Eels v Broncos: Matterson good to go; Origin contingent return

Parramatta return to CommBank Stadium on Thursday night looking for back-to-back wins at home against a resurgent Broncos side who, like the Eels, are chasing a top four finish. 

Both clubs sit on 24 competition points leading into round 19 with 11 wins each and are all but bound for the finals after solid seasons so far.

The Eels have still looked a bit wobbly in patches against teams in recent weeks despite wins but remain a threat to any side in the Telstra Premiership. 

Brisbane won a hard-fought Queensland derby against the Titans last start but will want to knock off a top scalp away from home as they look to go to another level in the final weeks of the regular season. 

Parramatta have had the wood over the Broncos since 2019, winning six of the past seven, including the last five by an average margin of 29 points. 

The Broncos have turned a corner from their previous seasons, however, with this one expected to be closer than ever. 

The Rundown

Team news

Eels: The Eels are 1-17 with no late changes. Ryan Matterson's return from a rib injury sees Marata Niukore revert to the bench and Ky Rodwell drop to 18th Man. Bryce Cartwright (ribs) was listed among the reserves but needs another week off and was cut on Wednesday.

Broncos: Thomas Flegler has been promoted to the starting side an hour before kick-off with Corey Jensen going to the bench.

Corey Oates, Kurt Capewell and Pat Carrigan return from their post-Origin rest but Selwyn Cobbo (head knock) remains sidelined. Payne Haas (shoulder) is set to play his first game since Round 16 and Cory Paix (head knock) also returns. Jake Turpin has been promoted to start at hooker with Billy Walters sidelined by a hip injury. Deine Mariner is 18th Man.

Key match-up

Mitchell Moses v Adam Reynolds: The battle of the No.7's will be a special treat and finals appetiser with Adam Reynolds lauded as the buy of the year this season after helping turn the Broncos into genuine top four contenders. Reynolds and Moses have had enormous battles in big games over the years, none more so than in semi-final matches previously where South Sydney came out on top over Moses' Eels in 2020. 

Stat attack

When the Eels are on their offloading ability is unrivalled and what it does next is creates a second phase style of play that allows the side to play off the cuff, making it difficult to defend no matter the opposition. Parramatta lead the NRL with offloads on 213, an area the Broncos rank 12th in the competition with 144. The beauty for the Eels is it doesn't just come down to certain players who can pop an offload, instead at least five have made 18 or more in 2022.