Saturday has two NRL matches with the second game being between Parramatta Eels and Brisbane Broncos with the opening kick to commence at 7:30pm local time. The game is to be played at Parramatta Stadium with the favourite for the match being the Brisbane Broncos who are coming off a loss in Round 8. View our NRL live scores, odds and results for the game between Parramatta Eels and Brisbane Broncos.
WHERE AND WHEN: Parramatta Stadium, Saturday @1930pm
Preview:
Parramatta Eels vs Brisbane Broncos on Saturday night at 7.30pm. The Eels came so close last week against the Cowboys, and will be extra keen for a win against Brisbane at home. However, Parramatta have been struggling all season, and Brisbane will go into this match as favourites.
The Eels are unpredictable however, and if they can manage to get all systems firing at the same time, they may just be able to get over the line, especially at home.
Teams:
Parramatta Eels:
Jarryd Hayne (c), Ken Sio, Ryan Morgan, Jacob Loko, Vai Toutai, Luke Kelly, Chris Sandow, Fuifui Moimoi, Matt Keating, Tim Mannah, Reni Maitua (c), Kelepi Tanginoa, Peni Terepo Interchange: Kaysa Pritchard, Darcy Lussick, Joseph Paulo, Mitchell Allgood, Api Pewhairangi
Brisbane Broncos:
Corey Norman, Josh Hoffman, Jack Reed, Justin Hodges, Jordan Kahu, Scott Prince, Peter Wallace, Ben Hannant, Andrew McCullough, Sam Thaiday (c), Alex Glenn, Matt Gillett, Corey Parker
Interchange: Ben Hunt, Scott Anderson, David Hala, Jarrod Wallace, Josh McGuire, David Stagg (two to be omitted)
Referees: Ashley Klein/Gavin Reynolds
Video Referee: Bernard Sutton/Reece Williams
Cowboys honour Elisala with win over Eels
North Queensland snatched an ugly 14-10 NRL victory in the face of a stoic Parramatta outfit to honour their fallen teammate Alex Elisala.
The Cowboys took to the field with heavy hearts, following the death of the under 20s hooker who had his life support switched off on Monday.
The club’s forward pack taped their heads in the style Elisala played with as a tribute to their friend, while both teams took part in a minute’s silence before the match.
The Cowboys only reclaimed the lead with 13 minutes remaining when star centre Brent Tate crossed virtually untouched from a scrum 10 metres out of the Eels line.
Parramatta were denied a try with the last play of the match which would have given them a shot at victory when winger Vai Toutai was ruled to have lost control of the ball following a brave tackle by Antonio Winterstein.
Toutai’s effort was indicated to be a try by on-field referee Chris James, only to have the decision overturned when it was sent to the video referees – much to the disappointment of most of the 9,157 fans at the ground.
The Eels produced a magnificent defensive display to deny the visitors for much of the 80-minute contest, with Jarryd Hayne at the centre of much of the action.
The likely NSW winger produced two incredible tackles in the first half to deny Tariq Sims and Gavin Cooper certain tries.
Hayne himself was denied seven minutes into the second half when he was chopped down by Johnathan Thurston metres out from the tryline.
But pin-point cut-out passes from Matt Bowen and Thurston sent wingers Ash Graham and Winterstein over for tries to give the Cowboys an 8-4 halftime lead.
Parramatta had opened the scoring in just the second minute when Matt Bowen failed to shadow an innocuous kick over the dead ball line, allowing Ryan Morgan to sneak under his guard and plant down.
They were first to score in the second half too, when powerhouse prop Fuifui Moimoi crashed through the tackles of Matt Scott, Tariq Sims and Matt Bowen to dot down next to the posts.
The Eels held the lead for 17 minutes before Tate intervened.
Origin stars Thurston and Hayne both spent time being treated for injuries, but soldiered on to complete the game.
Tim Mannah overcame a leg injury suffered last week, initially feared to be a broken leg, to take his place in the Eels starting lineup.
Eels co-captain Reni Maitua was placed on report for a shoulder charge on Cowboys halfback Michael Morgan.
The win lifts Neil Henry’s men into the top eight.
Parramatta centre Jacob Loko finished the match hampered by a hip injury.
