Check out the match preview and prediction for the 2025 National Rugby League round 2 clash between the Parramatta Eels and Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs.
MATCHDAY NEWS
MATCHDAY SCHEDULE
Parramatta Eels Vs Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs
Venue: CommBank Stadium, Parramatta
Date: Sunday March 23rd, 4:05pm (ADST)
MATCHDAY TEAM NEWS
Eels: 1. Isaiah Iongi 2. Sean Russell 3. Viliami Penisini 4. Zac Lomax 5. Jordan Samrani 6. Dylan Brown 7. Dean Hawkins 8. Joe Ofahengaue 9. Brendan Hands 10. Junior Paulo 11. Shaun Lane 12. Jack Williams 13. J’maine Hopgood 14. Ryley Smith 15. Matt Doorey 16. Kitione Kautoga 17. Sam Tuivaiti 18. Ryan Matterson 19. Joash Papali’i 20. Dan Keir 21. Josh Addo-Carr 22. Joey Lussick
Bulldogs: 1. Connor Tracey 2. Blake Wilson 3. Bronson Xerri 4. Stephen Crichton 5. Marcelo Montoya 6. Bailey Hayward 7. Toby Sexton 8. Max King 9. Reed Mahoney 10. Josh Curran 11. Sitili Tupouniua 12. Jacob Preston 13. Jaeman Salmon 14. Kurt Mann 15. Harry Hayes 16. Daniel Suluka-Fifita 17. Kurtis Morrin 19. Joseph O’Neill 20. Jack Todd 21. Blake Taaffe 22. Luke Smith 23. Jonathan Sua
Referee: Wyatt Raymond
Bunker: Gerard Sutton
MATCHDAY PREVIEW
A near sell-out crowd and an electric atmosphere are expected when Western Sydney rivals, the Parramatta Eels and the Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs, face off this Sunday. For the home side, the stakes are high as they search for their first win of the season. Meanwhile, the Bulldogs are riding a wave of early momentum, aiming for a 3-0 start for the first time since 2012.
The Eels’ season has begun frustratingly, with their attack struggling to fire without star halfback Mitchell Moses. In a bid to find stability, coach Jason Ryles has made key changes to the squad. Josh Addo-Carr has been named in the extended squad and could make a late inclusion, adding much-needed speed and strikepower to their backline. Ryan Matterson has also been listed as 18th Man and remains a chance to come onto the bench. However, the most significant change comes in the halves, with Dean Hawkins replacing Ronald Volkman at halfback. Ryles will be hoping this adjustment injects some direction into the Eels’ attack, which looked disjointed in last week’s disappointing loss to the Tigers.
The Bulldogs enter the match in strong form but will have to overcome the absence of two key players. Five-eighth Matt Burton and second-rower Viliame Kikau have both been ruled out, forcing coach Cameron Ciraldo into crucial adjustments. Bailey Hayward steps into the halves alongside Toby Sexton, while Sitili Tupouniua fills the void left by Kikau in the forward pack. The re-shuffle also sees Kurt Morrin and Daniel Suluka-Fifita earn spots on the bench.
With both teams facing disruption in their playmaking roles, the battle of the halves will be crucial. For the Eels, the onus falls on Dylan Brown to step up in Moses’ absence. While Hawkins will play a role in steering the team, Brown’s experience and leadership will be pivotal in ensuring Parramatta’s attack finally sparks into life. Last week, the Eels had multiple attacking sets inside the Tigers’ 20-metre zone but failed to generate any real threat. That simply cannot happen again.
On the other side, Sexton faces a similar responsibility for the Bulldogs. Since joining the club midway through last season, Sexton has done a stellar job of guiding the team, but with Burton out, the weight of expectation will increase. How he manages the game and brings his outside men into play will be key to Canterbury’s chances.
Another defining contest will take place in the middle of the park. Last week, Bulldogs prop Max King was outstanding, charging for 177 metres from 19 runs in a tireless performance. In contrast, Eels veteran Junior Paulo had a quieter outing, managing just 104 metres from 11 carries. He will be determined to prove that he still belongs among the NRL’s elite front-rowers. A strong performance from Paulo and his fellow forwards is essential if the Eels are to provide their halves with the platform they need to break through the Bulldogs’ defence.
Unless the Eels find a way to fix their attacking woes, it is difficult to see where their points will come from. The potential inclusion of Addo-Carr could provide a boost, but it will ultimately come down to whether their spine can generate scoring opportunities. Meanwhile, the Bulldogs, despite missing two of their best players, have shown greater fluency and cohesion in attack. That could prove to be the difference.
MATCHDAY PREDICTION
Bulldogs by 12 points.
Check out all the NRL Predictions here.
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