Matchday Details
Sunday 22nd March – 4:05pm (AEST) – CommBank Stadium
📺 Broadcast: Nine / Fox League / Kayo
Referee: Ashley Klein | Bunker: Chris Butler
Parramatta Eels
1. Isaiah Iongi, 2. Bailey Simonsson, 3. Jordan Samrani, 4. Sean Russell, 5. Josh Addo-Carr, 6. Jonah Pezet, 7. Mitchell Moses (c), 8. J’maine Hopgood, 9. Ryley Smith, 10. Junior Paulo, 11. Kelma Tuilagi, 12. Kitione Kautoga, 13. Jack Williams, 14. Dylan Walker, 15. Sam Tuivaiti, 16. Matt Doorey, 17. Tallyn Da Silva, 18. Jack De Belin, 19. Joash Papalii, 20. Charlie Guymer, 21. Brian Kelly, 22. Luca Moretti
St George Illawarra Dragons
1. Clinton Gutherson (c), 2. Christian Tuipulotu, 3. Moses Suli, 4. Valentine Holmes, 5. Setu Tu, 6. Kyle Flanagan, 7. Daniel Atkinson, 8. Emre Guler, 9. Damien Cook, 10. Toby Couchman, 11. Luciano Leilua, 12. Jaydn Su’A, 13. Hamish Stewart, 14. Jacob Liddle, 15. Josh Kerr, 16. Blake Lawrie, 17. Ryan Couchman, 18. Hame Sele, 19. Mathew Feagai, 20. Lyhkan King-Togia, 21. Loko Pasifiki Tonga, 22. Tyrell Sloan
Match Preview
The Eels, fresh from defeating the reigning premiers, host the winless Dragons at CommBank Stadium this Sunday. Given the corresponding fixture finished in a dramatic Golden Point contest last year, we could be in for another exciting clash.
It’s been a mixed bag for the home team. Taking on the 2025 grand finalists in the opening two rounds was never going to be a pretty affair. In Round 1, the Eels suffered a heavy loss to last year’s runners-up, only to put 40 points on the reigning premiers last week. Despite their defensive woes, they would take one win from two against those teams. Meanwhile, the Dragons have yet to register a win. They’ve never truly been out of the contest — only just going down to the Bulldogs in Golden Point, and, despite the scoreline, performing impressively against the Storm until late in the game. They need a win this week to ease the pressure on coach Shane Flanagan.
The Eels have made minimal changes to last week’s team. They welcome back J’maine Hopgood from suspension, who resumes his position at prop, while Jack Williams moves to lock, pushing Jack de Belin to the extended bench. Similarly, the Dragons have made few changes; the only one of note is Jacob Liddle returning from a hamstring injury to take a spot on the bench.
A few combinations are starting to take shape at the Eels. The most notable from last week was Jonah Pezet and Kelma Tuilagi, who combined for two impressive tries. It’s a simple formula: have the likes of Isaiah Iongi run an overs line to attract the defence’s attention, then play short and direct to a charging Tuilagi on an unders line. However, if Pezet opts to go to Iongi, he’s putting the ball in the hands of another attacking weapon who also scored a double last week, and who can threaten to break open the defence or draw and pass to the wing.
For the Dragons, all eyes will be on someone many consider an Eels legend, Clint Gutherson. As always, he was involved in everything last week and is often the catalyst for points. Their opening try came from Gutherson creating space and time for the powerful outside-back pairing of Moses Suli and Christian Tuipuloto — who, when given a chance close to the line, are incredibly difficult to stop. Expect them to target the smaller wing pairing of Sean Russell and Josh Addo-Carr.
These sides have met at CommBank Stadium seven times, with the Eels winning five. With confidence restored after last week’s victory and heading into their first home game of the year, they should be favourites to come away with the win on Sunday.
Prediction
RLZ Tip: Eels by 10 points.
Bold call: Mitchell Moses to find his form and put in a man of the match performance.
Related
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