The second game set down for Friday night is between old foes, Canterbury and Parramatta.
Unfortunately though, given the respective form of both sides, I doubt we’ll see one of the titanic clashes of years gone by.
Canterbury bounced back after two losses to Roosters (20-18) and Knights (18-12) with a comprehensive victory over an Origin depleted Melbourne Storm in their latest match a fortnight ago, 39 – 0.
That victory takes the Bulldogs to sixth spot on the ladder, only three competition points from fourth placed Manly.
As most teams, especially those with numerous representative players, start to feel the pinch in the last quarter of the season, the Bulldogs, who started the season with one win (over Parramatta in Round 2) from their first six matches and without several leading players, have been able to surge during the middle part of the season, unaffected by the representative calendar.
Parramatta continue to search for that elusive fourth win off the season, and whilst their efforts in the past fortnight have been better, it’s been eight losses in a row now and the chances of them finding a win here, against a quality outfit, is highly unlikely.
Since 2011, Bulldogs have won each of the five clashes between the two sides with an average winning margin of 15 points.
Would expect the Dogs to better that average here.
TIP: CANTERBURY 13 +
Odds comparison by NRL Odds:
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
|
| Canterbury Bulldogs | 1.08 | 1.10 | 1.05 | 1.10 | 1.08 | 1.09 |
|
Parramatta Eels
|
8.00 | 7.25 | 11.00 | 7.25 | 8.00 | 8.00 |
Teams:
Canterbury Bulldogs:
1 Ben Barba
2 Mitch Brown
3 Josh Morris
4 Krisnan Inu
5 Sam Perrett
6 Josh Reynolds
7 Trent Hodkinson
8 Aiden Tolman
9 Michael Ennis (c)
10 James Graham
11 Frank Pritchard
12 Tony Williams
13 Greg Eastwood
Interchange
14 Dene Halatau
15 Josh Jackson
16 Sam Kasiano
17 Dale Finucane
18 Tim Browne
Coach: Des Hasler
Parramatta Eels:
1 Jake Mullaney
2 Ken Sio
3 Ryan Morgan
4 Willie Tonga
5 Semi Radradra
6 Ben Roberts
7 Luke Kelly
8 Tim Mannah (c)
9 Matt Keating
10 Fuifui Moimoi
11 Reni Maitua
12 Daniel Harrison
13 Darcy Lussick
Interchange
14 Mitchell Allgood
15 Peni Terepo
16 Joseph Paulo
17 Junior Paulo
Coach: Ricky Stuart