The Parramatta Eels are just weeks away from even a mathematical chance of making the finals disappearing and must win when they host the third-placed New Zealand Warriors. Join The Roar for live scores and coverage from 6pm (AEST).
It’s been the season from hell so far for the Eels. After losing their first six matches, they won two on the trot and looked to have turned a corner, but the last fortnight would suggest anything but.
While they can point the finger at injuries, including one to Jarryd Hayne over the last two weeks, Brad Arthur’s side have been poor. Their loss to the Sharks two weeks ago saw 75 minutes of poor footy, while they battled hard against the Bulldogs last week.
Their attack possesses little strike, with Mitchell Moses and Corey Norman in poor form. The one glaring weakness heading into the season – their forward pack – has been shown up in a big way as well, and it’s making life very difficult.
The Eels’ struggles to turn things around can be best highlighted in their discipline. They have given away a stack of penalties, made far too many errors and as a result are often on the back foot in games, trying to defend their way back in while playing catch up footy.
In stark contrast, the Warriors have been excellent this year, but will be out to prove last week wasn’t the start of a slide.
They sat second heading into last week, but are third this time around after being beaten convincingly at home by the Sydney Roosters last week. While it’s impossible to go through a season without a few poor matches, the Auckland-based club would have wanted better in an important match against the boys from Bondi.
Stephen Kearney’s side can point at injury last week though, with both Shaun Johnson and Issac Luke missing. The dynamic duo have been in stunning form throughout 2018, with Luke in particular staking his claim as best dummy half in the competition.
Luke will be back this week and if back-up half Mason Lino can recapture his form, the Warriors could run a number up. They almost need to as well, given they lost 50-10 to the Storm three weeks ago.
It’s hard to say after the two losses, but the Warriors biggest trait this year has been a gritty, determined defence. Rushing off the line and defending with a compressed line has worked a treat, but the signs point to things starting to turn sour, so they must get back to basics this week.
Prediction
Parramatta absolutely must win, but they just haven’t shown anything which suggests they are going to beat a Warriors outfit who have been solid. The chance of them losing two in a row seems slim, even without Johnson.
Warriors by 8.
Be sure to join The Roar for live coverage of this match from 6pm (AEST) and don’t forget to add a comment in the section below.
Your kidding
Guest
What a joke! No way there was that many there.
Alicesprings
Guest
Those Sydneysiders really love their sport.
Tom G
Guest
Good win to the warriors particularly considering the ridiculously massive penalty discrepancy and playing one man down for ten minutes. Parramatta as usual insipid without Semi. Their halves with all that field position did nothing no yet Moses is a SoO front runner??Nonetheless Brad Arthur will not be held accountable for the performance again. Plenty of coaches with his lack of results and the resources and support given over the last few years would have been shown the door. For some reason this guy is teflon coated.
Adam
Roar Guru
About 33 I should imagine. The NRL couldn't buy pay people to go to the 6 o'clock time slot
Scott Pryde
Expert
They haven't yet, but 9,467.
Big Daddy
Guest
Scott, What was the crowd. NRL website doesn't put it pup
Scott Pryde
Expert
Thanks for joining me this evening on The Roar for our live coverage of the 2018 NRL season as the Warriors got the better of the Eels. Hopefully you enjoyed the call. I'll be back on Sunday afternoon for both NRL games, starting with the Dragons and Raiders at 2pm (AEST). Before that, I'll be on for AFL tomorrow and the FA Cup final between Manchester United and Chelsea in the early hours of Sunday morning. Right now though, it's time to join Riley Pettigrew for the huge match between the Brisbane Broncos and Sydney Roosters at Suncorp. Bye for now.
Quite Lucrative
Guest
have to agree. Cleary will be picked. Moses was never going to be a good option anyway, to inconsistent.
Scott Pryde
Expert
Thoughts on the game Roarers?
Scott Pryde
Expert
FULLTIME The New Zealand Warriors have clinched a hard fought ten-point victory over the Parramatta Eels at ANZ Stadium, securing their spot in the top four as the hosts slumped to their ninth defeat from eleven starts in 2018. The Eels led the deep into the second half after coming back from a ten-point deficit at halftime, but they fell away at the end, making poor decisions and dropping the ball far too often, the Warriors surging home over the top. It was Parramatta who got themselves on the board first with a penalty goal, but it was their last chance to smile in the first half of the game. The visitors would then run on two tries and dominate the middle third of the park, not letting the blue and gold pack into the game. David Fusitu'a and Peta Hiku were the two men to benefit with tries before the halftime break for the Warriors. Right on the stroke of halftime, Isaiah Papali'i was sin binned, with the penalty count reading eight - two. It seemed to flip the momentum either side of the break, Parramatta finally capitalising with a try in the 43rd minute to Clint Gutherson. The Eels continued to control the game, even after it went back to 13 on 13, but struggled to score. They eventually took the lead in the 61st minute after an unlikely try to Manu Ma'u, set up by Peni Terepo. Parramatta got soundly beaten from there though, with Jazz Tevaga and Issac Luke putting the icing on the cake to a hard fought victory. Eels 14 Warriors 24
Baroness
Guest
If you dont think refs look for ways to give penalties to teams behind on the scoreboard - look at Smiths pass onto Warriors player for a penalty - should have been play on he was not obstructed from passing
Joe
Roar Rookie
Great game and nice win to the Warriors. They're back on track. Very good game from them considering their outs. Eels just can't get a win. They were good but the Warriors were better. I doubt Moses did enough to be considered for Origin considering Cleary's performance last night.
Scott Pryde
Expert
FULLTIME The Eels aren't going to die wondering about whether they can score again here. Passes, offloads. It was all happening in that set before Moses gives away a penalty by passing off the ground. Just 20 seconds to go and that's going to do us this evening. No RTS, no Shaun Johnson, but the Warriors pick up another win, sending the Eels to their ninth defeat in 11 games and now, surely, that's the end of the finals chances for the blue and gold. Eels 14 Warriors 24
Scott Pryde
Expert
78' - Short kick-off from the Eels. The Warriors come up with it though and time will just run its way to zero now. This game is cooked. Green confirms it so by rolling the grubber over the sideline without so much as an effort. Eels stop the clock with 1:59 on the clock. Eels 14 Warriors 24
Scott Pryde
Expert
77' - CONVERSION SUCCESSFUL by MASON LINO Eels 14 Warriors 24
Quite Lucrative
Guest
YEH BABY! Had half the granny flat on Warriors@ 2.08, can't believe Parra were favourites. Warriors for life!
Scott Pryde
Expert
All good, but I completely agree. It's not really a pass.
Stu
Guest
Luke u champion!
Scott Pryde
Expert
76' - TRY WARRIORS, ISSAC LUKE Now the Warriors are on a roll here. They go all the way from left to right and Kata takes them on, but goes to ground near the sideline. Back to the middle through Afoa, then it's Harris out the back to Lino who takes on the line, but can't find his way over. Back to the middle for Blair who settles now before Issac Luke goes from dummy half, taking on a tired, backpedalling defensive line and crashing his way over. Tough to tell if he got it down or not, but he gets up partying. Bunker called in and yes, this is a try. The Warriors will win, the Eels will lose again. What a game this has been. Issac Luke clinches it just two weeks removed from a dislocated shoulder. Eels 14 Warriors 22
Emcie
Roar Guru
the pass into luke