Saturday’s NRL 2018 Round 21 match is between Parramatta Eels and Gold Coast Titans. The opening kick is set to commence at 17:30 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 Gold Coast Titans.

When: 17:30 | Saturday 04/08/2018

Where: ANZ Stadium, Sydney

Preview:

The Parramatta Eels have forgotten how to win or even know what it feels like.

When you’re in a space as they are, it’s so hard to get out it.

This game has the potential for that for the Eels or it’s got the potential to be an absolute stinker.

Both sides have been below par all year but the Titans had a good victory on the weekend taking down a much bigger scalp.

I loved the way the younger brigade played.

AJ Brimson and Phillip Sami were great and I can see them being in the long-term future of the club.

It’s good to see the way AJ takes on the line with his speed and strength and some of his defensive plays really saved them.

Can the Eels scrape themselves off the bottom of the ladder this week?

Depends on how their attitude is and also what Titans side turns up.

If I’m putting my coach’s hat on, the Eels should win based on their skill on the edges of the field.

This area is a major concern for the Titans particularly their left edge which have one of the worst records in the league.

Hopefully this game reaches the heights we all want.

KEY BATTLE: Corey Norman v AJ Brimson

Key matchup is between the two number 6’s.

Both are ball runners that ask plenty of questions.

The Verdict

Parra for an upset.

The Eels have a 37-55-1 (39.8 percent) record playing within its home state after a loss since 2011.

Unibet Odds:

Parramatta Eels at $1.68

Gold Coast Titans at $2.20

Odds:

Tip: Parramatta Eels at $1.68

Value Tip: First Try Scorer: Jarryd Hayne at $10.00

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 Siosaia Vave, 9 Reed Mahoney, 10 Tim Mannah (c), 11 Marata Niukore, 12 Tepai Moeroa, 13 Nathan Brown

Interchange: 14 Jaeman Salmon, 15 Kane Evans, 16 Peni Terepo, 17 Brad Takairangi

Reserves: 18 Will Smith, 19 David Gower, 20 Greg Leleisiuao, 21 Raymond Stone.

Gold Coast Titans:

1 Michael Gordon, 2 Anthony Don, 3 Konrad Hurrell, 4 Brenko Lee, 5 Phillip Sami, 6 AJ Brimson, 7 Ashley Taylor, 8 Jarrod Wallace, 9 Nathan Peats, 10 Ryan James (c), 11 Kevin Proctor, 12 Keegan Hipgrave, 13 Jai Arrow

Interchange: 14 Mitch Rein, 15 Moeaki Fotuaika,16 Jack Stockwell, 17 Will Matthews

Reserves: 18 Leilani Latu, 19 Brendan Elliot, 20 Jai Whitbread, 21 Kane Elgey.

NRL News:

Parramatta’s clash with the Gold Coast on Saturday night shapes as an almost must-win battle for the Eels if they are to avoid their third wooden spoon in seven years.

While the competition is tight at the top, the two points that separate 13th from 16th makes for the second-closest spoon battle with five rounds to go in more than a decade.

Two points behind Canterbury, Manly and North Queensland, Parramatta must win at least two of their last five games to climb their way up from the bottom of the ladder.

Given they have clashes with top-four teams in St George Illawarra, Melbourne and the Sydney Roosters to come, Saturday’s clash shapes as a vital one.

“We don’t want to come last, that’s definitely our goal this year,” Eels halfback Mitchell Moses said.

“It’s not a goal we want to have. We’ve put ourselves in this situation and we need to get out of it.”

The form of the Titans could also prove pivotal over the final month.

While they are all but out of spoon contention themselves, they play both the Cowboys and Manly in their run home with very little to play for.

Meanwhile clashes between Canterbury and Manly in round 22 and Parramatta and the Cowboys will also be billed as spoonbowls.

Manly theoretically have the easiest run, with three games against teams in the bottom eight as they attempt to avoid the first spoon in their club’s proud 70-year history.

In contrast, Canterbury’s run is the toughest with Manly their only opponent from outside the eight, although they do have a superior for-and-against to the other cellar-dwellers.

Meanwhile North Queensland and Parramatta both face each other, the Gold Coast and three top-eight teams in their final rounds.

The Sea Eagles, Cowboys and Eels had all made the finals last year, the latter two tipped by some to be this year’s grand final combatants before a ball was kicked.

But last year’s heroics are cold comfort now.

“You don’t want to finish last even if you’re not talked about,” Eels fullback Clinton Gutherson said.

“It’s the same feeling coming last if you’re not talked about. It’s not where you want to be.”