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Match Preview

Warriors v Eels: Loanees sit out; Field in for Brown

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pan66.com
Timestamp

The Warriors welcome the Eels to the Central Coast high on confidence and dreaming of the most unlikely of finals berths.

After proving too good for the Knights last weekend, the Warriors face a Parramatta side needing to re-establish their premiership credentials.

All this from a team that has been on the road for almost five months.

After copping a 38-0 hiding from South Sydney in their last start, the Eels need to start winning again to assure themselves of a spot in the top four.

The rundown

Team news

Warriors: The team based on NSW's Central Coast will start 1-17 after Paul Turner and Tom Ale were left out an hour before the match. Eels loan players George Jennings and Daniel Alvaro can't play against Parramatta and Eliesa Katoa (hand) is out injured. Gerard Beale comes in on the wing, Jack Murchie starts in the back row and Josh Curran and Isaiah Papali'i join the bench.

Adam Keighran dropped out of the team's initial 20-man squad on Saturday. Captain Roger Tuivasa-Sheck has scored four tries in his past three games.

Eels: Parramatta will start 1-17 after Haze Dunster and Andrew Davey were the two players omitted an hour before kick-off. Jai Field comes in at five-eighth after the ankle injury to Dylan Brown. Marata Niukore returns from suspension in place of Andrew Davey on the bench.

Brad Takairangi and Stefano Utoikamanu were omitted from the reserves list 24 hours before kick-off. The Eels have scored only 40 points in their past four games.

Team Lists

Backs

  • Fullback for Warriors is number 1 Roger Tuivasa-Sheck
    Fullback for Eels is number 1 Clinton Gutherson
  • Winger for Warriors is number 2 Adam Pompey
    Winger for Eels is number 2 Maika Sivo
  • Centre for Warriors is number 3 Hayze Perham
    Centre for Eels is number 3 Michael Jennings
  • Centre for Warriors is number 4 Peta Hiku
    Centre for Eels is number 4 Waqa Blake
  • Winger for Warriors is number 5 Gerard Beale
    Winger for Eels is number 5 Blake Ferguson
  • Five-Eighth for Warriors is number 6 Kodi Nikorima
    Five-Eighth for Eels is number 6 Jai Field
  • Halfback for Warriors is number 7 Chanel Harris-Tavita
    Halfback for Eels is number 7 Mitchell Moses

Forwards

  • Prop for Warriors is number 8 Jamayne Taunoa-Brown
    Prop for Eels is number 8 Reagan  Campbell-Gillard 
  • Hooker for Warriors is number 9 Karl Lawton
    Hooker for Eels is number 9 Reed Mahoney
  • Prop for Warriors is number 10 Lachlan Burr
    Prop for Eels is number 10 Junior Paulo
  • 2nd Row for Warriors is number 11 Jack Murchie
    2nd Row for Eels is number 11 Shaun Lane
  • 2nd Row for Warriors is number 12 Tohu Harris
    2nd Row for Eels is number 12 Ryan Matterson
  • Lock for Warriors is number 13 Jazz Tevaga
    Lock for Eels is number 13 Nathan Brown

Interchange

  • Interchange for Warriors is number 14 Wayde Egan
    Interchange for Eels is number 14 Ray Stone
  • Interchange for Warriors is number 15 Adam Blair
    Interchange for Eels is number 15 Marata Niukore
  • Interchange for Warriors is number 16 Josh Curran
    Interchange for Eels is number 16 Kane Evans
  • Interchange for Warriors is number 17 Isaiah Papali'i
    Interchange for Eels is number 17 Oregon Kaufusi

Match Officials

  • Referee: Grant Atkins
  • Touch Judge: Chris Butler
  • Touch Judge: Phil Henderson
  • Senior Review Official: Steve Chiddy

Last updated:

Key match-up

Chanel Harris-Tavita v Mitchell Moses. Harris-Tavita is quickly establishing himself as a real force in the NRL. If he is able to outplay Moses on Sunday afternoon his star will continue to rise and the Warriors' late charge for a finals berth will gather even more momentum.

In last Saturday's big win over the Knights the 21-year-old was in total control, forcing two line dropouts, kicking for 387 metres and making one line break.

Stat attack

The Eels missed 41 tackles in their loss to the Rabbitohs last weekend. If they get anywhere near that total against the Warriors they are in for another tough 80 minutes. The Warriors, on the other hand, missed just 20 tackles in their impressive win over the Knights.

Related

Acknowledgement of Country

National Rugby League respects and honours the Traditional Custodians of the land and pay our respects to their Elders past, present and future. We acknowledge the stories, traditions and living cultures of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples on the lands we meet, gather and play on.