Eels v Raiders: Niukore to start; Young in for Tapine
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Two teams regarded as serious title contenders this year go head to head with the Eels and Raiders each coming off a tough loss in round six.
Despite sitting in fifth with four wins and two losses, the Raiders are ranked ninth for attack and has admitted their game plan needs a tweak after failing to score a try in the final 20 minutes in their three games since beating the Storm in round three.
Parramatta lost no admirers in a valiant three-tries-to-two loss to heavyweights the Roosters but still need to learn how to beat the best teams.
Match: Eels v Raiders
Round 7 -
home Team
Eels
1st Position
away Team
Raiders
7th Position
Venue: CommBank Stadium, Sydney
The rundown
Team news
Eels: Marata Niukore will replace Nathan Brown in the starting side after the rugged forward copped a two-match ban earlier in the week. Eels coach Brad Arthur confirmed Daniel Alvaro will be added to the interchange. Jai Field was dropped from the squad 24 hours before the match and David Gower and George Jennings were trimmed from the reserves list on game day. Parramatta have won five of their past six games at Bankwest Stadium.
Raiders: Joseph Tapine is out with a minor knee issue with Hudson Young promoted to the starting side and Bailey Simonsson added to the bench. Tapine and Matt Frawley were the two players omitted on the eve of the match, while Dunamis Lui and Tom Starling were cut from the extended bench an hour before kick-off. Coach Ricky Stuart remains in search of his 200th coaching victory in the NRL.
Match: Eels v Raiders
Round 7 -
home Team
Eels
away Team
Raiders
Team Lists
Backs
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Fullback for Eels is number 1 Clinton GuthersonFullback for Raiders is number 1 Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad
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Winger for Eels is number 2 Maika SivoWinger for Raiders is number 2 Jordan Rapana
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Centre for Eels is number 3 Michael JenningsCentre for Raiders is number 3 Jarrod Croker
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Centre for Eels is number 4 Waqa BlakeCentre for Raiders is number 4 Curtis Scott
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Winger for Eels is number 5 Blake FergusonWinger for Raiders is number 5 Nick Cotric
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Five-Eighth for Eels is number 6 Dylan BrownFive-Eighth for Raiders is number 6 Jack Wighton
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Halfback for Eels is number 7 Mitchell MosesHalfback for Raiders is number 7 George Williams
Forwards
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Prop for Eels is number 8 Reagan Campbell-GillardProp for Raiders is number 8 Josh Papali'i
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Hooker for Eels is number 9 Reed MahoneyHooker for Raiders is number 9 Josh Hodgson
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Prop for Eels is number 10 Junior PauloProp for Raiders is number 10 Iosia Soliola
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2nd Row for Eels is number 11 Shaun Lane2nd Row for Raiders is number 12 Elliott Whitehead
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2nd Row for Eels is number 12 Ryan Matterson2nd Row for Raiders is number 17 Hudson Young
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Lock for Eels is number 15 Marata NiukoreLock for Raiders is number 13 Corey Horsburgh
Interchange
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Interchange for Eels is number 14 Ray StoneInterchange for Raiders is number 14 Siliva Havili
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Interchange for Eels is number 16 Oregon KaufusiInterchange for Raiders is number 15 Emre Guler
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Interchange for Eels is number 17 Brad TakairangiInterchange for Raiders is number 16 Ryan Sutton
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Interchange for Eels is number 19 Daniel AlvaroInterchange for Raiders is number 18 Bailey Simonsson
Match Officials
- Referee: Ashley Klein
- Touch Judge: Todd Smith
- Touch Judge: Gavin Badger
- Senior Review Official: Jared Maxwell
Last updated:
Key match-up
Ryan Matterson v Elliott Whitehead. The two hard-working back-rowers could each make a claim to being their team's best player in last week's losses. Matterson has added plenty to the Eels in both attack and defence since returning to his junior club, racking up 52 tackles and 146 metres last week with six busts and three offloads.
Whitehead scored his side's only try to go with his 44 tackles and 102 metres. As the respective right edge and left edge forwards for their teams, the pair will be facing off directly in this one.
