Round 13: Eels v Sharks preview
Gutherson and Moses return in clash against ladder leading Sharks
It's been over a year since these two sides have met in NRL competition, but the wait comes to an end this Thursday night when the Parramatta Eels host the Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks. The visitors are still sitting high and mighty in first place, but will be looking to bounce back after suffering their first loss since round three last weekend. The situation for the Eels seems to only worsen and they face a tough task coming into this game in 15th.
The Eels suffered a 42-26 loss in their first match without Brad Arthur as the head coach since 2013. With Trent Barrett temporarily at the helm as the interim coach, they faced up against the similarly struggling Rabbitohs at Homebush last week. It had been a turbulent week for Parramatta, and they understandably struggled to perform on the field. They were down 22-0 after 27 minutes, and couldn't manage a fight back.
But in a massive boost for Parramatta, they are set to welcome three big names back to the 17 this week. After an operation on his knee about a month ago, Clint Gutherson has been named to return at fullback for his first game since round eight. Will Penisini has been named in the centres after missing last week with an infection, but in the biggest news of the lot, halfback Mitch Moses is back in the seven having recovered from his foot injury. These ins as well as J'maine Hopgood's origin call up sees a very different side named this week compared with last Tuesday, a cause for excitement for Eels fans.
Despite still sitting on top of the competition table, the Sharks will be very disappointed with their result last round. Facing tough opposition in the Penrith Panthers, the Sharks did nothing to alleviate beliefs that they simply can't get the job done in the big games. Going down 42-0 in an absolute beating, it's Cronulla-Sutherland's first loss since they faced the Tigers at Leichhardt Oval all the way back in round three.
With an injury cloud still hanging over him, Nicho Hynes has been selected to join the NSW Blues camp, handing over his number seven jersey to Braydon Trindall. Cameron McInnes will join Hynes in Michael Maguire's team, so Jack Williams will start at lock. Toby Rudolf has been named to return from a knee injury that has kept him sidelined since round nine.
This year is the 5th in a row that these two clubs have met each other only once in the NRL season.
Last meeting: Round 2 2023 - Eels 26 Sharks 30
Who to watch: Mitchell Moses returns to a side in dire need of leadership. The Eels halfback hasn't played since round three, and his side have only won one match since then.
Parramatta have looked headless in his absence, and how the team reacts to his return this weekend may just set the tone for how the rest of the Eels' season plays out. How Moses works with Gutherson this Thursday will not just be critical to the result of this game, but the result of this disappointing season so far.
The opposing halfback Braydon Trindall has been making headlines in recent weeks and he will have a lot of pressure and eyes on him when he steps out onto the field in place of Nicho Hynes for Cronulla on Thursday.
Having last played NRL in round seven, Trindall has been dealing with off-field legal proceedings which culminated this week in a fine and a suspended driving licence. After pleading guilty to mid-range drink driving and driving with an illicit substance in his system, Trindall will be looking to make it up to his teammates, coaches, the club, and the fans.
Favourite: On Monday, I wrote "the Sharks understandably head into this game as the comfortable favourites." Upon team lists being released, the Eels became the favourites in a very unusual case of 15th place tipped to beat 1st by the bookies.
My tip: I think the Sharks can bounce back from last week, and shouldn't face too much opposition to it either against a struggling Parramatta team. Cronulla by 10.
