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St George Illawarra Dragons vs Parramatta Eels: NRL live scores, blog

28th June, 2018
Kickoff: 7:50pm (AEST)
Venue: WIN Stadium, Wollongong
TV: Live, Nine Network and Fox League
Last meeting: Eels defeated Dragons 24-10 (Round 15, 2017)
Head-to-head: 33 played - Eels 17, Dragons 14, 2 drawn

St George Illawarra Dragons
1. Matthew Dufty, 2. Nene Macdonald, 3. Euan Aitken, 4. Timoteo Lafai, 5. Kurt Mann, 6. Gareth Widdop, 7. Ben Hunt, 8. James Graham, 9. Cameron McInnes, 10. Paul Vaughan, 11. Jacob Host, 12. Tariq Sims, 13. Jack De Belin
Interchange: 14. Jeremy Latimore, 15. Jason Nightingale, 16. Leeson Ah Mau, 17. Luciano Leilua
Reserves: 18. Blake Lawrie, 19. Reece Robson, 20. Jai Field, 21. Hame Sele, 22. Darren Nicholls, 23. Patrick Herbert

Parramatta Eels
1. Clinton Gutherson, 2. Bevan French, 3. Michael Jennings, 4. Jarryd Hayne, 5. George Jennings, 6. Mitchell Moses, 7. Corey Norman, 8. Daniel Alvaro, 9. Cameron King, 10. Siosaia Vave, 11. Marata Niukore, 12. Brad Takairangi, 13. Nathan Brown
Interchange: 14. Will Smith, 15. Tim Mannah, 16. David Gower, 17. Peni Terepo
Reserves: 18. Kirisome Auva’a, 19. Kane Evans, 20. Jaeman Salmon, 21. Suaia Matagi
St George are back where they belong. (Photo by Mark Kolbe/Getty Images)
Roar Guru
28th June, 2018
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The St George Illawarra Dragons and Parramatta Eels sit at opposite ends of the table but still have plenty to play for. Can the Dragons continue their strong form or will the Eels cause an enormous upset to burrow their way off the bottom of the table? Join The Roar from 7:50pm (AEST) for live scores and coverage.

The Dragons currently sit on top of the table after a great start to the season that has seen them win eleven of their first fourteen matches.

Paul McGregor’s side are set to be tested as a result with a number of Red V players being selected for representative duties over the weekend. Tyson Frizell has been rested after playing in State of Origin on Sunday night alongside Ben Hunt, Paul Vaughan and Jack De Belin while James Graham, Gareth Widdop and Leeson Ah Mau were all involved in the Denver Test.

A big question mark hangs over how the aforementioned trio back-up from the high-altitude test match with Jai Field and Darren Nicholls on standby for Widdop.

The Dragons will need to assert their dominance through the middle of the park and it’s imperative Ben Hunt alleviates some of the pressure off Gareth Widdop to allow him to adjust back to the conditions.

The Parramatta Eels have had a season from hell and will need to rectify that against the Dragons if they are to be even a slim chance of qualifying for September football.

Injuries have ravaged the blue and gold, however, Mitchell Moses will return in the halves, settling the instability in the spine that has affected them over recent weeks.

Parramatta go into the game as massive underdogs and will need a lot to go their way however, if they settle into their structure in hope of sparking their attack and lay the platform for their forwards to work through the middle of the park, they could set fatigue into the Dragons’ side given none of the Eels players took part in the Rugby League Challenge or State of Origin.

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The Eels have won 17 of their 33 meetings with the Dragons, who have been victorious on 14 occasions while two matches have been drawn.

Last time they met, the Eels ran out 24-10 victors at ANZ Stadium in round 15 of the 2017 season. The Dragons have three wins from six outings against the Eels in Wollongong, the blue and gold winning twice, with the other match ending in a draw.

Prediction
The St George Illawarra Dragons will be far too strong for the Eels, putting in a spirited display to stay on top of the table.

Dragons by 10.

Join The Roar from 7:50pm (AEST) for score updates and debate in our live blog.

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