The Canterbury Bulldogs ended their four match slide with a tense victory over the Parramatta Eels at ANZ Stadium on Friday night.
The Bulldogs win now sees them move into fifth position on the ladder with their finals campaign back on track.
FINAL SCORE:
Bulldogs 18
Eels 16
The Canterbury Bulldogs finals hopes could be dealt a cruel blow if they fail to show up against a Parramatta Eels side on a three-match winning streak. Join The Roar for live scores and commentary from 7:30pm (AEST).
Two traditional rivals go head-to-head in a big game for both sides.
A win for the Eels would drastically increase their chances of playing finals footy for the first time since 2009.
The Bulldogs on the other hand have fallen apart ever since their fantastic victory over Melbourne at AAMI Park. Such a win should have laid the platform for a possible charge at this year’s grand final.
Instead, defeats to the Tigers, Cowboys, Panthers and Broncos have completely derailed Canterbury’s premiership campaign. Josh Reynolds is yet again suspended tonight, which leaves Trent Hodkinson as the sole playmaker.
The Bulldogs are clinging on to eighth spot on the ladder. A defeat tonight will see them drop out of the eight altogether – an unthinkable prospect earlier in the season given how well they were playing.
The Eels have struggled severely in patches this season but momentum is definitely on their side tonight.
The performance from Jarryd Hayne last week is also a positive for the Eels. The NSW Origin fullback starred against the Raiders and should be primed for a big effort against the Bulldogs.
As for Canterbury, it’s all about attitude. They have conceded plenty of points against the Tigers and Broncos recently and need to show the defensive steel that served them so well earlier in the season.
If the Bulldogs can turn up with intensity in defence, they are a chance. Anything less and the Eels should win well.
Eels by 12
Join The Roar for live scores and coverage from 7:30pm (AEST).
If you are following the action live, be sure to share your thoughts on the match in the comments below.
Tom
Guest
As seen in this match: Ball carrier(Eeel) shoulder charges the defender(Bulldog) who is forced to tackle with open arms and gets concussed as a result. Great work, NRL! You told us the shoulder charge ban would reduce concussions...The only difference it made that now the defender is concussed, while you took away a great spectacle.
Albert R
Guest
Have a look at the footage. The ball boy throws it to the player who looks surprised and for a second does not know what to do with it. Then throws it to Sandow who pretends to touch it and runs.
Albert R
Guest
Did he actually touch it with his knee. NO WAY ! The refs not wrong as they do not make the rules. They ruled as per the rules. The key issue everyone is failing to see is the rule is unworkable. These changes, including the quick 20 metre tap I are giving the team in possession an advantage from a restart to play, which for anyone that actually knows the Laws of Rugby League is not in the true Spirit of the game which they were intended. This mindset having of having to provide an ENTERTAINMENT PRODUCT is killing the game. Tap-kick yes, but only after the opposition have a chance to get onside. Even if the ball- boy had placed the ball on the touch line and Sandow had scored , then it still would have been a joke! Back to the scrum with attacking team having loose head & the feed. (not that it matters these days!)
Alex L
Roar Rookie
Deserved Man of the Match for Tolman, 190 metres and 42 tackles -- no missed tackles and only gave away one penalty, that's a massive effort. Graham wasn't far behind him in terms of work rate either, pretty sure they were both close to 70mins on the park. Bulldogs were really missing Kasiano and Pritchard in attack tonight, and every time Williams seems like he's about to fill that role he starts passing every time he gets the ball and Klemmer isn't quite there yet either.
Alex L
Roar Rookie
Gould was saying the rule was bad because it relies on the ball boy rather than one of the 26 men on the field who are playing the game, and he's completely correct. He wasn't trying to blame the ball boy for what happened, he even said as much. Plus I'm pretty sure the Parra player (Hoppa?) would've been asking the ball boy to throw him the ball.
Christo the Daddyo
Guest
Gould said it about 15 times in the commentary. Does that count?
Dreamer
Guest
Would of loved to have seen hayne play with a half like johns. They would of been a deadly combination. Hopefully is named at fullback for australia this year and gets his chance to play outside a real half in his best position.
Familyguy
Guest
No that's how dumb the eels half is, I can't stand watching him play it makes me that mad. His few signs of brilliance per game are not worth the amount of pressure he puts his side under. If they had a conservative half hayne would make up his signs of brilliance. The eels would be better off without him.
Cathar Treize
Roar Guru
I agree james. A game of 2 halves. The first half open & exciting, the second, a war of attrition. Totally enjoyed a match that had skills & toughness. Can't wait for finals.
djcooper
Roar Guru
Cheers mate
Andrew
Guest
Tolman
Steve
Guest
Well it was grinding I guess. But it was grinding in a bad, boring sort of way. Neither side threw anything much at the other in attack....just one out stuff all night. They both seemed to be devoid of ideas in that area....especially in the 2nd half. Fatigue?? Maybe...either way I found it boring to watch
Eelsfan
Guest
You could see hayne just biding his time and reading the defence line waiting to inject himself and you could feel something great was on the cards but was denied due to dumb football by his team mates. You think the way he carries this team sandow would of learnt by now to suck it up and play to his strength. Send this peanut to someone like the titans where no one cares if they lose.
djcooper
Roar Guru
Who was named man of the match?
jamesb
Guest
I thought it was a tense grinding forward battle game where no penalties were given. I enjoy those sort of games, but hey each to their own.
jamesb
Guest
I thought it was a tense grinding forward battle game where no penalties were given. I enjoy those sort of games, but hey each to their own.
Steve
Guest
Neither of those sides are going to worry the teams above them on that display. I can see your point about Hayne though....you can only imagine how damaging he would be in a side with decent halves.
Onboardthesandowagon
Guest
I agree. He is the most inconsistent player in the game and as an eels fan it makes me nervous every time he touches the ball. There best set was simple and another dumb finish by Radradra trying to score from dummy half. I hope that for jarryd Haynes sake the eels produce or sign a smart halfback in the next few years because it could cost him as going down in history as one of the great fullbacks.
Squirrel
Guest
Both teams may as we'll prepare for mad Monday . GOOONNNNEEE. How do you get so bad.
SackSandow
Guest
Even though sandow kicked that 40/20 he has to be the worst decision making halfback in the game. I feel for jarryd hayne cause all he needed in the last 20 minutes was for his team to do the simple things right and complete sets.