especially defensively, I also hope Gowie can also be back to his consistent play abilities.
Eels, to win, hopefully.
When you look at the minutes Junior player early in the season, I wonder if BA needs to bring him back on earlier to reduce the amount of time we have 2 bench forwards in the middle? We seem to fall apart with our bench on the park, which is very concerning. Oppositions will know this and will wait until we are vulnerable and pounce. Our bench middles will need to be ready for this and really step up. Alvaro has just signed a 2 year extension – time to show the fans and coach what he is made of. Terepo has also been very up and down. Hope he can rip in like we have seen from him in the past.
I can’t disagree. The bench needs to bring more this week.
The Broncos have been tough to get a line on this year. They’ve perhaps been the most unpredictable team.
We’ve got our best backline on the park. The forwards will have to aim up big time. losing Nathan Brown is not a 1 for 1 swap, and without him I wonder about focus, concentration and second effort, the things that cause problems like gaps back behind the ruck because slow movers (mind and body) are ‘resting’. Stay alive, stay awake and we win.
We seem to have remedied the slow movers behind the ruck. I say that with fingers crossed.
Good read sixties.
Looking at the last 3\4 Games scores vs Brisbane Broncos. We have won well by that I mean by more then 2 tries.
Our last Game at Suncorp was a nightmare vs Storm. But in saying that we are playing a side that is as desperate as the dogs were last week. Are we ready this time bloody hope so.
Excercusion has to be on point. Our line speed as to keep in a straight Line.
Ppl keep saying the bronco’s have a big pack of forward’s last time I checked our pack is very big also. Kane , Lane , junior Paulo, marata niukore n Manu. Not small ppl by any stretch of the imagination.
My Only concern is how slow Daniel Alvaro is at peeling off player’s. His to slow n will more then likely cost us penaltys.
I Think Ferguson will be raring to go.
Moses needs to take charge n guide the team around. kick to the corner’s keep turning the bronco’s pack around is what should happen tonight. Moses needs to run more at the line look to show n Go. Moses running Game is his strength
Dylan Brown needs to help out more. Start taking on the line n straighten the attack.
I Think our team will bounce back.
Eels 32 Brisbane 12
1st try scorer. Jennings
Last try scorer Lane
Half time. Eels 18\ Brisbane 6
Full-time Eels 32 Brisbane 12
Moses 6\6
Thanks Rev, glad your confident about the score line. I think you’re a bit tough on Dylan. His game is based on taking on the line and straightening the attack. We need Moses to put last week behind him and get back to his good game management.
I just Think Dylan Brown has been just sitting back watching Moses do a lot of the Work.
Keep hearing broncos hot favourites, I don’t know about that. After watching cook carve em up last week I can see Moses, brown and mahoney doing the same as long as our forwards keep us in the hunt
Agree mate – their strength is also their weakness.
According to the NRL site head to head at 20 wins each does this make Parra, apart from the Storm, one the more successful teams to play against the Broncos?
That’s not a bad average considering the last five years.
The Canterbury match BA should have sent Junior P out as soon as Smith was marched. His offloads would have created havoc especially while Jackson was on the wing – injured.
I thought when Moses made those passing errors his game suffered and then the team suffered.
This is a desperate game for the Broncos and their forwards will be firing. Parra needs Moses at his best.
As much as it will be a defining game for them more so for Parra.
They beat the broncos and then Manly they are alive as a real threat to win the competition.
Whatever happens between now and then we wait and see but it has been a good year.
They should make good use of Sivo for this match. They might think it’s Semi.
Go the Eels.
It’s twenty wins apiece across the last 40 games, not across their entire history. But that is an impressive record.
I assume you meant Brown not Smith. Some of these footballer’s names can be challenging! 😀
It has been a good year. And like you, I’d like a bit more action for Sivo this week.
When the doggies winger was marched.
Twelve players apiece Paulo should have gone straight out – it would have been the difference between winning and losing.
Jackson was hurt and on the wing – Paulos offloads would have created those line breaks.
Half time..pretty even game. We’re playing well, but enough self inflicted momentum halts for the Broncs to be threatening.
Can’t believe that 39th minute penalty. The Broncs have committed similar all night…slow last peel, second or late working of body position, and holding too long after standing up. Just annoying.
Going forward, it’s obvious we are not going to get any help from the refs against the favourite sides. This has to be the team going forward starting this Tuesday team selection against Manly
1. Clinton Gutherson
2. Maika Sivo
3. Michael Jennings
4. Waqa Blake
5. Blake Ferguson
6. Dylan Brown
7. Mitchell Moses
8. Kane Evans
9. Reed Mahoney
10. Junior Paulo
11. Shaun Lane
12. Manu Ma’u
13. Nathan Brown (Rd 25 v Manly – Marata Niukore)
14. Brad Takairangi – Utility for backs and fowards
15. Stefano Utoikamanu
16. Oregon Kaufusi or Tin Mannah v Manly Rd 25
17. Marata Niukore (Rd 25 v Manly – Peni Terepo or Amdrew Davey)