Check out the match preview and prediction for the round 25 clash between the Eels and Roosters.
MATCHDAY NEWS
MATCHDAY SCHEDULE
Parramatta Eels Vs Sydney Roosters
Venue: CommBank Stadium
Date: Friday August 18, 8:00pm
MATCHDAY TEAM NEWS
Eels: 1. Clinton Gutherson 2. Maika Sivo 3. Viliami Penisini 4. Bailey Simonsson 5. Sean Russell 6. Daejarn Asi 7. Dylan Brown 8. Reagan Campbell-Gillard 9. Joey Lussick 10. Junior Paulo 11. J’maine Hopgood 12. Bryce Cartwright 13. Joe Ofahengaue 14. Luca Moretti 15. Ryan Matterson 16. Wiremu Greig 17. Brendan Hands 18. Makahesi Makatoa 19. Waqa Blake 20. Ofahiki Ogden 21. Ky Rodwell 22. Jack Murchie
Roosters: 1. James Tedesco 2. Daniel Tupou 3. Billy Smith 4. Joseph Manu 5. Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii 6. Luke Keary 7. Drew Hutchison 8. Jared Waerea-Hargreaves 9. Brandon Smith 10. Lindsay Collins 11. Siua Wong 12. Nat Butcher 13. Victor Radley 14. Sandon Smith 15. Fletcher Baker 16. Terrell May 17. Angus Crichton 18. Sam Walker 19. Dylan Napa 20. Corey Allan 21. Fetalaiga Pauga 22. Nathan Brown
Referee: Ashley Klein
Embed from Getty ImagesMATCHDAY PREVIEW
There will be no further second chances for either side after this round. One will live at least another week, in the hope of scraping into the 2023 finals series, while the other will have to resign themselves to missing out.
Both sides have had vastly different fortunes of late. It has been a poor run to the end of the season for the Eels. Over the past six games, they have only won two, and have conceded several heavy scores that have put a significant dent into their differential. Last week, they turned out arguably their worst performance of the year against the Brisbane Broncos, who found points easy to come by.
Meanwhile, the Roosters have been able to string together a few wins after a mostly inconsistent year. Last week, they were convincing enough against the Dolphins in a 30-14 win. They’ve put themselves in a position where, if they win every game henceforth, they could scrape into the finals this year.
The Eels welcome back Maika Sivo and Reagan Campbell-Gillard from suspension in much-needed additions to their team, particularly the backline. However, their poor luck with injuries has continued after Mitchell Moses was ruled out for the season with a fractured cheekbone. This moves Dylan Brown to halfback, with Daejarn Asi to resume as a stand-in five-eighth as he has done for much of the year. Furthermore, Brad Arthur has slightly shuffled some of last week’s starters, with Joe Ofahengaue to lock and J’maine Hopgood to the second-row.
The Roosters are largely the same, with the one main inclusion being that of Angus Crichton returning to the bench. Sam Walker has been named as the 18th man after playing 80 minutes of NSW Cup last week. Nearing an NRL return, it’s up to Trent Robinson as to whether he shifts him into the side this week or waits for one more.
The Eels will be happy to see Sivo, who brings some sense of normality to what an ever-revolving door of outside backs over the past few weeks has been. The lack of continuity in these positions has seen them flounder in both attack and defence. Furthermore, Arthur has presumably moved Hopgood to the second row to help Asi out in defence, who has been a solid replacement but struggled when targeted. Dylan Brown will shoulder the burden of controlling the game, which is not his usual responsibility. The Eels’ success will largely fall on how he handles it.
Meanwhile, the Roosters’ success has largely stemmed from the inclusion of Drew Hutchinson at halfback, who has certainly made the jersey his in the past few weeks. Throughout the season, their inconsistency in the halves has been the main trouble, alongside a few key injuries. They have the backline to score points when they execute a gameplan and will look to the Eels’ recent defensive woes as a sign this could be an opportunity to score. The big job will fall to Jared Waerea-Hargreaves and Lindsay Collins, who are up against the world-class pairing of Junior Paulo and returning Reagan Campbell-Gillard. If they are able to get it past them, the Roosters will have plenty of class to shine out wide.
LAST TEN MATCHES
Eels 3, Roosters 7
MATCHDAY PREDICTION
Eels by 8
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