Eels v Bulldogs
ANZ Stadium
Saturday 5.30pm
NO two teams are more relieved to finally be hitting the field than the Eels and Bulldogs.
Their off-seasons have been littered with drama and after all the pub brawls, board fights and drive-by shootings we finally get to see the players in action.
Parramatta have plenty of hype surrounding their prospects this year – but hype doesn’t win matches.
The Bulldogs have plenty of doomsayers deriding their prospects – but the critics don’t make the tackles.
A combination of players out hurt and players stood down has swung the pendulum closer to the middle once more.
What we will have is the opportunity to see some great early season footy, in an electric atmosphere and a handful of rookies desperate to make names for themselves.
Both sides tasted a win and a loss in the trials; Parramatta going down 30-28 to Penrith before bouncing back to beat the Roosters 34-18 and the Bulldogs falling to the Dragons 40-30 before accounting for the Panthers 36-18.
Some might argue that since the Bulldogs beat Penrith and the Eels lost to the mountain men the ’Dogs have the upper hand. But while trials give us some indication on the state of a side, the sheer numbers of players used and the fact interchange was unlimited ensures it would be very unwise to put too much emphasis on those results.
Watch out Bulldogs: Taulima Tautai is a name to remember. Sure he might be in this game thanks to Jaryd Hayne’s indiscretion but it’s that fact that will drive the 20-year-old junior Kiwi to a peak performance.
Tautai has come through the ranks at the Eels with enormous raps and at almost 100 kilograms he is another ‘giant’ of the game waiting to be unleashed. The Eels are also blooding hooker Matt Keating and prop Brendan Oake, a former skipper of St Gregory’s College.
Watch out Eels: While league sensation Sonny Bill Williams is primed for a big start to the year and former Eel Andrew Ryan is also ready to rip and tear, it is another former Parramatta player who could prove the difference.
Prop Justin Tsoulos should revel in the tough Bulldogs atmosphere and could finally reach the potential that injuries held back in his time at the Eels. At 185cm and 110 kilograms Tsoulos is a handful.
Young centre Tim Winitana will also get his first chance to impress for the ’Dogs while the injection of former Shark Michael Sullivan from the bench could be an x-factor for Steve Folkes’ men.
Where it will be won: Both sides have new combinations in their backline which will ensure everything isn’t flowing as perfectly as it could.
When this is the case the old adage ‘defence wins matches’ rings true. Each side will be trying valiantly to bring new style and ideas into their attack but it’s their commitment to each other in defence that will give them the best possible start to the season.
The Eels need to stop the offloads from Sonny Bill while the ’Dogs need to do the same from Feleti Mateo. In a war of attrition it’s the second phase from this pair that could prove the difference.
The History: Played 121; Eels 51, Bulldogs 65, drawn 5. Parramatta won both clashes between the clubs last season but the Bulldogs have won five of the last eight.
Conclusion: The Bulldogs might be underdogs in this one but the match could be closer than the bookies believe.
If the Dogs can shut down the Eels’ outside backs they still have a back-row that can create headaches.
They still lack the speed and flair of most of their opponents but the sheer buzz of a mammoth crowd will lift all blue-and-whites involved. However, at the end of the day, the Eels should be able to create enough chances to win the match.
Match officials: Referee – Jason Robinson; Sideline Officials – Paul Holland & Alan Shortall; Video ref – Russell Smith.
Televised: Fox Sports 2 – Live 5.30pm
Statistics: NRL Stats.
http://nrl.com/News/Latest/tabid/10244/default.aspx
