Saturday’s first NRL Round 10 match is between St George Illawarra Dragons and Parramatta Eels with the opening kick to commence at 5:30pm local time. The game is to be played at WIN Stadium which see’s home team St George Illawarra Dragons hold favouritism in the market. View our NRL live scores, odds and results for the game between St George Illawarra Dragons and Parramatta Eels.
WHERE AND WHEN: WIN Stadium, Saturday 18th May, 5:30pm
Preview:
The first Saturday match is between the Dragons and Eels, kicking off at WIN Stadium at 5.35pm. This game is fairly evenly matched, with all eyes on Josh Dugan as he makes his debut for the Dragons. Dugan will be battling it out with a very competent Jarryd Hayne, who always manages to look the goods even when the rest of the Eels are struggling. While Parramatta have been performing well lately, they have won just one of the last 10 encounters between these sides.
Teams:
St George Illawarra Dragons:
Josh Dugan, Jason Nightingale, Chase Stanley, Matt Cooper, Daniel Vidot, Jamie Soward, Nathan Fien, Dan Hunt, Mitch Rein, Michael Weyman, Tyson Frizell, Ben Creagh (c), Trent Merrin. Interchange: Bronson Harrison, Matt Prior, Jack de Belin, Jack Stockwell, Cameron King
Parramatta Eels:
Jarryd Hayne (c), Ken Sio, Api Pewhairangi, Jacob Loko, Vai Toutai, Luke Kelly, Chris Sandow, Fuifui Moimoi, Matt Keating, Tim Mannah, Reni Maitua (c), Kelepi Tanginoa, Peni Terepo. Interchange: Kaysa Pritchard, Junior Paulo, Joseph Paulo, Mitch Allgood
Eels to cause more NRL upsets, says Paulo
After a morale-boosting victory over Brisbane on the weekend, Parramatta five-eighth Joseph Paulo says the Eels are on track to cause more upsets in the NRL.
The Eels posted a dramatic 19-18 win over the Broncos at Parramatta Stadium on Saturday.
It was just their third victory of the season and came only two weeks after Eels skipper Jarryd Hayne declared the thrashing at the hands of a below-strength Penrith was the club’s lowest point since the 2009 grand final loss.
Paulo, who scored an unlikely second-half try in Saturday’s victory, says the mood has definitely lifted at the club.
“When you haven’t scored in four years, it’s always a great feeling,” he said on Monday.
“But in terms of the team, from the moment we lost against Penrith you can see a real attitude change. We really turn up to training and just the way we played on the weekend.
“If we can just continue to have that willingness to work and have that pride in the jersey, I think we can upset a few more teams.”
Fellow battlers St George Illawarra will host the Eels at WIN Stadium on Saturday with Josh Dugan expected to make his long-awaited debut for the club.
Former Canberra fullback Dugan hasn’t played since the Raiders’ round-one loss to Penrith.
Should he take the field on Saturday, he’ll form an all-representative back three for the the Dragons alongside Jason Nightingale and Brett Morris.
But far from being intimidated, Paulo is looking forward to the challenge.
“It would be great for the game to have him playing,” Paulo said.
“He’s such a great player … the way he played for Canberra, I think he’ll have a really big impact for the Dragons.
“So if he does play, we’ll be expecting big things from him.”
