Eels
25
Match Complete
Raiders
24
| C. Gutherson |  | 87 | ||
| 78 |  | J. Croker | ||
| 76 |  | C. Nicoll-Klokstad | ||
| 76 | | J. Croker | ||
| 75 | | C. Nicoll-Klokstad | ||
| M. Sivo | | 67 | ||
| C. Gutherson | | 64 | ||
| M. Jennings | | 62 | ||
| C. Gutherson | | 53 | ||
| R. Stone | | 52 | ||
| C. Gutherson |  | 39 | ||
| 30 | | J. Croker | ||
| 29 | | E. Whitehead | ||
| 19 | | J. Croker | ||
| 18 | | J. Papalii | ||
| M. Moses | | 5 | ||
| R. Matterson | | 4 |
| 4 | Tries | 4 | ||
| 3 | Conversions | 4 | ||
| 1 | Penalty Goals | 0 | ||
| 1 | Field Goals | 0 |
It’s the ladder leaders against last year’s runners-up when the Parramatta Eels face off against the Canberra Raiders in a Saturday-night blockbuster. Join The Roar for live scores from 7:30pm (AEST).
Having entered Round 7 on top of the ladder, the Eels are burdened with the unfamiliar – recently, at least – feeling of expectation. While they suffered their first loss of the season to the Roosters last week, there was no shame at all in falling to the premiership favourites in what was, at that point, the game of the season.
While Parra are bonafide contenders, no one’s quite sure of where the Raiders currently stand. Ricky Stuart’s side are certainly in the premiership mix, but recent losses to the Knights and injury-riddled Sea Eagles, as well as an unconvincing win over the Tigers, have raised questions about their ability to challenge for this year’s title.
Despite that defeat to Manly, Stuart named the same Canberra side that lined up last Sunday. His Parramatta counterpart, Brad Arthur, hadn’t quite gone down the same route, swapping Brad Takairangi in for Peni Terepo on the bench.
He’s since been forced into another change after Nathan Brown was handed a two-week suspension. Marata Niukore is set to start at lock in his place, while one of Daniel Alvaro or David Gover will likely take the last bench spot.
Game information
Kick-off: 7:35pm (AEST)
Venue: Bankwest Stadium
TV: Fox Sports
Live stream: Kayo Sports, Foxtel, NRL Live Pass
Teams
Eels
1. Clint Gutherson (c), 2. Maika Sivo, 3. Michael Jennings, 4. Waqa Blake, 5. Blake Ferguson, 6. Dylan Brown, 7. Mitchell Moses, 8. Reagan Campbell-Gillard, 9. Reed Mahoney, 10. Junior Paulo, 11. Shaun Lane, 12. Ryan Matterson, 15. Marata Niukore
Bench/Reserves: 14. Ray Stone, 16. Oregon Kaufusi, 17. Brad Takairangi, 18. David Gower, 19. Daniel Alvaro, 20. George Jennings, 21. Jai Field
Raiders
1. Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad, 2. Jordan Rapana, 3. Jarrod Croker (c), 4. Curtis Scott, 5. Nick Cotric, 6. Jack Wighton, 7. George Williams, 8. Josh Papalii, 9. Josh Hodgson, 10. Iosia Soliola, 11. Joseph Tapine, 12. Elliott Whitehead, 13. Corey Horsburgh
Bench/Reserves: 14. Siliva Havili, 15. Emre Guler, 16. Ryan Sutton, 17. Hudson Young, 18. Bailey Simonsson, 19. Dunamis Lui, 20. Matt Frawley, 21. Tom Starling
RooBoy18
Roar Rookie
Still to early to mark the Raiders harshly. This season is going to have a lot of twists and turns before the final 8 takes shape. I do think that if one team could beat the roosters in the GF it would be the Raiders given the motivation factor(but let's not get ahead of ourselves).
Tony the VIC pirate
Young is better than lui i think offers more. I think scott played better tonight but would rather Oldfield and cotric. We won the first 2 without batemen,we just need to go back to the home ground and build off that.
Geoff from Bruce Stadium
Roar Rookie
I'd be happy just with a win against the Dragons next week. The Raiders aren't completely hopeless. If they were they wouldn't have gone into golden point. I was encouraged by that. A lot of other teams would have given up. The blame sits with the halves and Hodgson. They just aren't combining well enough. At his stage the Raiders will be lucky to be top 6 by season's end. And the Eels shouldn't get too cocky with this result, They only played for 60 minutes against the Roosters and clocked off with 10 to go against the Raiders which almost cost them the win. They aren't the complete package.
AJL.
Roar Pro
I’m not seeing it them hitting their straps, but right now everyone is playing for second unless the Roosters lose a few more players. There are enough crap teams that we can beat to get into the 8, maybe push for 4th, but we’re a way off the top group at this point.
Bazza
Guest
But manly didnt score a try after turbo went off that was the difference with parra
Stormy
Roar Rookie
There are certainly bad winners - I've come across loads of them in my sporting lifetime.
RooBoy18
Roar Rookie
Whilst this is a shortened season, I still tend to think the Raiders will hit their straps soon and be in contention for a top 4 spot. But a lot hinging on next week's game.
AJL.
Roar Pro
It would help if the Raiders could play more than 35 minutes a game. Currently likely to be scraping into the 8, not good enough to beat Parra or Manly and likely to be thrashed when we play the Roosters (although that could describe 15 teams right now). Need to belt the Dragons badly enough to get their coach sacked on Friday. With the Storm, Roosters and Rabbits to follow we could be out of the 8 by the end of July.
Tony the VIC pirate
There were 50:50 calls all night, including the one that got Parramatta the win...jog on champ
Superspud
Roar Rookie
Yes mate that is exactly my point. I'm not saying everything went against Parramatta either they got some too and that was one if them. But you can go through every 50 50 in the game and like any game they go both ways. But you can't ignore all the lucky ones you get and whinge about the ones that go against you.
Geoff from Bruce Stadium
Roar Rookie
Is there such a thing as a sore winner? Take your win mate.
Geoff from Bruce Stadium
Roar Rookie
Don't think Ricky is going to change the team too much. Thought Young was OK. He offers more than Lui in my opinion. He may have to make a couple of changes if Big Red and Rapnana are injured. Thought they did well to come back from 12 points down and force the game into golden point - the result of two great pieces of play from George and Elliot. Parra are a good team so no disgrace to lose tonight.
RooBoy18
Roar Rookie
Hard luck Raiders. Hopefully Sticky will use this as motivation to get the season back on track. Another loss next week could be problematic.
Geoff from Bruce Stadium
Roar Rookie
There are two teams out there - it was a great game of footy
Spence
Roar Rookie
Ricky Stuart strikes me as a very sore loser. The eels should have been up 18-0 early in the first half, but the raiders got back into the game through disallowed tries and a blatant forward pass that was let go, not to mention parra has to play without their halfback. Despite all this, Ricky claims that you need to have luck. Jog on champ.
Geoff from Bruce Stadium
Roar Rookie
Mate it was 24 all at the end of 80 - and you got up in golden point which is a lottery at best - I'd take your luck if I was you
Taree Raider
Guest
Ricky is to blame. He picks & sticks. Hudson Young instead of Lui. You've joking. Why Ricky keeps picking Curtis Scott is beyond a joke. Put Cotric at centre & Simonsson on the wing, otherwise long term we'll loose Cotric & Simonsson. Scott may be able to get a run with the Queanbeyan Kangerooo's. Ricky stop playing favourites when form doesn't support it. We really, really, really miss Bateman. I can't blame Ricky for that. I didn't think at any time during this game that we were a chance of winning. That's really sad. I'm sick to death of the inconsistent results. We have the players that can do the job. Why don't they play to their ability? Ricky probably know's but he's not going to tell us.
Tony the VIC pirate
I agree....especially with bugger all crowd
Tony the VIC pirate
What about the try in the second half for cotric that was called a forward pass and wasnt
Superspud
Roar Rookie
Knew we would hear the whinging Raiders saying they are playing without luck and bring up the Croker charge down. What about the try off the forward pass? Where was the luck running there. The Parramatta tries that the video ref denied. Where was the luck running there.