Thursday’s NRL 2018 Round 19 match is between Parramatta Eels and Canterbury Bulldogs. The opening kick is set to commence at 19:50 local time with the game to be played at ANZ Stadium, Sydney. The home team Parramatta Eels are the favourites for the match.
View our preview and teams for the game between Parramatta Eels and Canterbury Bulldogs.
When: 19:50 | Thursday 19/07/2018
Where: ANZ Stadium, Sydney
Preview:
This game looks to be one of the real epic ones for the year.
Sarcasm is a wonderful thing!
But on a serious note, two of the most underwhelming sides in the competition.
For the Dogs, they’ve had their issues on and off the park with players moving on and injuries but for the Eels, they have just been in one word, awful.
Tipped to be in the top 4 at the start of 2018, there seems to be a real disconnect with what the players are displaying.
Corey Norman and Mitchell Moses have been involved at the forefront of this.
Both players feel they are the dominant half yet no-one has stood tall and owned the side.
There is talk Norman is being shopped around to other clubs to find the missing link to Moses.
I feel he’s the right key but he might just need a change of scenery for his own development.
Although the Bulldogs are not where they want to be, it’s not through a lack of trying.
Their effort overall this season has been good and will again be the case this week.
I want to lean towards the Dogs on this one and I might be wrong but off the back of talent and skill the Eels need to show some pride and resolve.
KEY BATTLE: Clint Gutherson v Will Hopoate
The match up of the fullbacks will be the best for me.
Hopoate v King Gutho should provide us with plenty to look forward to.
Hopoate was excellent last week running for 290m and was influential with everything.
As for Gutho, he had 167m and was busy as per usual.
The VerdictThe Bulldogs lead Parramatta 10-7 since 2010 but the Eels will get it done.
Unibet Odds:
Parramatta Eels at $1.68
Canterbury Bulldogs at $2.20
Odds:
Tip: Parramatta Eels at $1.68
Value Tip: First Try Scorer: George Jennings at $13.00
More Info:
Teams:
Parramatta Eels:
1 Clint Gutherson (c), 2 Bevan French, 3 Michael Jennings, 4 Jarryd Hayne, 5 George Jennings, 6 Corey Norman, 7 Mitchell Moses, 8 Daniel Alvaro, 9 Kaysa Pritchard, 10 Siosaia Vave, 11 Marata Niukore, 12 Brad Takairangi, 13 Nathan Brown
Interchange: 14 Tepai Moeroa, 15 Tim Mannah (c), 16 David Gower, 17 Peni Terepo
Reserves: 18 Kane Evans, 19 Jaeman Salmon, 20 Suaia Matagi, 21 Reed Mahoney.
Canterbury Bulldogs: 
1 Will Hopoate, 2 Brett Morris, 3 Josh Morris, 4 Kerrod Holland, 5 Reimis Smith, 6 Lachlan Lewis, 7 Jeremy Marshall-King, 8 Aiden Tolman, 9 Michael Lichaa, 10 David Klemmer, 11 Josh Jackson (c), 12 Rhyse Martin, 13 Adam Elliott
Interchange: 14 Fa’amanu Brown, 15 Clay Priest, 16 Ofahiki Ogden, 17 Danny Fualalo
Reserves: 18 Greg Eastwood, 19 Matthew Frawley, 20 Francis Tualau, 21 John Olive.
NRL News:
Once considered one of the fastest players in the league, Michael Jennings admits being “run down” by Parramatta’s disappointing NRL campaign.
Jennings bounced back from a shock appearance in reserve grade a fortnight ago with a solid performance in the Eels’ latest loss to Newcastle on Friday.
Jennings said coach Brad Arthur was right to axe him during the representative round while the rest of the playing group had the week off.
“It was a big decision he had to make, but he just wanted to see me happy again, put me down there to refresh, and get my confidence back,” Jennings told AAP on Tuesday.
“It hurt at the start, but it was a lesson learnt for me.”
The former NSW and Kangaroos representative conceded the Eels’ disastrous season had taken a toll on him as he searched for answers to climb back up the ladder.
Only once in the past five seasons – when the Eels were stripped of 12 competition points for salary cap cheating and finished last in 2016 – has Jennings missed the finals.
“This entire season’s been a lesson for me. Mentally and physically, with the way the season’s gone, I’ve felt really run down to be honest,” he said.
“I haven’t been in this situation for a long time, so I’m embracing it as much as I can.”
At 30 years of age, Jennings dismissed any speculation he is no longer motivated to re-captured his best form at the Eels.
“All this losing drives me. Being a leader when all hell breaks loose and not everything goes your way. It motivates me not to give up,” he said.
“I’m always thinking about what I can do to better this team.
“There’s nothing wrong with my motivation. I’m having a baby soon as well. And I’m playing right edge when I’ve been playing left my whole career. That’s another motivation.”
He also denied any concern over his future at the club, having recently revealed his decision to take up a player option to remain at the club next year.
“I never really thought that getting dropped would mean I won’t be here next year. I’m just worried about the now and how I’m feeling at the moment,” he said.
“I don’t think about my future. That’s what my manager’s paid to do and I let him deal with all my contracts and future planning.”
