Eels v Bulldogs: Russell to debut; Meaney stays at fullback
Third-placed Parramatta have their eyes firmly on back-to-back rivalry wins but Canterbury could pose a tougher-than-expected challenge for the Eels.
The Eels kicked away to comfortably beat Wests Tigers in their round 14 derby with playmaking guns Mitchell Moses and Clint Gutherson leading the way for Parramatta in the six-tries-to-two romp.
There is plenty of incentive from both directions for the Eels to add to their two-game win streak with Parramatta just one win out of first place and the red-hot Rabbitohs only relegated to fourth on the ladder by points difference.
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Canterbury might still be in last place but the effort and intent in their 22-point humbling of the Dragons will have them believing they can take down any Goliath.
Match: Eels v Bulldogs
Round 15 -
home Team
Eels
3rd Position
away Team
Bulldogs
16th Position
Venue: CommBank Stadium, Sydney
The rundown
Team news
Eels: Brad Arthur's team will start 1-17 with Bryce Cartwright the 18th man.
Young winger Sean Russell will make his NRL debut with Maika Sivo suspended.
The only other change comes on the interchange, with Keegan Hipgrave named in No.16 after serving a suspension in the NSW Cup.
Blake Ferguson and Jake Arthur were omitted from the reserves 24 hours before kick-off.
The Eels have won nine of their past 11 games against the Bulldogs.
Bulldogs: Canterbury will start 1-17 with Joe Stimson the 18th man.
Dallin Watene-Zelezniak (foot) is out after missing the win over the Dragons on Monday and Nick Meaney has been retained in the fullback role.
Watene-Zelezniak and Jackson Topine dropped off the extended bench on Saturday.
The Bulldogs are aiming to win back-to-back games for the first time since 2019.
Match: Eels v Bulldogs
Round 15 -
home Team
Eels
away Team
Bulldogs
Team Lists
Backs
-
Fullback for Eels is number 1 Clinton GuthersonFullback for Bulldogs is number 1 Nick Meaney
-
Winger for Eels is number 2 Sean RussellWinger for Bulldogs is number 2 Nick Cotric
-
Centre for Eels is number 3 Tom OpacicCentre for Bulldogs is number 3 Will Hopoate
-
Centre for Eels is number 4 Waqa BlakeCentre for Bulldogs is number 4 Aaron Schoupp
-
Winger for Eels is number 5 Haze DunsterWinger for Bulldogs is number 5 Tuipulotu Katoa
-
Five-Eighth for Eels is number 6 Dylan BrownFive-Eighth for Bulldogs is number 6 Brandon Wakeham
-
Halfback for Eels is number 7 Mitchell MosesHalfback for Bulldogs is number 7 Jake Averillo
Forwards
-
Prop for Eels is number 8 Reagan Campbell-GillardProp for Bulldogs is number 8 Jack Hetherington
-
Hooker for Eels is number 9 Joey LussickHooker for Bulldogs is number 9 Jeremy Marshall-King
-
Prop for Eels is number 10 Junior PauloProp for Bulldogs is number 10 Luke Thompson
-
2nd Row for Eels is number 11 Isaiah Papali'i2nd Row for Bulldogs is number 11 Adam Elliott
-
2nd Row for Eels is number 12 Ryan Matterson2nd Row for Bulldogs is number 12 Matt Doorey
-
Lock for Eels is number 13 Nathan BrownLock for Bulldogs is number 13 Josh Jackson
Interchange
-
Interchange for Eels is number 14 Marata NiukoreInterchange for Bulldogs is number 14 Sione Katoa
-
Interchange for Eels is number 15 Shaun LaneInterchange for Bulldogs is number 15 Dylan Napa
-
Interchange for Eels is number 16 Keegan HipgraveInterchange for Bulldogs is number 16 Ava Seumanufagai
-
Interchange for Eels is number 17 Nathaniel RoacheInterchange for Bulldogs is number 17 Corey Waddell
Reserves
-
Reserve for Eels is number 20 Bryce CartwrightReserve for Bulldogs is number 20 Joe Stimson
Match Officials
- Referee: Matt Cecchin
- Touch Judge: Darian Furner
- Touch Judge: Kasey Badger
- Senior Review Official: Henry Perenara
Last updated:
Key match-up
Mitchell Moses v Jake Averillo: This match-up between established and rising stars features two players in sizzling form. Eels playmaker Moses exploded after a quiet couple of weeks and put Wests Tigers to the sword in round 14 with a long-range try, two line breaks, a try assist, three tackle busts, six goals from six attempts and 152 run metres.
But the young Bulldog had arguably the best game of his career with a try-scoring double, two line breaks, five tackle busts, an offload, six from seven and 117 run metres to suggest Moses might not have it all his own way this week.
Stat attack
Canterbury hold the advantage 84 wins to 70 in this western Sydney rivalry but it's been largely one-way traffic since 2016 with the Bulldogs claiming victory on just two occasions in the past 11 derbies.
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