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The bottom-placed Parramatta Eels play host to fellow cellar-dwellars the Canterbury Bulldogs. Join The Roar for live scores and coverage from 7:50pm (AEST).
Remember back in 2009 when 75,000 attended ANZ Stadium for a regular season game, as Jarryd Hayne tore up the opposition like a puppy playing with tissue paper?
What a lifetime ago that was.
Instead, the Eels are simply struggling to put a win on the board, and their cross-town rivals are not travelling much better.
Parramatta have been unlucky to a certain extent – they certainly were against the Knights last weekend. If Bevan French’s feet weren’t so big, they would be coming into this match with their confidence up and a win in their pocket.
And while the Hayne Plane has been pretty much grounded since his return to the NRL, he was a big reason as to why the Eels were in with a shot last week. When Hayne fires, any team that he is playing in fires.
The problem is that – even in a fashion similar to that 2009 season – Hayne rarely fires consistently.
As for the Dogs, what on Earth is going on there is anyone’s guess.
Dean Pay certainly knows rugby league, but even he would be lying if he said he anticipated everything that came along this season.
Last weekend though, the Rabbitohs were barely troubled by Canterbury, who appear hard-up playing coherently as a team. If the Bulldogs are to have a chance here, it would help if Rhyse Martin repeated his efforts from two weeks ago.
Ultimately, the only real thing on the line tonight is pride, but when it comes to bragging rights – regardless of ladder position – a local derby generally sets up viewers for an enjoyable contest.
Prediction
The Bulldogs didn’t look out of their depth against the Rabbitohs, but Parra should have some confidence from last week, and if Hayne can fire again, they may feel that they deserve a win.
Eels by 2.
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