Here is all you need to know about the Parramatta Eels' revised 2020 Telstra Premiership draw.
The Lowdown
Teams they play twice
Sea Eagles, Bulldogs, Panthers, Broncos, Wests Tigers.
Teams they play once
Titans, Roosters, Raiders, Cowboys, Knights, Sharks, Dragons, Storm, Rabbitohs, Warriors.
Day-by-day breakdown
Thursday - 5 games, Friday - 5, Saturday - 5, Sunday - 5
The restart
It starts with a trip to Brisbane for a rematch against the side they pumped 58-0 in last year's finals before a run of five straight Bankwest games, starting with two serious rivalry games against Manly and Penrith.
Five key match-ups
Panthers (Round 5, Bankwest Stadium; Round 18, Venue TBC): This western Sydney derby is always fiercely contested and their round-11 home loss in 2019 (one of just two at Bankwest Stadium) to Penrith was one of their most disappointing efforts. Potentially the first game against Penrith for former Panthers duo Waqa Blake and Reagan Campbell-Gillard.
Sea Eagles (Round 4, Bankwest Stadium; Round 10, Venue TBC): There has been no love lost between Parra and Manly since they entered the comp together in 1947, with the Eels losing their first grand final appearance to Manly in 1976 then repaying the favour twice in 1982 and '83. There's been a mountain of player movement between the clubs in the past five years with Shaun Lane one of the buys of the year in 2019 and the Eels still enjoying the recruitments of coach Brad Arthur and captain Clint Gutherson. In both of the past two seasons, each side has racked up a huge score against the other at home to leave honours even at two apiece.
The best are coming back
Bulldogs (Round 12, Venue TBC): The only team the Eels have met more often in their history than Manly is Canterbury, with the rivalry exploding in the 1980s and simmering along in countless classic battles since. The Dogs, like Penrith, managed the rare feat of downing the Eels at Bankwest in 2019 but the Eels bounced back in round one to continue what has otherwise been a period of dominance (seven wins and two losses since 2016) against the blue-and-whites.
Broncos (Round 3, Suncorp Stadium; Round 19, Venue TBC): The Eels should be looking forward to another crack at Brisbane, particularly given they shattered a host of records in a huge win in week one of the finals – the club's first finals win since 2009. They also piled a huge score on Brisbane at the same venue through the regular season, though fell to a one-point loss at Suncorp – a venue where they've had plenty of success. For the second time in three rounds this year the Eels effectively get to kick off the competition and they can stay top of the ladder with a win. The return bout in round 19 could have huge finals ramifications.
Storm (Round 15, Venue TBC): On the flipside of Brisbane lies Melbourne, the team that piled on Parramatta's ugliest night of 2019. Magic Round at Suncorp was a total capitulation against the red-hot Storm with Craig Bellamy's men repeating the dose to end Parramatta's season at the semi-final stage. If the Eels want to be a contender they have to figure out a way to play better against the Storm.
It's game on
Toughest stretch
Round 6-9. The Eels have dodged playing any of the competition heavyweights twice so the most challenging period looks to be from round six. They face last year's grand finalists in consecutive weeks before matches against two of their biggest bogey sides of recent years - North Queensland and Newcastle. At least three of those four matches are at Bankwest.
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