NRL Match Preview: Raiders v Eels

Author: Patrick Gaynor
Timestamp: Thu 26 May 2022, 09:47 AM

The Canberra Raiders will return home to GIO Stadium to take on the Parramatta Eels in round 12 on Sunday afternoon as part of NRL Indigenous round.

The Raiders will be hoping to make it four wins in a row up against one of the premiership contenders for this season. The Raiders currently sit tied on points with the eighth-placed Rabbitohs, so a win this weekend could put the green machine inside the top eight.

Jamal Fogarty will make his debut for the club at halfback after getting injured in a trial game earlier this year.

Xavier Savage starts at fullback with Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad going down with a hamstring injury and captain Jarrod Croker returns in the centres with Sebastian Kris shifting to the bench.

Round 12 - Round 12 - Sunday 29 May

Full Time

Raiders

Eels

Team Lists

Backs

Fullback for Raiders is number 1 Xavier Savage

Fullback for Eels is number 1 Clinton Gutherson
Winger for Raiders is number 2 Nick Cotric

Winger for Eels is number 2 Waqa Blake
Centre for Raiders is number 4 Matthew Timoko

Centre for Eels is number 3 Will Penisini
Centre for Raiders is number 16 Sebastian Kris

Centre for Eels is number 4 Tom Opacic
Winger for Raiders is number 5 Jordan Rapana

Winger for Eels is number 5 Bailey Simonsson
Five-Eighth for Raiders is number 6 Jack Wighton

Five-Eighth for Eels is number 6 Dylan Brown
Halfback for Raiders is number 7 Jamal Fogarty

Halfback for Eels is number 7 Mitchell Moses

Forwards

Prop for Raiders is number 8 Josh Papali'i

Prop for Eels is number 8 Reagan Campbell-Gillard
Hooker for Raiders is number 9 Zac Woolford

Hooker for Eels is number 9 Reed Mahoney
Prop for Raiders is number 10 Joseph Tapine

Prop for Eels is number 10 Junior Paulo
2nd Row for Raiders is number 11 Hudson Young

2nd Row for Eels is number 11 Shaun Lane
2nd Row for Raiders is number 12 Elliott Whitehead

2nd Row for Eels is number 12 Marata Niukore
Lock for Raiders is number 13 Adam Elliott

Lock for Eels is number 13 Isaiah Papali'i

Interchange

Interchange for Raiders is number 14 Tom Starling

Interchange for Eels is number 14 Makahesi Makatoa
Interchange for Raiders is number 15 Ryan Sutton

Interchange for Eels is number 15 Ryan Matterson
Interchange for Raiders is number 17 Corey Horsburgh

Interchange for Eels is number 16 Oregon Kaufusi
Interchange for Raiders is number 20 James Schiller

Interchange for Eels is number 17 Nathan Brown

Reserves

Replacement for Raiders is number 22 Trey Mooney

Replacement for Eels is number 19 Jake Arthur

Match Officials

Referee: Todd Smith
Touch Judge: Kasey Badger
Senior Review Official: Matt Noyen

Last updated: 3/4/2024 11:32:45 PM

Last Time They Met

The Raiders defeated the Eels 12-10 in round 19 last season at Cbus Super Stadium which will be remembered for Rapana’s try saving tackle on Maika Sivo.

Key Matchups

Jack Wighton v Dylan Brown

Jack Wighton was great in his return last week against the Rabbitohs and will now match up against one of the best five-eighth’s so far this season in Dylan Brown.

Despite the Raiders slow start to the season, Wighton has been up to his usual elite standard across his first nine appearances of 2022. Wighton has scored three tries to go along with four try assists and seven line break assists this season.

With Origin selection around the corner and the competition celebrating Indigenous round this weekend, there is no doubt Wighton will be at his usual standard once again.

Meanwhile, Dylan Brown has grown into one of the more important members of the Parramatta Eels as he has arguably been their best player this season. Brown has four tries, seven try assists and four line break assists as he has played every game this season.

Both of these players have been outstanding this season and will both be out to create chances for their side in attack and make their presence known in defence, as two of the best defensive halves in the competition.

The team that wins this weekend will almost undoubtedly be because they had the best five-eighth on the field at GIO Stadium this weekend.

Joe Tapine v Junior Paulo

The old saying in rugby league is that whoever wins the forward battle will win the game and that will never be more clear than this weekend when four of the best props in the competition go head-to-head.

These two international front rowers have been two of the best props this season and will make their presence known in attack and defence on Sunday.

Joseph Tapine has been close to the Raiders best this season as the workhorse has appeared in all eleven games for his side. Tapine is averaging 141 running metres to go along with 22 tackle breaks, 14 offloads and one try.

Meanwhile, Junior Paulo has only gone to a new level since being named co-captain for the Eels. Paulo is averaging 137 running metres and has proven to be one of the best ball-playing middle forwards in the competition.

Both of these props will be hoping to lay the platform for their sides this weekend as this battle between the two number tens will be one of the best of the season.

Josh Papalii v Reagan Campbell-Gillard

As good as the battle between the two number tens will be, the matchup between the two number eights will be just as exciting. These two Origin props have been exceptional in 2022 and will be wanting to make a statement with selection right around the corner.

Josh Papalii has only continued to improve and that was apparent when he played his 250th game against the Rabbitohs last weekend. Papalii has two tries this season while averaging 122 running metres to go along with 29 tackle breaks and 18 offloads. Papalii has also been one of the best defensive players in 2022, making 284 tackles with an efficiency of 98.3%.

Campbell-Gillard is in career-best form heading into this weekend as he has become the true enforcer of the Eels forward pack. Campbell-Gillard is averaging 149 running metres and is one of the hardest tacklers in the NRL.

Just like the number tens, these two props will be hoping to lay the platform for their side. The matchup between these two sets of front rowers will ultimately decide the game on Sunday afternoon.