Matt Attard previews the final game of Round 8: the Parramatta Eels against the Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs.
MATCHDAY NEWS
MATCHDAY SCHEDULE
Parramatta Eels Vs Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs
Venue: CommBank Stadium, Sydney
Date: Sunday April 16, 4:00pm
MATCHDAY TEAM NEWS
Eels: 1. Clinton Gutherson 2. Maika Sivo 3. Viliami Penisini 4. Sean Russell 5. Haze Dunster 6. Dylan Brown 7. Mitchell Moses 8. Reagan Campbell-Gillard 9. Josh Hodgson 10. Junior Paulo 11. Shaun Lane 12. Bryce Cartwright 13. Ryan Matterson 14. J’maine Hopgood 15. Brendan Hands 16. Wiremu Greig 17. Makahesi Makatoa 18. Jakob Arthur 19. Matt Doorey 20. Ofahiki Ogden 21. Jack Murchie 22. Waqa Blake
Bulldogs: 1. Hayze Perham 2. Jacob Kiraz 3. Jake Averillo 4. Paul Alamoti 5. Braidon Burns 6. Matt Burton 7. Kyle Flanagan 8. Max King 9. Reed Mahoney 10. Tevita Pangai Junior 11. Viliame Kikau 12. Jacob Preston 13. Raymond Faitala-Mariner 14. Josh Reynolds 15. Jayden Okunbor 16. Corey Waddell 17. Ryan Sutton 19. Karl Oloapu 20. Jackson Topine 21. Samuel Hughes 22. Declan Casey 23. Andrew Davey
Referee: Chris Butler
Embed from Getty ImagesMATCHDAY PREVIEW
Mitchell Moses led the Parramatta Eels to a close win over the Wests Tigers on Easter Monday, but their positive glimpses were often overshadowed by their poor defensive lapses and errors.
The Bulldogs were walloped at home by a rampant South Sydney outfit on Good Friday, and although they lost Josh Addo-Carr to injury during the match, they were simply abysmal in defence and failed to overcome a five-day turnaround. Parramatta will welcome Junior Paulo back from suspension while the Bulldogs will have Tevita Pangai Junior, Raymond Faitala-Mariner, and Jayden Okunbor back from injury and suspension.
They will, however, be without Addo-Carr (ankle, eight weeks) and Viliame Kikau (torn pec, 10 weeks) in what continues a horror run of injuries for the club.
Historically this rivalry always produces great games and for Bulldogs captain Reed Mahoney it’s his first time facing his old club.
Both teams have been inconsistent to start the year and will be looking for a complete performance.
It just feels as though the Eels are ahead in terms of looking like a team building for the finals.
LAST TEN MATCHES
Eels 7. Bulldogs 3
MATCHDAY PREDICTION
Eels by two points.
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