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 with the home team St George Illawarra Dragons holding clear favouritism in the match. View our preview and teams for the game between St George Illawarra Dragons and Parramatta Eels.

WIN Stadium

Featured Bookmakers:

St George Illawarra Dragons $1.45 vs Parramatta Eels $2.80 at Sportsbet Australia get a $500 FREE BET on this match

St George Illawarra Dragons $1.45 vs Parramatta Eels $2.80 at Luxbet Australia get a $500 FREE BET on this match

Odds Comparison by NRL Odds:

St George Illawarra Dragons	1.45	1.45	1.45	1.45	1.45	1.46
Parramatta Eels	2.80	2.80	2.80	2.80	2.80	2.80

Preview:

Both sides languish at the bottom of the table with similar records of three wins and six losses.

St. George’s record may have read a lot better had it not been for two narrow loses in the past fortnight. They were competitive against Manly despite going down 24-18 after the Sea Eagles scored in the last ten minutes and similarly last week against the Titans, it was a field goal in the final moments that denied them victory.

Some stats that do stand out when analysing the Dragons’ form is that in their nine matches this season, only once have they exceeded 20 points (25 points v Cronulla round 4) and Jamie Soward, has kicked a field goal in four of these matches – including in their three wins.

Parramatta surprised most last week including their opponents Brisbane when they jumped to a 12 point lead inside the first ten minutes before holding on late to register a much needed 19-18 win.

Parramatta was helped by Brisbane’s inability to capitalise on the opportunities despite have the better of most of the stats at the end of the game.

It was a much needed win for the Eels who need to consolidate that win with another and before they lose star playmaker Jarrad Hayne to Origin duties for several weeks.

You have to go back to 2009 finals to recall the last time Parramatta came out on top on St. George (drawn game 14-all in 2011).

At home and being the more consistent performers of the two sides, the safe option would be to stick with the Dragons but the wouldn’t have thought there was as much in at as they market suggests.

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 wary of Dugan’s NRL return

Parramatta say they expect Josh Dugan to make an immediate impact when he returns to the NRL for St George Illawarra against the Eels on Saturday.

Dugan, who signed with the Dragons last week, hasn’t played since round one following his sacking by Canberra in March for a series of discipline breaches.

A remorseful Dugan faced the media last week after putting pen to paper with the joint venture and said he was keen to repay the Dragons for the faith they had shown in him.

Parramatta captain Tim Mannah said his side is wary of what Dugan can add to a Dragons side that has struggled in attack for much of the season so far.

“I don’t think the time away from the game will have done him any harm,” Mannah said on Friday.

“I think he is going to come back and people won’t be able to tell that he has been away.

“I’m not too happy to see him back. I’m happy he is back in the game but it would have been nice if he came back a week later. Everyone knows how good ‘Duges’ is and what he adds to a team.

“So for us, he is really going to be an obstacle and we will really have to do a job on him.”

Dugan returns in Jarryd Hayne’s 150th game for the Eels, with the Parramatta custodian in top form. It will be a good gauge for Dugan – who would have otherwise been a rival with Hayne for the NSW No.1 jersey – to see where he is really at.

Parramatta have bounced back from a humiliating loss to a below-strength Penrith in round seven with two impressive performances – first a tight loss to North Queensland and then a gutsy win over Brisbane.

Mannah said Saturday’s match in Wollongong, against a Dragons side with much to prove, like Dugan, will be another test of Parramatta’s new-found determination.

“We have really shown some resolve in the last two weeks after that embarrassing loss to Penrith,” Mannah said.

“Sometimes, there is only so much the coaching staff can do for you and, after that loss, it was up to us as NRL players to take ownership and responsibility for the performances we were putting together. Those performances are up to the individual and, since then, the attitude has been great.

“The attitude is there and it is something we can really build on for the rest of the season.”