KEY PARRAMATTA EELS V BRISBANE BRONCOS MATCH-UPS
* Clint Gutherson (Eels) v Anthony Milford (Broncos)
Gutherson has continued to make strides in his role as Eels skipper, with his top-five ranking in total runs proving again that the fullback is an ever-present danger for the Eels. His counterpart Milford inspires his team in a slightly different way, having found the balance between steering the team around the park – he’s second in the league in kick metres – with the ability to produce match-winning plays.
* Blake Ferguson/Maika Sivo (Eels) v Corey Oates/Jamayne Isaako (Broncos)
A mouth-watering match-up of wing pairings that is sure to make the highlight reels come fulltime. Ferguson began the year as the league’s best winger and went on to be recalled into the State of Origin arena, but has been slightly overshadowed by the remarkable rookie season of the league’s leading tryscorer in Sivo. Ferguson will mark up against Queensland winger Oates, who has eight tries in eight games against the Eels, while Isaako, who nailed the game-winning field goal in their last battle, has the task on Sivo.
* Mitchell Moses (Eels) v Jake Turpin (Broncos)
Moses is in the midst of a career season where he leads the league in try assists and kick metres, finally making good on the potential he had yet to fully realise over his first six seasons in the NRL. On the other side of the scrum is the unheralded rookie in Turpin, a hooker by trade but has done an admirable job since taking over the No.7 jumper midway through the season.
* Nathan Brown (Eels) v Payne Haas (Broncos)
Brown has emerged as the spiritual leader of the Eels’ forward pack, having found the balance between his trademark aggression and ability to play big minutes. That was until copping his first career suspension two weeks ago, giving him plenty of time to prepare for a showdown with arguably the league’s most dynamic pack led by Haas. The Broncos prop has quickly ascended to one of the best big men in the league with the fourth-highest average in metres, the second most post-contact metres, and the second most tackle busts for forwards.
* Manu Ma’u (Eels) v David Fifita (Broncos)
Ma’u has been a rock in the Eels pack since making his debut in 2014, but now, playing in his final season before moving to the Super League, he has the ominous task of marking up against one of the league’s breakout stars in Fifita. The Broncos second-rower and Queensland star was the hero in the last meeting between the two teams a fortnight ago, producing the rampaging run in golden point that set up the match-winning field goal for Isaako.
