The National Rugby League’s regional tour of Australia continues on Saturday night when Parramatta Eels take on Gold Coast Titans at TIO Stadium in Darwin. Parramatta coming off the bye need to continue to win with twelve competition points certain to be lost very soon. It won’t be easy against the Titans coming off a golden point victory in Perth against South Sydney.
LAST TIME OUT
With Parramatta having the bye last round, their last match was in round 12 where they took on Newcastle Knights at Hunter Stadium. On a two game losing streak, it was important for the club to put a fortnight of off-field dramas behind them and focus on getting their season back on track. Newcastle were never going to be easy to knock over at home leading 18-10 with twenty-five remaining it appeared an upset was on the cards. Tries to Bevan French and Michael Gordon put the Eels up 20-18. However the Knights didn’t lay down with Nathan Ross denied the match winner inside the final two minutes. Parramatta sneaking home in a Monday night thriller.
Gold Coast Titans traveled to Perth last Sunday where they took on South Sydney Rabbitohs. This was one of the few games in round thirteen not affected by a weather system that lashed the east coast of Australia. Continuing on from their big win over Penrith a week earlier, Gold Coast were leading 18-0 seven minutes after the break and looked certain to go on and smash the 2014 NRL Premiers. In the next twenty minutes the game took a mood swing as the Rabbitohs hit back with four tries to trail 24-22. Josh Hoffman appeared to seal victory before Cameron McInnes scored on full time to force the game into golden point. A dramatic extra time took place with Nathan Brown’s contact with Ryan James denying Blues half Adam Reynolds victory. It was young gun Ash Taylor who made the winning play which elevated the Titans into the top eight.
KEY BATTLES
Ryan James’ name is being thrown around as a potential NSW Origin candidate in light of Boyd Cordner’s injury that will keep him out of Origin II. He has been in wonderful form over the last few weeks, especially in Perth where he made the most metres and made the most tackles for his team in playing 66 minutes. James will be looking to dominate up front and lead the Titans to a third straight win.
The superstar battle this week is between Corey Norman and Ashley Taylor. Taylor is playing above his experience, showing it was not an easy decision for Wayne Bennett’s Broncos to let him go at the end of last season. Again Taylor will have an influence on this game as his partnership with Tyrone Roberts continues to evolve. Norman on the other hand has a heavy workload in being the key playmaker. He’s been in great form this season for the Eels and will need to be at the top of his game without Kieran Foran playing alongside him. Norman’s kicking game will be extra important to make sure the Titans are forced to do the hard yards out of their red zone.
PREDICTION
Parramatta have won both games at TIO Stadium in Darwin including last year’s slog against Penrith 10-4. Expect this Gold Coast side to challenge the Eels after all they’ve knocked off quality opposition in back to back weeks. Given this impressive form, the Titans are slight favourites to take out the contest.
Titans by 7
SQUADS
Eels: 1 Michael Gordon 2 Semi Radradra 3 Michael Jennings 4 Clinton Gutherson 5 Bevan French 6 Kenneth Edwards 7 Corey Norman 8 Daniel Alvaro 9 Isaac De Gois 10 Danny Wicks 11 Manu Ma’u 12 Beau Scott 13 Tepai Moeroa. Interchange: 14 Kaysa Pritchard 15 Peni Terepo 16 David Gower 17 Rory O’Brien
Titans: 1 William Zillman 2 Anthony Don 3 Josh Hoffman 4 Nathan Davis 5 Nene MacDonald 6 Tyrone Roberts 7 Ashley Taylor 8 Luke Douglas 9 Nathan Friend 10 Ryan James 11 John Zebelon Taia 12 Chris McQueen 13 Greg Bird. Interchange: 14 Nathan Peats 15 Leivaha Pulu 16 Agnatius Paasi 17 Eddy Pettybourne 18 Konrad Hurrell 19 Cameron Cullen
Kick-off: 5pm NT, 5:30pm AEST
Venue: TIO Stadium
