Dominic Brock | rugbyleaguelive.com | 16/05/08 | 0
Parramatta Eels v Sydney Roosters
Friday 16th May, 7.45pm
Parramatta Stadium
Referee: Shayne Hayne
HEAD TO HEAD
Eels 58 wins, Roosters 54 wins, 5 drawn.
FORM GUIDE
Eels: WLWLLLBWW
Roosters: WLWWWLLBW
The Eels have dominated this match-up in recent times, winning the past four games between the teams and the past three at Parramatta Stadium. The round 7 bye has worked wonders for the Eels – after back-to-back home defeats they’ve put on two straight wins and now return to Parramatta for the first time in four weeks.
With Jarryd Hayne their only State of Origin representative the Eels will also be near full strength this weekend, with workaholic forward Nathan Hindmarsh and half Brett Finch getting their chance to show selectors they should have been named in the New South Wales 17.
The Roosters made a great start to the year but have fallen away in recent weeks with losses to Newcastle and St George Illawarra, before beating Canberra last Saturday. Braith Anasta has been handed the captaincy after being snubbed by NSW selectors, who opted for Greg Bird at five-eighth.
Other than Anasta and half Mitchell Pearce, the Roosters’ real strength this season has been their forward pack. But this week they’ll be without Blues back-row trio Willie Mason, Anthony Tupou and Craig Fitzgibbon, while Nate Myles is away on Queensland duty.
THE BURNING QUESTION
Can captain Anasta lead a decimated Roosters pack to an unlikely victory?
KEY MATCH UPS
Feleti Mateo v Braith Anasta
Mateo is a boom youngster with the football world at his feet, capable of pulling off terrific attacking plays. Last week, the powerful ball-runner took the ball forward for 109 metres, while making two tackle breaks, three offloads and 33 tackles. With Brett Finch taking full control over the playmaking duties at Parramatta since Tim Smith’s exit the Eels now have a strong ball-running five-eighth who’ll only get better in the years to come.
Anasta knows a thing or two about grabbing the headlines as a youngster – the hype surrounding him early in his career led to the Roosters pivot being regarded as the most overrated player in the league by many fans. But now, in just about the form of his career, Anasta’s been overlooked for the Blues Origin side and will be out to prove himself all over again. His partnership with half Mitchell Pearce will be all the more important this week with four forwards enforcers out of the side.
Nathan Cayless v Mark O’Meley
Parramatta skipper Cayless has been as solid as ever for the Eels in ’08, leading the pack with 115 hit-ups so far this season. O’Meley meanwhile is carrying more responsibility than ever in providing go-forward for the Roosters, with his front row partner and entire back row all involved in Wednesday’s Origin match.
COACHES CORNER
The Eels managed to hold off the Dragons last weekend and they’ll be looking for another solid effort against the weakened Roosters this Friday. The usually-strong Sydney pack has been decimated by Origin and the home side should be able to gain the ascendancy up the middle through Cayless, Hindmarsh and cult favourite Fuifui Moimoi.
Brad Fittler has been forced into a major reshuffle with his forwards…
Coming up against a near full-strength Eels pack, the Roosters will have to rely on the boot of Anasta and Pearce to secure field position and will have to look wide for point-scoring chances. Both halves missed out on Blues jumpers after being considered genuine chances of securing starting spots in the past few weeks – but there’ll still be plenty of incentive for the duo to prove the selectors wrong.
PUNTERS GUIDE
Head to head: Eels $1.50 Roosters $2.50
The Eels start this one as clear favourites, and deservedly so considering recent form and the toll taken on the Roosters by Origin. The Roosters are a good side but they were thumped by the hot-and-cold Dragons a few weeks ago, and after losing the bulk of their forward pack this week it could be another one-way result against the in-form Eels. Look for the home side by 13+.
CASUALTY WARD
Eels: Krisnan Inu – ankle (Rd 12), Josh Cordoba – shoulder (Rd 16).
Roosters: Shane Shackleton – arm (Rd 20), Shaun Foley – ankle (indefinite), Anthony Minichiello – back (Rd 11).
BAD BOYS
Eels: -
Dragons: -
TEAM LISTS
Eels: Luke Burt, Joel Reddy, Ben Smith, Taulima Tautai, Eric Grothe, Feleti Mateo, Brett Finch, Nathan Cayless (capt), Mark Riddell, Fuifui Moimoi, Nathan Hindmarsh, Daniel Wagon, Chad Robinson. Interchange: Matthew Keating, Brendan Oake, Weller Hauraki, Junior Paulo.
Roosters: Amos Roberts, Sam Perrett, Brent Grose, Sia Soliola, Shaun Kenny-Dowall, Braith Anasta (capt), Mitchell Pearce, Mark O`Meley, Riley Brown, David Shillington, Lopini Paea, Setaimata Sa, Mitchell Aubusson. Interchange: Mickey Paea, Frank-Paul Nuuausala, Anthony Cherrington, James Aubusson.
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