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The Sydney Roosters were well outplayed by South Sydney last week and will need to turn up with their best form tonight if they hope to defeat a Parramatta Eels side capable of causing the upset. Join us for live scores and commentary from 7.30pm AEDT.
A 28-8 defeat in the opening round should serve as a wake-up call for a Roosters side that began the season as strong favourites to win the premiership.
The Roosters were simply outmuscled by the Rabbitohs last week and coach Trent Robinson must ensure his troops roll up their sleeves against Parramatta tonight.
The Eels are coming off a superb 36-16 win over the Warriors and will enter this match full of confidence.
However, Parramatta smashed New Zealand 40-10 in Round 1 last season only to finish up with another wooden spoon in 2013.
Over the next fortnight, we should get a clear indication as to whether or not Parramatta are the real deal, given they face grand final combatants the Roosters and Sea Eagles back-to-back.
Still, there are plenty of reasons Parramatta fans should be optimistic for an upset tonight.
Young wingers Semi Radradra and Vai Toutai are capable of causing havoc down the flanks, particularly if Jarryd Hayne, Corey Norman and Will Hopoate fire in attack.
Upfront, the Eels possess a young dynamo in Manu Ma’u who, in his first game, secured man of the match honours against the Warriors.
All in all, the Eels certainly possess the potential to ask plenty of questions of the Roosters’ defence tonight.
The pressure will be on Sydney to turn the corner, given it is their first home game of the season. With no Sonny Bill Williams in the line-up though, things could get pretty tough for the Roosters.
Prediction
All things considered, if the Roosters do turn up with their best form tonight, they should win. Anything less than a complete performance, however, will leave them vulnerable to the upset.
Roosters by 6.