Round 16: Eels v Sea Eagles preview
Manly and Parra battle to consolidate respective big wins
Saturday evening in Parramatta sees the Manly Sea Eagles travel west to meet the Parramatta Eels in round 16. It's a battle on the edge of the eight, with Manly (8th) a solitary point ahead of the Eels (9th) on the competition ladder. Manly has a minor advantage heading into this one due to a significant three day longer turnaround, after the Eels took part in Public Holiday football on Monday last round.
Just five days prior to their upcoming meeting with Manly, Parramatta put on a superb display on the King's Birthday to run away with the victory against the Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs. Playing at Olympic Park, King Gutho led from the front, scoring a first half hat-trick to help bag the 34-12 win. The Eels will want to carry their performance over into this game against the Sea Eagles.
The Eels will be without their halfback Mitchell Moses this week, as he heads into NSW Blues camp. Since back-up half Jake Arthur left the club recently, Jake's father Brad has a real conundrum on his hands. On Tuesday, he named regular second row forward Ryan Matterson to partner Daejarn Asi in the halves in his return from injury. Junior Paulo is also missing from the side due to Origin duty, so Ofahiki Ogden will start in the pack. Recent Tigers recruit Joe Ofahengaue joins the bench.
Manly have been dealing with a mixed bag of a season so far, but a massive win last week will have instilled some confidence in the side. Playing the Dolphins at home in Brookvale, Manly charged out of the blocks and never looked back, piling on 58 points in a thrashing. It was the highest score of their season so far, so they'll want to carry that momentum into this match.
With DCE and Moses lining up as opposing halfbacks in a different game, it's former Eel Jake Arthur who slots in at halfback for Manly. Kaeo Weekes is set to replace Tom Trbojevic at fullback.
Parramatta and Manly have already met this season, back in Round 3. It was the Sea Eagles who came away with the result that time in an incredibly even match, in which both sides crossed the stripe six times. The Eels will be fired up to get one back on Manly this Saturday.
Last meeting: Round 3 2023 - Sea Eagles 34 Eels 30
Who to watch: Ryan Matterson is set to return from injury for Parramatta in his first game since round twelve, however it won't be in the second row. With Dylan Brown and Mitch Moses both out of action, Matterson has been named to start his first game at five-eighth in the NRL since May 2019 for the Wests Tigers against the Roosters. He has started in a total of eleven NRL games in the halves, with the majority of those coming for the Roosters in 2016. The big forward's ball playing is set to be tested - so will he be up for the challenge?
Just a month ago Jake Arthur was playing in the blue and gold - now he'll be playing against them as the starting halfback for Manly. Not only will he be playing against his old club - the club whose fan base vehemently rejected him - but he will also be up against his father, Brad Arthur, Eels head coach. It will be just his second first grade appearance for Manly, and he will be under pressure to perform, with his job to replace Queensland Origin half Daly Cherry-Evans certainly a tough one.
Favourite: Parramatta are the favourites to use the home crowd to their advantage and leapfrog Manly on ladder.
My tip: With both sides backing up from confidence-boosting wins, this should be an interesting clash. I think Parramatta have the edge in a close one. Eels by 4.
