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Post by Electric Eel on Apr 21, 2023 18:35:01 GMT 10
FRIDAY 21st April: Parramatta Eels vs Brisbane Broncos at TIO Stadium, 8.00pm
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Post by Electric Eel on Apr 21, 2023 18:38:44 GMT 10
Eels v Broncos: Flegler, Oates return; Hodgson back in No.9
The Broncos continue to set a hot pace at the top of the table and they get the opportunity to test themselves against one of the heavyweights in Darwin on Friday night.
With Dally M leaders Reece Walsh and Payne Haas in rare form and Adam Reynolds marshalling his troops magnificently, the Broncos boast a 6-1 record on the back of the NRL's slickest attack.
The Eels, meanwhile, look to be hitting top gear on the back of wins over Wests Tigers and Bulldogs but Brad Arthur is well aware a much sterner test awaits in the shape of the Broncos.
When the Eels travelled to Darwin in Round 8 last year they found themselves on the end of 35-4 hammering from North Queensland but back in 2021 they put 46 points on Brisbane at TIO Stadium with Maika Sivo running in a hat-trick so that's the formline Parra fans will choose to follow.
Sivo's double against the Bulldogs on Sunday took him to nine tries for the season, one more than Rabbitoh Campbell Graham and Dolphins duo Jamayne Isaako and Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow.
The Broncos are getting input across the park with centre Kotoni Staggs scoring six tries, winger Selwyn Cobbo five and no fewer than five others all boasting four tries in 2023, including Walsh and Ezra Mam.
Team News
Eels: Hooker Josh Hodgson returns after missing Sunday's game against the Bulldogs due to illness. Brendan Hands goes back to the bench and Makahesi Makatoa drops out. Winger Bailey Simonsson has served his suspension and is listed among the reserves. No changes in Thursday's 24-hour update.
Broncos: Prop Thomas Flegler (concussion) and winger Corey Oates (jaw) are back in the 17 for Kevin Walters so Corey Jensen goes to the bench, Keenan Palasia to the reserves and Jesse Arthars to 18th man. Oates hasn't played breaking his jaw in Round 2 against the Cowboys. No changes in Thursday's 24-hour update.
Stat Attack
The Eels have won six of their past seven games against the Broncos.
Broncos second-rower Jordan Riki has scored four tries in his past three games.
The Eels have won six of their eight games played in Darwin.
The Broncos lost their only previous game in Darwin by 40 points (v Eels in 2021).
Eels second-rower Shaun Lane will play his 150th NRL game.
NRL.com
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Post by Electric Eel on Apr 24, 2023 19:44:55 GMT 10
Broncos survive late scare to down Eels in Darwin
Brisbane produced their most clinical first half performance of the season before fending off a late Eels comeback to win 26-16 in Darwin on Friday night.
The Broncos ran in four tries in the opening 40 minutes to set up a 22-6 lead with the combination of halves Adam Reynolds and Ezra Mam running riot on the back of a strong platform set by Payne Haas and Pat Carrigan up front early.
The ladder leaders then controlled the game in the second half with a further two penalty goals ruling out any chance of an Eels comeback despite two tries in five minutes giving the home side a sniff.
Parramatta were coming off a five-day turnaround which appeared to play a part in their lacklustre performance in humid conditions that soon turned torrential at TIO Stadium.
The Eels were under the pump from the opening with the visitors taking a 6-0 lead through a try via Herbie Farnworth following a Sean Russell mistake in the air.
Brad Arthur's men bounced back with a try of their own off the boot with Clint Gutherson showing his soccer skills to pick up and collect a ball in the in-goal.
That was where the end-to-end tussle essentially ended, however, with the Broncos piling on three tries in nine minutes to set up a 16-point lead.
It all started with Reynolds finishing off a Mam flick pass for a try before Kotoni Staggs kept a Reece Walsh kick alive to hit it back to Mam for a four-pointer of his own.
Reynolds, who had the ball on a string all evening, then set up Staggs with a kick across field that had the perfect bounce for the Broncos centre to go over.
Two penalty goals after the break stretched the lead out to 20 before the Eels breathed life into the match through tries to Maika Sivo and Sean Russell.
A no try ruling against Russell with four minutes left denied the Eels a chance to set up a grandstand finish in a concern for the Broncos, who fell asleep with the game wrapped up.
Match snapshot
Temperatures in Darwin were 27 degrees at kick-off before torrential rain hit before half-time to add to the contest.
The Eels, who were coming off a five-day turnaround following victory over the Bulldogs on Sunday, missed 28 tackles in the opening half as the Broncos raced to a 22-6 lead.
Six of the eight tries from the clash came from kicks.
The Broncos completed at 90% early. Brisbane's average metres per set (48.6) was far greater than Parramatta's 37.9.
Payne Haas (175 metres) and Pat Carrigan (158 metres) ripped through Parramatta's middle.
The Eels lost Bailey Simonsson to a Category 1 concussion in the second half before Reagan Campbell-Gillard picked up a groin injury after contact from Payne Haas, who remained on the field.
Eels forward J'maine Hopgood was placed on report and sin-binned for an alleged hip-drop tackle before Ezra Mam followed for a tackle on Matt Doorey.
Brisbane's win over the Eels was only their second in eight games.
The Eels' loss in Darwin was only their third in NRL history.
Eels second-rower Shaun Lane played his 150th NRL game.
The victory sees the Broncos push out to a four-point competition lead on the ladder.
Play of the game
A never-say-die play from Kotoni Staggs to keep the ball in play for Brisbane's third try enabled the visitors to stretch their lead out to 10 before they went on with the game. It's the type of effort that has the Broncos brimming with confidence and sitting at the top of the table.
What they said
"We're fighting hard as a team but leaving too much to do in second halves. Our start wasn't good enough and they rolled through the middle. We've got to harden up at the start of games. I think in the second half we played a bit more of a power game but we were trying to play too cute and pretty at the start of the game." - Eels coach Brad Arthur.
"They're a good side so we knew they were always going to fight back. I thought our first 40 was really good. We expected the possession to even up and expected a tough game and we got one. I'm not sure if we made a statement [but] it's a good move for us. They probably weren't at their best but at the moment it's about winning games and identifying where we can get better." - Broncos coach Kevin Walters.
What's next
After two games in five days, the Eels will have an eight-day turnaround before preparing to host the Knights at CommBank Stadium. Bailey Simonsson (concussion) won't be available while scans are likely for Reagan Campbell-Gillard (groin) after he failed to finish.
The Broncos will also return home to Suncorp Stadium for a clash against South Sydney. Ezra Mam (hip-drop tackle) is on report while Payne Haas' tackle on Campbell-Gillard may come under scrutiny by the Match Review Committee.
NRL.com
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Post by Electric Eel on May 1, 2023 21:36:10 GMT 10
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