Round 12: Brisbane Broncos vs Parramatta Eels

[DIEHARD]

Brisbane Broncos vs Parramatta Eels

Friday 7.45pm May 30 Suncorp Stadium

BRONCOS

1. Karmichael Hunt
2. Denan Kemp
3. Darius Boyd
4. Justin Hodges
5. Reece Robinson
6. David Stagg
7. Peter Wallace
8. Ben Hannant
9. Michael Ennis
10. Joel Clinton
11. Sam Thaiday
12. Corey Parker
13. Tonie Carroll

Interchange:
14. PJ Marsh
15. Ashton Sims
16. Greg Eastwood
17. Nick Kenny
18. Dave Taylor

EELS

1. Luke Burt
2. Krisnan Inu
3. Joel Reddy
4. Jarryd Hayne
5. Eric Grothe
6. Feleti Mateo
7. Brett Finch
8. Nathan Cayless
9. Mark Riddell
10. Fuifui Moimoi
11. Nathan Hindmarsh
12. Daniel Wagon
13. Chad Robinson

Interchange:
14. Matthew Keating
15. Brendan Oake
16. Weller Hauraki
17. Junior Paulo

[DIEHARD]

Broncos V Eels Preview

Suncorp Stadium Friday 7.45pm

VISITORS Parramatta are fast running out of chances to press their credentials as a serious title contender in 2008 ? and things don?t get any easier this week coming up against a Broncos? side smarting from their first successive losses for the season.

Both sides are coming off a bye. Three weeks ago the Broncos were overwhelmed at home by the Sea Eagles (30-12) and then a fortnight ago, missing their Origin contingent, they put up a plucky effort but were downed by the Sharks 13-6 at Toyota Stadium.

Over the same period the Eels were narrow victors (19-18) over the Dragons at home but were savaged in a second-half shellacking at the hands of the Roosters last time out.

Broncos? star Darren Lockyer remains sidelined (at least according to the Big League program? although stars have a habit of pulling surprises, and Origin selection is on Tuesday) while the Eels welcome back Krisnan Inu after a couple of months off with an ankle injury.

This is the Eels? second bye for 2008; they entered their round 7 week off on a two-game losing streak and rebounded to win their next two games after the break.

Watch out Broncos: It?s been quite a fall for Nathan Hindmarsh in 2008, from one of the first players picked in the Australian team to being dumped from the NSW Origin squad of 17. But he?s still a powerful player who gets through a heap of defence (310 to date ranks him 9th in the league). But he can be damaging in attack on the edges, too ? and the Broncos would be foolish to consider him past his use-by date in this respect.

Also, how Inu responds in his first game back is difficult to gauge ? but there?s no doubt he?s a monster talent. And if he handles the occasion ? and anyone who recalls his outstanding debut for the Kiwis will attest ? he?ll make his presence felt here.

Watch out Eels: A big, vocal home crowd is a huge obstacle for any visiting team ? and the Broncos have the biggest in the NRL. Their average home crowd of 35,861 in 2008 is a massive 11,000 spectators more than the second-highest Titans.

With the majority Eels? following in their 16,685 crowd average at Parramatta Stadium this season, the Eels have struggled, winning just three of their six home games. So the step up to the cauldron-like atmosphere of Suncorp Stadium will be huge.

Where it will be won: Shutting down the Eels? second phase. They might not be making winning a habit but the Eels haven?t lost the knack of opening up second-phase opportunities. They rank fourth in the NRL for offloads, averaging 11.2 a game (to the Broncos? 9.3).

Talented five-eighth Feleti Mateo is their biggest ?weapon? ? he tops the NRL for offloads with 27, better even than Sonny Bill Williams!

It?s not surprising that backs Luke Burt (6) and Eric Grothe (6) rank seventh for line-breaks this year.

The Broncos need to stop Mateo. But on paper they appear the best qualified of any side in the comp: stand-in five-eighth David Stagg and halfback Peter Wallace rank no.1 and no.2 for one-on-one tackles with 41 and 31 respectively.

Tonie Carroll has 25 to his name, too. If they play to form Mateo may have his work cut out getting his hands free.

The History: Played 37; Broncos 22, Eels 14. Honours are even four games apiece over the past eight clashes. But the Eels have won the past two games ? including a surprising 20-16 win the last time they clashed at Suncorp Stadium last year. But can lightning strike twice in three games? The Broncos have won six of the nine games played at their home base.

Conclusion: If the Eels fail to front up with an improved attitude this could be a comfortable win for the Broncos. And it could be goodnight for the Eels for 2008.

They showed a fair application in the first half of their last game against the Roosters but fell away drastically in the second 40.

Unfortunately that is burned in their memories. But Parramatta, with coach Michael Hagan leading the way have shown they are a good side at taking stock of things and play well fresh off the bye.

Up against the collective talents of Hodges, Wallace, Hunt and co, they?ll need to. Plus, they have a huge mental advantage over the Broncos ? the last time these two sides met, in round 25 last year, the Eels dished out king-sized walloping to the Broncos, inflicting the most points ever scored against Brisbane in a 68-22 massacre.

That won?t be lost on Wayne Bennett, who will have them in a good state of mind for this.

Match officials: Referee ? Jason Robinson; Sideline Officials ? Steve Carrall & Bernard Sutton; Video ref ? Steve Clark.
Televised: Channel Nine ? Live from 7.30pm (NSW & Qld); FoxSports 2 ? Delayed 11.30pm.

* Statistics: NRL Stats.

Source: http://www.nrl.com

[Paul]

How good was that finish???

Unbelievable stuff,what a good game

[Dummy Half]

Did u see Hodges & Hayne??

There's no way those guys will play in origin 2

Such stupid tackles


Hopefully they employ a "look the other way" stance at the judiciary
I want those two to play
-

[TITAN PETE]

Being a Titans fan i'm angry that Lockyer has come back so well but if the Selectors are fair they will put Lockyer with Prince but as they are SH## they will stick with the very overrated Thurston so as a BLUES Fan i'm still happy

[Paul]

If Thaiday/Hodges and Hayne get let off The Titans should put in a written complaint to the NRL. Why should they get let off(which is what will happen ) just because they are SOO players while we had to have Mat Rogers on the sideline for a month?

Hodges one was very similar to the one against the titans,it was a late dangerous throw where the Parra player was flipped upside down

Haynes was just stupid & dangerous ,ages after the ref called held

and Thaiday flipped the Parra player upside down with his hands between his legs

all 3 should be suspended

[dee13]

The last 20 minutes of that game was probably one of the best periods of footy I have ever seen.

I have to admit... Lockyer made a difference and won the game for the Broncos.

Sensational ending to a game.

[goldcoastitans]

Cuthbertson gives a high hit and gets sent off .....i personally think that Hodges tackle was much more dangerous and if Cuthbertson got sent off for that ...so to should Hodges!

But all up one of the greatest games i have seen in a long time (mainly last 20 min), just wish it wasn't Lockyer that gave them the win because now Prince has to step aside AGAIN for Origin!

[TITANS007]

Locky did nothing all night but that one kick that helped them win the game. The Eels scored through him for their first try and he was slow around the park all night, and didn't even play a full game........but we all know the selectors won't care. Once again, Prince will miss out when he clearly should be there. Prince - halfback, Thurston or Locky - 5/8, Slater - Fullback, and Hunt on the bench (Or maybe he can play centre now that Hodges probablyl wont be there!!)

[Steel Dragon]

A damn good match, from what I saw of it. A pity it ended the way it did, but Lockyer just showed his class when it really mattered.

I didn't get a good look at the Hayne and Thaiday incidents, but I got a very good look at the Hodges one - shocking tackle on a player who didn't even have the ball. Should get a few weeks holiday.

Jason