Saturday has two NRL matches with the first game for Round 19 is between Canberra Raiders and Parramatta Eels with the opening kick to commence at 5:30pm local time. The game is to be played at Canberra Stadium with the favourite for the match being Canberra Raiders. View our NRL live scores, odds and results for the game between Canberra Raiders and Parramatta Eels.
WHERE AND WHEN: Canberra Stadium, Saturday 20th July, 5:30pm
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Opening odds comparison:
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| Canberra Raiders | 1.10 | 1.12 | 1.09 | 1.12 | 1.10 | 1.11 |
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Parramatta Eels
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7.00 | 6.35 | 8.00 | 6.35 | 7.00 | 7.00 |
Preview:
The Canberra Raiders play the Parramatta Eels on Saturday, 5.30pm at Canberra Stadium. The Raiders shouldn’t have too much trouble here, with the Eels now having
gone for ten weeks without a win. When you consider this is their longest losing streak since 1995, it makes you realise just how poor they have been in 2013. While
the Raiders are only 10th on the ladder, they have won every single home game since round 21 last year and should be able to topple the Eels without too much trouble.
Canberra are facing some injury concern in the back line, however, but that should be nothing to worry about against an Eels side in serious trouble.
Teams:
Canberra Raiders:
Anthony Milford, Reece Robinson, Jarrod Croker, Joel Thompson, Sami Sauiluma, Terry Campese (capt), Josh McCrone, David Shillington, Glen Buttriss, Dane Tilse, Josh Papalii, Joel Edwards, Shaun Fensom. Interchange: Shaun Berrigan, Jarrad Kennedy, Sam Mataora, Paul Vaughan, Jake Foster (one to be omitted).
Parramatta Eels:
Jake Mullaney, Semi Radradra, Ryan Morgan, Willie Tonga, Brayden Wiliame, Ben Roberts, Luke Kelly, Tim Mannah (capt), Matt Keating, Fuifui Moimoi, Reni Maitua, Daniel Harrison, Darcy Lussick. Interchange: Kaysa Pritchard, Peni Terepo, Joseph Paulo, Junior Paulo.
Referees: Jason Robinson, Gavin Morris.
Sandow future still up in the air
Parramatta coach Ricky Stuart has revealed the difficulty he had in making the decision to drop Chris Sandow, but failed to shed any light on when fans could expect to see the halfback back in the NRL.
Sandow was a spectator as the Eels went down to Penrith 17-10 on Saturday night, his replacement Luke Kelly filling in admirably in a display which included a runaway intercept try.
His performance prompted television commentator Brett Kimmorley – a former Test, NSW Origin and premiership-winning halfback – to label Kelly the Eels’ halfback of the future.
The Eels have however invested heavily in Sandow, with the former South Sydney playmaker on an estimated $550,000 deal with Parramatta.
Sandow was dumped following the 50-10 loss to Manly last Monday night and was due to turn out for feeder club Wentworthville in the NSW Cup on Saturday, but he missed the game due to an Achilles injury.
“You never feel comfortable making those decisions as a coach – it was a tough call,” Stuart said of the dumping.
Asked what he hoped Sandow would gain from the experience – which also happened in 2012 when he was dumped by former coach Stephen Kearney – Stuart said:
“It’s certainly not an experience, it’s tough for Chrissy, tough for us.
“I’ve got a good relationship with Chrissy but it was a tough call.”
After his first two kicks trickled dead against the Panthers, Kelly got his radar right to drag the Eels back into the game after the fell behind 12-0.
Stuart praised the effort of the new-look halves combination of Kelly and Ben Roberts, but claimed the Eels were still struggling to implement training strategies into match-day performances.
“We can’t compete with a lot of the big teams, because we haven’t got those two or three players, but we’re a long way off on the weekend when where we are when we train,” Stuart said.
“They’ve got a great work ethic and attitude in their preparation – it was a good feeling to know we’re hanging in there and really busting a gut right to the end of the game.”