Parramatta goes into tonight's round 19 clash on the back of a five-game winning streak and freshened up after a bye while the One New Zealand Warriors are smarting after a home loss to the Rabbitohs.
Looking more like the 2022 version of themselves every week, the Eels have climbed from 14th to sixth on the ladder on the back of wins over the Rabbitohs, Cowboys, Bulldogs, Sea Eagles and Dolphins.
Brad Arthur's men have found their attacking mojo, averaging 35 points per game across those five matches on the back of some brilliant performances by Clint Gutherson and Mitch Moses, both of whom will be absent this week on NSW Origin duty.
The One New Zealand Warriors' 6-28 loss to the Rabbitohs saw them slip from fifth to eighth and they face a tough month with clashes against the Sharks and Raiders following this weekend's trip to Parramatta.
Having turned a corner under new coach Andrew Webster in 2023 the Warriors will be determined to go on with the job and ensure they are part of the finals action for the first time since 2018.
It's a huge night for milestones. The Warriors have Shaun Johnson playing his 200th match for the club - only four have done so before in the club's history - while Dylan Walker makes his 200th career appearance, Addin Fonua-Blake his 150th and Wayde Egan his 100th. For Parramatta, Maika Sivo plays his 100th game.
Match: Eels v Warriors
Round 19 -
home Team
Eels
away Team
Warriors
Team Lists
Backs
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Fullback for Eels is number 1 Sean RussellFullback for Warriors is number 1 Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad
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Winger for Eels is number 2 Maika SivoWinger for Warriors is number 2 Dallin Watene-Zelezniak
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Centre for Eels is number 3 Will PenisiniCentre for Warriors is number 3 Rocco Berry
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Centre for Eels is number 4 Bailey SimonssonCentre for Warriors is number 4 Adam Pompey
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Winger for Eels is number 5 Isaac LumelumeWinger for Warriors is number 5 Marcelo Montoya
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Five-Eighth for Eels is number 6 Ryan MattersonFive-Eighth for Warriors is number 6 Luke Metcalf
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Halfback for Eels is number 7 Daejarn AsiHalfback for Warriors is number 7 Shaun Johnson
Forwards
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Prop for Eels is number 8 Ofahiki OgdenProp for Warriors is number 8 Addin Fonua-Blake
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Hooker for Eels is number 9 Brendan HandsHooker for Warriors is number 9 Wayde Egan
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Prop for Eels is number 10 Junior PauloProp for Warriors is number 10 Bunty Afoa
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2nd Row for Eels is number 11 Bryce Cartwright2nd Row for Warriors is number 11 Jackson Ford
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2nd Row for Eels is number 12 Andrew Davey2nd Row for Warriors is number 12 Mitchell Barnett
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Lock for Eels is number 13 J'maine HopgoodLock for Warriors is number 13 Tohu Harris
Interchange
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Interchange for Eels is number 14 Luca MorettiInterchange for Warriors is number 14 Dylan Walker
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Interchange for Eels is number 15 Joe OfahengaueInterchange for Warriors is number 15 Bayley Sironen
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Interchange for Eels is number 16 Shaun LaneInterchange for Warriors is number 16 Tom Ale
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Interchange for Eels is number 17 Makahesi MakatoaInterchange for Warriors is number 17 Freddy Lussick
Reserves
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Replacement for Eels is number 21 Matt DooreyReplacement for Warriors is number 18 Brayden Wiliame
Match Officials
- Referee: Adam Gee
- Touch Judge: Drew Oultram
- Touch Judge: Ziggy Przeklasa-Adamski
- Senior Review Official: Kasey Badger
Last updated:
Team news
Eels: With skipper Clint Gutherson on Origin duty, Sean Russell slides to fullback and Isaac Lumelume comes in on the wing. Daejarn Asi moves to halfback to cover for Mitch Moses while Ryan Matterson will play five-eighth. Edge forward Shaun Lane (hamstring) returns for his first game since round 11. Junior Paulo and Ofahiki Ogden are the starting props in the absence of Reagan Campbell-Gillard on Blues duty. Luca Moretti has been added to the bench. Dylan Brown faces another four games on the sideline after he was issued with a breach notice by the NRL on Monday. No changes in Friday's 24-hour update.
One New Zealand Warriors: After being in doubt this week as he awaits the birth of his second child in Auckland, Shaun Johnson is a confirmed starter after travelling with the team yesterday. Coach Andrew Webster has named the same 17 who took the field in round 18. Josh Curran has been issued with a breach notice the NRL and will miss the game through suspension while Marata Niukore is serving the second game of his three-match suspension denying him the chance to play against his old club. No changes in Friday's 24-hour update.
Stat attack
- Maika Sivo is the NRL's equal leading try-scorer with 16 tries. He has scored 46 tries in his past 53 games since the start of 2021 and will make his 100th NRL appearance against the Warriors.
- The Eels are the NRL's top offloading team this season with 206, while the Warriors rank 15th with 115 offloads.
- The Eels have won their past four games against the Warriors.
- The Warriors have lost all three games played at CommBank Stadium (two against the Eels and one against South Sydney).
- The Eels have not won without Clint Gutherson since 2017.
Stats supplied by David Middleton, League Information Services, author of the official annual of the NRL.
