Match Centre

FULL TIME - Up to third position, the Raiders hold Parramatta scoreless, 19-0 winners.

The Eels butcher it! They have an overlap on the left edge - Jaeman Salmon throws it forward to Maika Sivo who dives over.

A late dropout forced as Parramatta have one final chance to post points.

The Eels cough it up once more. Raiders 30 out.

Josh Hodgson back to his best, finding touch 5 out from the Parramatta line. A nice settler there.

That is incredible. The line opened twice for Michael Jennings but the Raiders scramble magnificently to deny him.

Parramatta pick up a penalty for a high shot on Clint Gutherson from Jack Wighton. Meanwhile, currently as it stands the Eels drop down to eighth on the ladder while the Raiders could rise up to second if they score one more try. Eels 10 out with a chance to score their first though.

Clint Gutherson takes it up and... yes... he drops the ball.

And another mistake from Parramatta - that should bring their completion rate to just over 50% tonight. Canberra now finding as many metres through the middle as Josh Hodgson is pinned for a forward pass. To the Raiders' credit, their hooker has not been near his best tonight but they have still dominated.

They shift it left from Marata Niukore to Brad Takairangi and he has space but can't take the tough tip-on pass...

Jack Wighton kicks it out on the full on the last play - still some things to work on for the Raiders.

Jack Wighton stepping, threatens to go through the middle, passes back inside to support but it goes to Junior Paulo and Parramatta survive.

And that is the difference between the two sides. Jack Wighton grubbers through, Clint Gutherson taps it on well to Brad Takairangi but the Raiders swarm in numbers to keep him in-goal.

Parramatta drop the ball almost straight away though and hand the ball straight back to the Raiders.

Josh Hodgson with another odd kick - this one on the Parramatta 40.

Mitchell Moses short to Peni Terepo who surges up to the defence and threatens to offload but holds onto it. Parra 15 out. Junior Paulo to Kane Evans and he's taken 10 out. Paulo now looks to muscle his way over himself but can't. Jaeman Salmon with a deft grubber but Jordan Rapana does incredibly well to clean it up. Raiders working it out from their own end.

A penalty for Parramatta here who will be desperate to bounce back after a poor start to the second half.

Joseph Tapine down with what looks a bad ankle injury. He's helped off.

Another dropped ball from the Eels - their third of the half already. They now concede a penalty and Canberra are 20 out with a big chance to push further ahead.

Elliot Whitehead is almost over here but Marata Niukore smacks him and forces the ball free.

Parra put it down though.

Canberra now kick it dead and then concede a penalty to further their woes. Parramatta with another chance as Blake Ferguson comes on.

He's back up though. Meanwhile, Parramatta nab a relieving penalty and begin the new set just shy of halfway through Marata Niukore, who hits it up. Peni Terepo then surges past the 40. Iosia Soliola then crunches Jaeman Salmon who danced down the left edge. A lovely exchange of short passes as Niukore steams straight through off a Mitchell Moses short ball but Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad somehow denies him. And now the Eels throw it out into touch.

A solid set after points for Canberra as Blake Ferguson is crunched by Jarrod Croker and Elliot Whitehead 10 out from his own line. The Parramatta winger remains down.

Back underway here at GIO Stadium for the second half.

HALF TIME: The Eels can't be too concerned going down by eight given the amount of defence they have to do. Will be interesting to see what they can do if they get an equal share of the ball.

Canberra with a penalty and they'll shoot for two.

Josh Hodgson rolls it into the in-goal area and forces a dropout

Kane Evans just onto the field and he comes up with a bad error right on the Parramatta line. Canberra with another chance to capitalise on a 60-40 possession split.

Joseph Leilua bursts through here and the Raiders are 20 out. They shift it right on the last - from Josh Hodgson to Leilua again who offloads for Jordan Rapana but he is bundled into touch.

Siliva Havili it appears has made an error and stays down, he is being treated for a possible leg injury but is up on his feet.

Now Blake Ferguson comes up with a mistake right on his own line and Canberra have another chance after a settled set after points to score.

Jarrod Croker races down the touchline and offloads back inside and Blake Ferguson is ruled to have knocked it down. Canberra with another full set on halfway.

Parramatta nab a penalty and begin their set on their own 40. They shift it down the right side brilliantly, quick hands see Brad Takairangi surge through before being tackled 25 out from the Canberra line. Reed Mahoney with a smart kick and Jordan Rapana looks certain to be trapped in-goal but he gets out!

So with that ruling, Canberra are 10 out with another full set on Parramatta's line. Josh Hodgson to Ryan Sutton who drops it and the Raiders just look frustrated as the Eels continually turn them away.

Sam Williams with a clever grubber which hits the posts but Blake Ferguson does well to clean it up as Parramatta run away! Brad Takairangi offloads for Mitchell Moses who finds Clint Gutherson and he's away to score but it's all called back for a forward pass.

Junior Paulo now comes up with an error as Parramatta squander that valuable opportunity.

An error from the Raiders coming out of trouble and Parramatta get a rare chance early on the Canberra line.

Mitchell Moses with a lovely grubber which looks certain to trap Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad in-goal but he somehow gets out. Poor chase from a tired Parramatta side.

Another penalty - Canberra tap - Jack Wighton on the last takes them on down the short side and looks certain to score after crashing over but the ball spills free. 67% possession and the Raiders still don't have points.

Junior Paulo offloads straight to Jarrod Croker who races away, evading a few tackles before being pulled up 10 out. Another big chance here for Canberra but Parramatta scramble well to avoid immediate punishment. Sam Williams with a deft grubber, it almost sits up for John Bateman but Clint Gutherson looks to have batted it dead.

Sam Williams with a shonky bomb on the last but Clint Gutherson is under it and the Parramatta fullback takes the ball up to the 30. Blake Ferguson and Maika Sivo put their hands up for carries in this set and the Eels are already over halfway. Shaun Lane then drives up towards the 30.

Clint Gutherson scheming and Parramatta are 30 out on the last. A really composed end to the set as Jaeman Salmon traps Canberra five out from their line off a well-weighted kick.

Clint Gutherson's dropout goes 60 metres and Dunamis Lui can't even make it past halfway. Josh Hodgson scoots from dummy-half though and picks up 20 or so metres. Ryan Sutton with a strong carry and quick play-the-ball. Jack Wighton then drops the ball on the right-side spread and the Eels survive!

Sam Williams trickles it into the in-goal area and forces Maika Sivo to take the ball dead. Canberra are doing this nicely but will need to convert the possession into points soon.

Jack Wighton with a floating pass over the top to Jordan Rapana who runs out of space and grubbers back inside. Jaeman Salmon dives on it but is forced into touch. More pressure coming for the away side.

Another set coming for Canberra and they are just 10 out - they now nab a penalty. They will tap.

Parra working it out from deep inside their own half here - Reed Mahoney with a poor ball out of dummy-half to Mitchell Moses who can't kick under pressure, he throws the ball wide and it goes forward. Handover.

The outside backs with plenty of involvement early - Nick Cotric over the 30 before Elliot Whitehead does well to take his side over halfway. Josh Hodgson inside to Josh Papalii and the Raiders are 30 out. The kick is a good one, Jordan Rapana looks to have tackled Maika Sivo in the air but no penalty comes.

We're underway! Parramatta receives the ball first. Daniel Alvaro and Maika Sivo with the first runs before Junior Paulo pops a risky offload for Marata Niukore who takes it over the 30. Brad Takairangi with a strong carry. A great set early from the Eels as Tepai Moeroa is tipped over on the fourth. Mitchell Moses clears it on the last and Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad is under it.

For what it's worth, I'm taking Canberra 20-16.

And now the Canberra Raiders make their way through the tunnel to a chilly GIO Stadium.

Parramatta are coming out right now. Both teams in great form in what shapes as the match of the round.