NRL Match Preview: Raiders v Eels

Author: Raiders.com.au
Timestamp: Wed 10 May 2023, 04:05 PM

It's a big clash this weekend at GIO Stadium Canberra with the Toyota Forklift Raiders taking on the Parramatta Eels on Saturday night.

The Raiders have won their last four games and will want to keep that momentum going this weekend in front of a large home crowd.

The side are coming off the back of a hard-fought 34-30 win over the Bulldogs in Magic Round last Friday night, with many impressive performances throughout the team.

Jordan Rapana scored a double in the clash against the Bulldogs and is now just one try away from bringing up his 100 NRL tries milestone.

The Raiders currently sit in ninth place on the ladder but are equal on points with the third placed Panthers, so a win this weekend could see the team jump into the top eight.

Ricky Stuart has made just one change to the side ahead of this weekend's clash. Albert Hopoate returns to the wing after missing last round due to his sister's wedding, with Xavier Savage moving to 18th man.

Meanwhile, the Eels went down by two points to the Gold Coast Titans last round so will be looking to bounce back this weekend.

Halfback Mitchell Moses has been ruled out of the game due to a category one concussion suffered in the match against the Titans.

Jake Arthur will replace Moses and partner Dylan Brown in the halves.

Round 11 - Round 11 - Saturday 13 May

Full Time

Raiders

Eels

Team Lists

Backs

Fullback for Raiders is number 1 Sebastian Kris

Fullback for Eels is number 1 Clinton Gutherson
Winger for Raiders is number 2 Albert Hopoate

Winger for Eels is number 2 Maika Sivo
Centre for Raiders is number 3 Jarrod Croker

Centre for Eels is number 3 Will Penisini
Centre for Raiders is number 4 Matthew Timoko

Centre for Eels is number 4 Bailey Simonsson
Winger for Raiders is number 5 Jordan Rapana

Winger for Eels is number 5 Haze Dunster
Five-Eighth for Raiders is number 6 Jack Wighton

Five-Eighth for Eels is number 6 Dylan Brown
Halfback for Raiders is number 7 Jamal Fogarty

Halfback for Eels is number 7 Jake Arthur

Forwards

Prop for Raiders is number 8 Josh Papalii

Prop for Eels is number 8 Wiremu Greig
Hooker for Raiders is number 9 Zac Woolford

Hooker for Eels is number 9 Josh Hodgson
Prop for Raiders is number 10 Joseph Tapine

Prop for Eels is number 10 Junior Paulo
2nd Row for Raiders is number 11 Hudson Young

2nd Row for Eels is number 11 Shaun Lane
2nd Row for Raiders is number 12 Elliott Whitehead

2nd Row for Eels is number 12 Andrew Davey
Lock for Raiders is number 13 Corey Horsburgh

Lock for Eels is number 13 J'maine Hopgood

Interchange

Interchange for Raiders is number 14 Tom Starling

Interchange for Eels is number 14 Bryce Cartwright
Interchange for Raiders is number 15 Emre Guler

Interchange for Eels is number 15 Brendan Hands
Interchange for Raiders is number 16 Pasami Saulo

Interchange for Eels is number 16 Ryan Matterson
Interchange for Raiders is number 17 Ata Mariota

Interchange for Eels is number 17 Makahesi Makatoa

Reserves

Replacement for Raiders is number 18 Xavier Savage

Replacement for Eels is number 19 Ofahiki Ogden

Match Officials

Referee: Grant Atkins
Touch Judge: Dave Munro
Touch Judge: Ziggy Przeklasa-Adamski
Senior Review Official: Kasey Badger

Last updated: 9/7/2024 12:26:03 PM

Last time they met

The last time we played Parramatta was in week two of finals last year, with the Eels winning 40-4 on that occasion.

Key Matchups

Sebastian Kris v Clinton Gutherson

The battle at the back will be one to watch this Saturday night with both Sebastian Kris and Clinton Gutherson in fine form for their respective teams.

Kris has really found a home in the fullback role for the Raiders this season and has consistently improved week in and week out in both attack and defence.

He is averaging 181 running metres per game, has made 27 tackle breaks and scored two tries in the last three games.

Gutherson is one of the Eels' best players and has also been in strong form to start the season.

The Eels captain has scored nine tries so far this year, including a hat-trick against the Knights in round nine, while averaging 155 running metres and recording five try assists.

Both players will want to start the sets strongly for their respective sides and a moment of brilliance between either player could be the difference in getting the two points.

Joe Tapine v Junior Paulo

The battle of the forwards will be huge in this game and none more so than Joe Tapine up against Junior Paulo.

Along with Josh Papalii, Tapine has been the leader of the Raiders forward pack and has been leading by example with some monster performances.

Tapine is averaging 161 running metres, 64 post contact metres and 32 tackles per game, continuing the form that saw him awarded the 2022 Meninga Medal.

Junior Paulo is the enforcer of the Eels forward pack and will be relishing going up against the some of his former teammates in the Raiders forward pack.

Paulo is known for his damaging runs, averaging 55 post contact metres per game, and has also scoring two tries this season so far.

Stopping the momentum of Paulo and the rest of the Eels forward pack will be at the top of the list for Tapine and the rest of the Raiders forwards this weekend.

Corey Horsburgh v J'maine Hopgood

This match-up between Corey Horsburgh and J'maine Hopgood will be one to watch come Saturday night.

Since moving to starting lock in round six, Horsburgh's game has gone to another level and has seen him leap into Origin contention.

His last two performances against the Dolphins and Bulldogs were particularly impressive, recording 370 running metres, 171 post contact metres, six offloads and a try assist.

Hopgood has been one of the rising stars for the Eels since moving over from the Panthers at the start of the year.

The Parramatta lock is very dangerous with the ball and currently leads the NRL with the most offloads (26).

Both players will be looking to give another top shelf performance this weekend to help their team get the win.