Check out the match preview and prediction for the round 5 clash between the Eels and Raiders.
MATCHDAY NEWS
MATCHDAY SCHEDULE
Canberra Raiders Vs Parramatta Eels
Venue: GIO Stadium, Canberra
Date: Sunday April 7th, 6:15pm
MATCHDAY TEAM NEWS
Raiders: 1. Jordan Rapana, 2.James Schiller, 3. Matthew Timoko, 4. Sebastian Kris, 5. Xavier Savage, 6. Ethan Strange, 7. Jamal Fogarty, 8. Josh Papali’i, 9. Danny Levi, 10. Joseph Tapine, 11. Hudson Young, 12. Ata Mariota, 13. Morgan Smithies, 14. Tom Starling, 15. Corey Horsburgh, 16. Simi Sasagi, 17. Pasami Saulo, 18. Kaeo Weekes, 19. Nick Cotric, 20. Trey Mooney, 21. Zac Woolford, 22. Emre Guler
Eels: 1. Clint Gutherson, 2.Maika Sivo, 3. Will Penisini, 4. Bailey Simonsson, 5. Sean Russell, 6. Blaize Talagi, 7. Dylan Brown, 8. Reagan Campbell-Gillard, 9. Joey Lussick, 10. Junior Paulo, 11. Shaun Lane, 12. Ryan Matterson, 13. J’maine Hopgood, 14. Luca Moretti, 15. Wiremu Greig, 16. Joe Ofahengaue, 17. Kelma Tuilagi, 18. Ofahiki Ogden, 19. Daejarn Asi, 20. Brendan Hands, 21. Makahesi Makatoa, 22. Morgan Harper
Referee: Adam Gee
Embed from Getty ImagesMATCHDAY PREVIEW
The final match of round 5 will see the Raiders host Parramatta Eels, with both sides looking to make amends for round 4 losses.
Last week, the Raiders cruelled an early lead against the Sharks to end up on the receiving end of a 36-22 loss. Coach Ricky Stuart was scathing in his assessment of the side afterwards, declaring nobody in his side deserved praise. This week, they are largely unchanged, though they will be without Zac Hosking through concussion, with Ata Mariota to take his spot and Simi Sasagi to move onto the bench.
Meanwhile, the Eels performed badly against the resurgent Tigers to fall 17-16. Their coach, Brad Arthur, made it clear afterwards that they didn’t want it as much as their opposition. Bailey Simonsson returns for Morgan Harper, while Wiremu Greig returns to the bench of after a lengthy injury lay-off.
It could be argued that the Raiders have one of the more exciting rosters on paper. They field plenty of younger players that started the year fast. A particular edge the Raiders will have over the Eels is the organisational skills and kicking game of Jamal Fogarty, who has been as stand out performing so far this season. The Eels are without their chief playmaker, Mitchell Moses, and their lack of organisation was evident in last week’s loss. The Raiders will find plenty of success following a disciplined game plan, getting into an arm-wrestle and playing their sets.
Before last round’s loss, the Eels had put together several strong performances. Their success was on the back of a forward rotation that saw Junior Paulo and Ryan Matterson enter the game around the 25th-minute mark. Strangely, Brad Arthur changed this last week, and their performances declined. Wiremu Greig gives the Eels a four-pronged prop attack, which if rotated correctly, will create a relentless barrage in the middle of the field. It’s this platform that will set up their best chance for victory.
Head-to-head stats can be found at Round 5 Number Crunch.
MATCHDAY PREDICTION
Raiders by two points.
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