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Post by Electric Eel on Dec 15, 2020 21:10:01 GMT 10
SUNDAY 5th May: Parramatta Eels v St George Illawarra Dragons at Bankwest Stadium, 4.05pm
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Post by Electric Eel on Dec 15, 2020 21:10:22 GMT 10
NRL.com
Eels v Dragons: Round 8 preview
There's a few games that are toss-ups in Round 8 and this might be the hardest of all to pick.
Both teams are coming off losses and it'll be interesting to see who wants it more come Sunday.
Parramatta were probably never going to play as well last week as they did in the previous week's shellacking of the Tigers, but they didn't match the Knights' hunger and energy in the first half and left themselves too much ground to make up despite giving it a decent crack.
The Dragons also paid the price for some questionable decision-making in the first 25 minutes against the Roosters but they matched it for the most part with the competition's benchmark team and shouldn't lose any confidence.
The Rundown
Key match-up
Can't go past the clash of rival halfbacks Mitch Moses and Ben Hunt. Moses wasn't happy to be out-played by Mitchell Pearce last week and will be looking to make amends. Hunt is the forgotten man in the Queensland Origin selection frame, but he could be thrown a lifeline with Daly Cherry-Evans battling an ankle injury. Hunt could rocket into calculations if he has a big game on Sunday.
For the Eels to win
After demolishing the Tigers in a first-half blitz in round six, the Eels copped a taste of their own medicine against the Knights before working their way into the game. It was a jolting reminder how important it is to be ready to play every week and not just expect things to fall into place. The Eels have to go out and make it happen on Sunday.
For the Dragons to win
James Graham has to push himself and his fellow forwards to get over the top of Parra's solid pack, while playmakers Hunt and Corey Norman need to take charge and get their team good attacking options. Norman should be particularly fired up for a big one against his former team.
Brett Kimmorley says
The Dragons lost last week, but they’ve found their niche. Parramatta were really disappointing against Newcastle. This will be a good game. Key halves that have got better at managing situations and forward packs that are going to rip in. I think Parra will be a bit angrier after what happened last week. This is a test for Parramatta. Eels by 1
Stat Attack
Mitch Moses has 55 points in 2019 to be equal third among the NRL's top point-scorers, while Clint Gutherson is tops in run metres (1,268) and line break assists.
And another thing ...
For a bloke who wasn't originally really part of Brad Arthur's plans in 2019, rookie hooker Reed Mahoney is playing like a seasoned pro. He is second in the NRL in tackles made (339) and the only man above him is Dragons hooker Cameron McInnes (340). The pair has an intriguing head to head duel on Sunday at Bankwest Stadium.
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Post by Electric Eel on Dec 15, 2020 21:10:47 GMT 10
Team List: Eels v Dragons, Round Eight
The Parramatta Eels line up to take on the St. George Illawarra Dragons at Bankwest Stadium on Sunday 5 May in round eight of the NRL Telstra Premiership has been named by Blue & Gold Head Coach Brad Arthur.
After a 28-14 defeat to the Knights last week, Arthur has made one change to his side with forward Daniel Alvaro returning to the starting front row alongside prop Junior Paulo.
Peni Terepo shifts back to the bench alongside Tim Mannah, Oregon Kaufusi and Manu Ma’u. Ray Stone, Kane Evans, Josh Hoffman and George Jennings are the reserves.
Parramatta Eels
1. Clint Gutherson (c)
2. Maika Sivo
3. Michael Jennings
4. Brad Takairangi
5. Blake Ferguson
6. Jaeman Salmon
7. Mitch Moses
8. Daniel Alvaro
9. Reed Mahoney
10. Junior Paulo
11. Shaun Lane
12. Marata Niukore
13. Tepai Moeroa
Interchange
14. Peni Terepo
15. Tim Mannah
16. Oregon Kaufusi
17. Manu Ma’u
18. Ray Stone
19. Kane Evans
20. Josh Hoffman
21. George Jennings
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Post by Electric Eel on Dec 15, 2020 21:11:53 GMT 10
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Post by Electric Eel on Dec 15, 2020 21:12:23 GMT 10
NRL.com
Entertaining Eels light up Bankwest to vanquish Dragons
Two incredible long-range tries early in the second half helped the Eels overcome their third slow start in four weeks to record a 32-18 come-from behind win over the Dragons at Bankwest Stadium on Sunday.
A combination of poor errors, ill-discipline and shoddy defence from Parramatta and a contender for team try of the year from the Dragons, finished off by Matt Dufty, helped the visitors to a 14-0 lead just past the half-hour mark.
An opportunistic try from dummy-half from Eels hooker Reed Mahoney kept the Blue & Gold in the hunt and when Clint Gutherson ran 70 metres from a dummy-half scoot two minutes after the resumption the home side were suddenly back within two points.
From the very next set a remarkable long-range try from Maika Sivo off a Gutherson pass earned the Eels an unlikely lead.
With Tyson Frizell succumbing late in the first half to an eye injury from a head knock and ex-Eel Corey Norman to a suspected fractured cheekbone in the second stanza, Paul McGregor's men found themselves running out of troops but still managed to find a level-up through Mikaela Ravalawa.
That was as good as it got for the visitors with the Eels going two ahead via a penalty goal before Blake Ferguson latched onto an attacking bomb to make it 26-18, celebrating with a backflip, and Sivo bagging his second to put the result beyond doubt.
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Post by Electric Eel on Dec 15, 2020 21:12:59 GMT 10
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Post by Electric Eel on Dec 15, 2020 21:13:34 GMT 10
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Post by Electric Eel on Dec 15, 2020 21:14:08 GMT 10
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Post by Electric Eel on Dec 15, 2020 21:14:48 GMT 10
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Post by Electric Eel on Dec 15, 2020 21:15:27 GMT 10
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Post by Electric Eel on Dec 15, 2020 21:16:16 GMT 10
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Post by Electric Eel on Dec 15, 2020 21:16:50 GMT 10
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Post by Electric Eel on Dec 15, 2020 21:17:28 GMT 10
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Post by Electric Eel on Dec 15, 2020 21:18:20 GMT 10
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Post by Electric Eel on Dec 15, 2020 21:19:04 GMT 10
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