Parramatta should really win this game against a Canberra side, who doesn't travel well at all. Canberra's biggest problem however resides in the fact that they do not have an established dummy half, and this is where they can be exploited. Whilst Tongue is a great lock forward, he has a weak passing game and hence canberra's playmakers are forced to stand close to the ruck. This being said, if the ball gets beyond the first receiver, then Canberra have some of the best young outside backs to take advantage.
The other issue for Canberra is ball control. Errors at critical points in the game hurts them, and indeed allowed the Wests Tigers back into the game last week.
Similarly, the eels had equally disastrous hands last week against a desperate Sharks side, no better exemplified than by Timana Tahu's knock on over the line. The eels were awful in their completions and as a result their play makers failed to gain ascendancy to get a roll on.
If the eels highly rated forward pack can hold it's own against a big Canberra side in the early stages, then they should have too much class in the later stages of the game.
If I were Daniel Anderson- Put Mateo back on the bench. He's playing fairly, but he's nowhere near the devastating form that he was in towards the end of last year. Against tiring sides, Mateo is the x factor that Daniel Anderson may need. Start with Poore and Fui, with a Cayless Hindmarsh back row and Ben Smith locking the scrum.
If I were David Furner- find a dummy half and quick. I don't know if Glenn Buttriss isn't fit, but I'd be looking to get someone into there that can pass both ways, and shows some initiative out of dummy half. Also, instruct your forwards to run in pairs on the fringes with a back in support. The eels rely heavily on the great defence of Hindmarsh and a few others, to make up for the deficiencies of some who are there for their attack, and don't really defend well.
