Parramatta Eels vs New Zealand Warriors: NRL live scores, blog

The enigmatic Parramatta Eels host the New Zealand Warriors in Friday Night football. Join The Roar for live scores and commentary from 7.55pm AEST.

Another week in the NRL, and another roll of the dice as to which Parramatta Eels side is going to run out. The Eels sit a win outside the top four, back in sixth as it currently stands. To date they have rolled the Storm and Panthers away from home, but really struggled against lesser opposition. Time is running out for them to get it right on a consistent basis and tonight is a game that just have to win, and win well for their home fans.

The Warriors are fresh off a bye, and fresh off returning home after over two years spent in Australia to keep the competition going. It will be interesting to see if their is any discernible change in their style of play after finally returning home.

The Eels have named Junior Paulo to back up from Origin 3. He bumps Marata Niukore to lock,. Makahesi Makatao to the bench and Nathan Brown into the reserves. Jake Arthur has earns a recall on the bench, pushing Tom Opacic to 18th man. The Warriors are missing Dallin Watene-Zelezniak with Covid, he is replaced by Edward Kosi. Ronald Volkman is out with a virus, his spot taken by Chanel Harris-Tevita. Jack Murchie takes the place of Bayley Sironen on the bench, ruled out with a fractured eye socket.

The last time these two played was in Magic Round last season, the Eels running out comfortable winners. The Warriors don’t have a great record in Parramatta, just 4 wins from 17 attempts. Parramatta are 4 from 5 at Commbank this season.

Prediction

There is always an element of doubt when tipping the Eels at the moment. On their day, they absolutely have the football in them to challenge for a premiership. However, they also have the polar opposite in them as well, struggling to put away lesser opposition and just failing to turn up on other occasions.

The Warriors have been valiant for a few seasons now, in trying under difficult circumstances. While they have now returned home, they still should be easy for the Eels to beat. They have struggled with trips to Parramatta in the past, and at this point in this season just have a whole lot less to play for with the finals out of reach.

I expect a big game from the Eels here, with Mitch Moses and Clint Gutherson, in particular, having big games.

Eels by 20+

Game information

Kick-off: 7:55pm AEST
Venue: CommBank Stadium
TV/Stream: Kayo Sports, Foxtel, Nine Network
Odds: Eels $1.12, Warriors $6.25 – odds via PlayUp

Parramatta

1. Clinton Gutherson 2. Maika Sivo 3. Will Penisini 4. Waqa Blake 5. Bailey Simonsson 6. Dylan Brown 7. Mitchell Moses 8. Reagan Campbell-Gillard 9. Reed Mahoney 10. Junior Paulo 11. Shaun Lane 12. Isaiah Papali’i 13. Marata Niukore 14. Makahesi Makatoa 15. Jakob Arthur 16. Oregon Kaufusi 17. Ky Rodwell 18. Tom Opacic 19. Elie El Zakhem 20. Nathan Brown 21. Ofahiki Ogden 22. Hayze Perham

New Zealand

1. Reece Walsh 2. Marcelo Montoya 3. Jesse Arthars 4. Adam Pompey 5. Edward Kosi 6. Chanel Harris-Tavita 7. Shaun Johnson 8. Addin Fonua-Blake 9. Wayde Egan 10. Tohu Harris 11. Euan Aitken 12. Josh Curran 13. Jazz Tevaga 14. Freddy Lussick 15. Bunty Afoa 16. Aaron Pene 17. Jack Murchie 18. Eliesa Katoa 20. Rocco Berry 21. Daejarn Asi 22. Pride Petterson-Robati 23. Jackson Frei