Round 22: Eels v Rabbitohs preview
Top four spot on the line in a battle of the heavyweights
It's a battle of the inner-city rivals as the Parramatta Eels take on the South Sydney Rabbitohs before what's sure to be a sell out crowd at CommBank Stadium in match two of Friday Night Footy.
It's been a season of promise and frustration for Parramatta fans. On one hand, you've got the sole pride of being the only team to defeat the Penrith juggernaut, but on the other hand you've got the embarrassing losses at the hands of the Wests Tigers and the Canterbury Bulldogs. This inconsistency also shows in their team line-ups every week, with a new injury cropping up every week making it nearly impossible to build team chemistry. But with that being said, the way that Parramatta plays is dependent on how they start. If they start poorly and fail to arrest the forward domination, then you can turn the TV off and think about next week.
Last week was a tough and hard fought victory against a side that was fighting for their finals life in Manly Warringah. It was a promising victory in which we finally got to see the promise that Jake Arthur has to show. His long cut-out balls to set up Waqa Blake in the corner were exceptional and the mental resilience in this young kid was amazing to see. But their forwards got over the top of Manly's pack and set the likes of Gutho and Brown up for their attacking raids. If that effort can be replicated against Souths this weekend, then their finals spot will be safe and secure. On the team front, Brad Arthur has made only one change with Ofahiki Ogden being preferred on the bench ahead of Makahesi Makatoa.
South Sydney's season has been marred by much of the same inconsistency that I've highlighted about Parramatta. That is easily coach Jason Demetriou's number one concern on top of his sides' woeful completion figures this season. With the Rabbitohs only two points clear of the Roosters (in eighth spot), this is easily a must win fixture on Friday night.
Last week was a training run for the Rabbitohs against a hapless Warriors side on the Sunshine Coast. Cam Murray and Latrell Mitchell were back to their dynamic best as they tore the Warriors to shreds in a dominating half of football. Their forwards ran completely over the formidable Warriors pack with Tevita Tatola the pick of the forwards running the ball 20 times for 200 meters. If their forwards can give Walker and Latrell and early platform to set up their plays down that dynamic left edge. It's going to be a long night for the Parramatta faithful. Jason Demetriou has opted to make some changes to his pack as well with Hame Sele starting, Mark Nicholls on the bench and Daniel Suluka-Fifita out of the side. Tom Burgess and Campbell Graham won't be available until next week at the earliest.
Last meeting: Round 16 2022 - Rabbitohs 30 Eels 12
Who to watch: In what's been a challenging but successful season for the Eels, one man who's hitting his best form is backrower Shaun Lane. Lane has in the past been the model of Parra's season as one game he looks like a form backrower, and the next a passenger. This season, he's been in every game Parramatta have played playing a key contribution trying to turn the tide in losses and setting his side up for victories. Lane is averaging 119m a game with the football and with 21 offloads, ten line-break assists and six line-breaks. Lane is one of Parramatta's damaging players with the footy. Look for him to cause problems galore.
It's been an up and down season for Cody Walker with a clear lack of keeping his emotions in check when the going gets tough. But ever since the South Sydney number six has been reunited with Latrell Mitchell, Walker has been able to strike a new chord picking up four try assists and bagging three for himself on-top of working in unison with that left hand edge to allow Alex Johnston to score tries for fun. Look for the combination to continue to cause carnage for the Rabbits and send nightmares down the questionable right hand defence of the Eels.
The favourite: South Sydney are the slight favourites here for this clash. Parramatta have not defeated South Sydney since May 2019 at CommBank Stadium. But Parramatta have only won six matches against Souths since 2010.
My tip: The leveller in this one is definitely the Parramatta crowd. CommBank Stadium is such an intimidating atmosphere for visiting teams and it could be such a big turning point that swings the momentum back in favour of Parramatta. But, the South Sydney attack is one of the more dynamic in the competition and after the big win at Accor earlier this season. Souths are primed to get up in this one. Souths by 6.
