Nathan Smith previews the Saturday night encounter between the Canberra Raiders and Parramatta Eels. Here’s what we have to look forward to…
MATCHDAY NEWS
MATCHDAY SCHEDULE
Canberra Raiders Vs Parramatta Eels
Venue: GIO Stadium, Canberra
Date: Saturday May 13, 7:35pm (local)
MATCHDAY TEAM NEWS
Raiders: 1. Sebastian Kris 2. Albert Hopoate 3. Jarrod Croker 4. Matthew Timoko 5. Jordan Rapana 6. Jack Wighton 7. Jamal Fogarty 8. Josh Papali’i 9. Zac Woolford 10. Joseph Tapine 11. Hudson Young 12. Elliott Whitehead 13. Corey Horsburgh 14. Tom Starling 15. Emre Guler 16. Pasami Saulo 17. Ata Mariota 18. Xavier Savage 19. Harley Smith-Shields 20. Corey Harawira-Naera 21. Trey Mooney 22. Hohepa Puru
Eels: 1. Clinton Gutherson 2. Maika Sivo 3. Viliami Penisini 4. Bailey Simonsson 5. Haze Dunster 6. Dylan Brown 7. Jakob Arthur 8. Wiremu Greig 9. Josh Hodgson 10. Junior Paulo 11. Shaun Lane 12. Andrew Davey 13. J’maine Hopgood 14. Bryce Cartwright 15. Brendan Hands 16. Ryan Matterson 17. Makahesi Makatoa 18. Sean Russell 19. Ofahiki Ogden 20. Matt Doorey 21. Daejarn Asi 22. Ky Rodwell
Referee: Grant Atkins
Embed from Getty ImagesMATCHDAY PREVIEW
The Raiders made it four straight after just crossing the line against the Bulldogs in a high-scoring affair. After a scrappy start to the year, with their last loss (round 5) seeing them concede 53 points, they’ve started to find some consistency and set themselves up nicely leading into the middle of the season.
Contrastingly, the Eels have yet to find much consistency, having suffered another narrow loss last week, this time to the Titans. Like many occasions this year, they will rue what could have been, after statistically being the better side across many different figures, yet failing to make the one that matters most count: the scoreboard.
The Raiders have only made one change, with Albert Hopoate coming into the team. Otherwise, they have had the luxury of largely naming the same team the past few rounds. They will be banking on the nature of a cold, Canberra night to put their opponents off their game. Furthermore, they will identify Jake Arthur, who plays his first game for the Eels this year, as someone to test out in defence. With the opportunity to make it five straight, and slot themselves into the top eight, the Raiders should be expected to come out firing.
The Eels will be missing Mitchell Moses, which is a huge blow. Jake Arthur comes into 7, but the responsibility to guide the team will likely fall more on Dylan Brown’s shoulders. With 238 running metres and two try assists, he was one of the Eels’ best last week. With a win keeping them within striking distance of the eight, and a loss making their cause all the harder, they will be desperate to get the two points this week.
LAST TEN MATCHES
Raiders 5, Eels 5
MATCHDAY PREDICTION
Eels by 1.
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