Friday night sees the 2013 NRL ‘Battle for the Wooden Spoon’ between the Parramatta Eels and the Wests Tigers.
The Eels have had a season to forget, but will look to get their first win in 10 matches. Here are 10 reasons the Eels will beat the Tigers:
1. Hayne’s back
The biggest news for all Parra fans is that co-captain Jarryd Hayne will return at fullback after eight weeks out suffering from a hamstring injury.
Hayne was the key man in the Eels last win which came against the Broncos in Round 9. The number one’s presence definitely adds an extra dimension to the team.
2. Farah’s out
Meanwhile, the Wests Tigers will be without their captain Robbie Farah who dislocated a finger last weekend. Farah has been one of the Tigers best players this season, and the team’s determination and motivation will definitely suffer without him.
3. Tigers injury list grows
An ankle injury rules out Chris Lawrence who will need to undergo surgery. Prop Aaron Woods will be out for the rest of the season due to knee problems.
Lawrence and Woods add their names to an ever increasing list of injured players, already including Farah, Masada Iosefa, Joel Reddy and Tim Moltzen.
4. Benji Marshall
Wests Tigers talismanic five-eighth recently revealed his thoughts of the club and announced his intentions of leaving for rugby union. The way Benji treated his club can only hurt the already weak confidence of the Tigers.
5. Semi Radradra
Parramatta winger Semi Radradra has found some rare form for his club. The last two matches have seen Radradra cross the lie in each match. Ahead of the clash against the Tigers Radradra will definitely hope to continue his fine form.
6. Fuifui Moimoi
Even though the Eels lost, Fui looked extremely dangerous against the Sea Eagles last weekend. Expect the big Prop to step it up again against the Tigers.
7. Eels at home
Statistics show that the Eels are only slightly less awful when playing in Parramatta. All three wins this season have come at home, while they have conceded on average 14 less points at home.
8. If they can beat anyone, it’s the Tigers
With only six wins this season the Tigers are the second worst team in the comp this season. Neither the Eels or the Tigers have won any of their last four matches, and one of the two teams will need to step up on Friday night.
9. They are bound to win eventually
The Eels are not an awful side. They have some talented youngsters, have been unlucky and played against some great teams.
Ricky Stewart is a quality coach and is slowly changing things at Parramatta. It might be a slow rebuilding phase but the Eels are bound to win a match soon.
10. The bookies say they will win
It has been so long I cannot remember the last time the Eels were favourites to win a match. But SportsBet, at the time of writing, have Eels at $1.65 favourites to the Tigers $2.30.
It may be impossible for the Eels to make the finals, and even a miracle may be required to lose the wooden spoon, but Parramatta should at least be able to defeat the Tigers Friday night.
Bulldigg
Guest
The picture says it all lol
Bulldigg
Guest
Haha x 10!!!!!!!!@!@@@ And glad the betting odds agree with u .. 2 easy
Elijah Weightman
Roar Guru
I agree Doug, I think watching games between the bottom two placed clubs can be as entertaining as games between the top two clubs. Sometimes it's just good to sit back and think, wow, I'm glad my team isn't this bad. Albeit, the Cowboys aren't too far behind this lot and only a few years ago were in the Eels current position.
Haberfield Tiger
Guest
Yeh point taken but who do you support?
Doug Graves
Guest
Only having a laugh HT, no need to take it too seriously dude.
Haberfield Tiger
Guest
Good dig! Who do you support? Don't be shy...
Doug Graves
Guest
This should easily be the game of the season, for comedic value anyway. I know that's the only reason I'll tune in to watch these wood ducks. Perhaps channel 9 could give the commentators the night off and play yakety sax all game. Is any bookmaker offering odds on there being more errors combined than points combined? If so they'd be worth a punt. Or how about Benchy Marshall missed tackles vs points scored by Parra? I reckon that could be a close one too as he misses about 15 a game.
Wozza
Guest
The game will be decided by who makes the most of the other teams mistakes , and there will many ...so many that they will nothing else to do but deal with them .... After 80 zzzzzzzzzzz boring minutes of football nil all draw will be the result. My best mate is a Parra supporter ,,,These are golden days ..
Haberfield Tiger
Guest
Oh sorry... Simona will destroy!!!
des' right hand
Guest
Marika cant catch
Bob
Guest
If you look at it purely on a number of games won measure then yes it might not look like much difference. But doing that ignores are lot of what happened during his two seasons as coach. Just look at game three last year, NSW lost by a field goal during a decider held at Suncorp. It's been a long long time since NSW have come that close and its all due to the change in perspective and spirit Stuart brought to the team.
iambunney
Guest
What? Please try to make your posts coherent. I just lost 3 mins of my life trying to figure out what on earth you are saying. I will never get those 3 mins back... I'll respond only to the first segment of your first sentence (you lost me after that) Stuart gave nothing to NSW in this Qld dominated period. Look at the figures: Before R. Stuart to the rescue: 2006 - Qld 2 - NSW 1 2007 - Qld 2 - NSW 1 2008 - Qld 2 - NSW 1 2009 - Qld 2 - NSW 1 2010 - Qld 3 - NSW 0 After R.Stuart to the rescue: 2011 - Qld 2 - NSW 1 2012 - Qld 2 - NSW 1 Not really much of a difference is it?
Fazed
Guest
I'm not sure that he failed as NSW coach, after all he had won the SOO as coach & he brought them back up in his last 2 years as coach, & gave NSW a decent lift. Had NSW not decided to go for a non club coach as they did with Stuart, he could have handled the 2 jobs, but he also stated that if he was offered a Club coaching job then he would take that as a first choice. Parramatta were willing to allow him to be involved with the NSW SOO side, but the NSW league chose to stick with a non club coach for the role.
Stu
Guest
+1
Mark Young
Roar Guru
It is pretty depressing that only a few years ago, these teams were both on top of their games and packed the SFS with a wonderful atmosphere on a sparkling Sydney Spring Eveining And now.... The wooden bowl :( Couple this with the lacklustre state of the Panthers and Western Sydney League is in a real dark patch
bribie eel
Guest
IF PARRA KEEP THEIR HEADS DOWN AND REMEMBER TO TACKLE THEY SHOULD WIN . I AGREE WITH FAZED WE SHOULD BE EXPERIMENTING ROBERTS AND TONGA NOT WORTH THEIR PAY
Robert
Guest
Players play for respected and liked coaches who have a clear game plan for the whole team! Ricky Stewart is too controversial and wishy washy as a coach. Top rated media ex players need to be more critical of Ricky and not of the parramatta players, I believe! He failed with the blues and he's seriously falling with the para players\fans. -- Comment from The Roar's iPhone app.
Mick
Roar Rookie
He hasn't changed a bit..............he's not playing for a release, he has always played that badly!!!!!!
Haberfield Tiger
Guest
Marika will destroy!!!
Fazed
Guest
I would have experimented with Mullaney at 5/8 & dropped Roberts, put Api Pewhairangi into the centres in place of Tonga, as both should still be at the club next year & could not do any worse than the 2 I would have left out. Certainly they have a better than even chance of rolling the Tigers, but neve discount Benji who seems to thrive when playing against Parra. Likewise the Tigers have a knack of bringing in some new player who ends up putting egg on the face of Parra such as Koroibete, & their other winger does not look too bad either.