Check out the match preview and prediction for the 2025 National Rugby League round 20 clash between the Canberra Raiders and Parramatta Eels.
MATCHDAY NEWS
MATCHDAY SCHEDULE
Canberra Raiders Vs Parramatta Eels
Venue: GIO Stadium
Date: Saturday July 19, 15:00pm (ADST)
MATCHDAY TEAM NEWS
Raiders: 1. Kaeo Weekes 2. Jed Stuart 3. Matthew Timoko 4. Sebastian Kris 5. Xavier Savage 6. Ethan Strange 7. Jamal Fogarty 8. Josh Papali’i 9. Tom Starling 10. Joseph Tapine 11. Hudson Young 12. Zac Hosking 13. Corey Horsburgh 14. Owen Pattie 15. Simi Sasagi 16. Morgan Smithies 17. Ata Mariota 18. Chevy Stewart 19. Trey Mooney 20. Noah Martin 21. Danny Levi 22. Ethan Sanders
Eels: 1. Isaiah Iongi 2. Zac Lomax 3. Bailey Simonsson 4. Sean Russell 5. Josh Addo-Carr 6. Joash Papali’i 7. Dean Hawkins 8. J’maine Hopgood 9. Ryley Smith 10. Junior Paulo 11. Charlie Guymer 12. Jack Williams 13. Dylan Walker 14. Tallyn Da Silva 15. Jordan Samrani 16. Matt Doorey 17. Sam Tuivaiti 18. Dylan Brown 19. Dan Keir 20. Toni Mataele 21. Ronald Volkman 22. Haze Dunster
Referee: Ashley Klein
Bunker: Kasey Badger
Referee: Ashley Klein
Bunker: Kasey Badger
MATCHDAY PREVIEW
Fresh off a bye last week the Canberra Raiders return to action on Saturday afternoon against Jason Ryles’ Parramatta Eels.
The Eels have had little luck this season sitting 15th on the ladder mainly due to the health of their protagonist Mitch Moses who has only been available for six games this season.
The bookies wooden spoon favourites Canberra currently sits top of the table and will look to grab another two points to fend off the Melbourne Storm who sit just two points below in second. The Storm plays Manly two and a half hours after the Canberra kick-off, so the green machine will be keen to ensure Melbourne aren’t sitting top by the end of the evening.
In team news Canberra’s origin stars Josh Papalii and Hudson Young return to the starting lineup, meaning that Trey Mooney and Noah Martin shift back to NSW Cup. Simi Sasagi who has been great in the starting line-up moves to the interchange bench alongside Morgan Smithies, Owen Pattie, and Ata Mariota.
Eels coach Jason Ryles made a shock decision to start half Dylan Brown at hooker last week which confused fans as the departing Eel’s strongest asset is his running game which was limited and not utilised from hooker. Since this decision didn’t work and Brown moving to Newcastle next year, Ryles has opted to drop him all together in favour of looking to the future with Joash Papalii starting at five-eighth. Kitione Kautoga sustained an ankle injury in the loss to Penrith seeing Jack Williams start in the second row, and J’maine Hopgood suiting up for a battle in the front row.
The key battle that is between the exciting young prospects at fullback in Kaeo Weekes and Isaiah Iongi. Weekes is looking to pen a new long-term deal in the nations’ capital and was reported over the last week to be receiving an upgraded deal to 2029. Iongi has impressed this season over his sixteen appearances at only twenty-two years of age. Parramatta’s long term fullback prospect has an impressive ten try assists to go with the five tries he has scored himself, averaging nearly one try involvement per game in a struggling side.
It’s hard to predict an Eels win especially in Canberra given how the season has played out thus far, but one of the best things about this competition is on anyone’s given day an upset is extremely possible.
MATCHDAY PREDICTION
Raiders by 10
Check out our round 20 predictions here.
What’s your prediction? Drop it in the comments below.
Follow Us on Facebook
