Canterbury and Parramatta go head-to-head in a high-pressure match on Monday given both sides sit outside the top eight and are desperate to stay within reach of playing in the finals in 2023.
The Bulldogs were unlucky in a one-point defeat to the Roosters on the Central Coast while the Eels are coming off a bye and will want to use the freshen up a chance to kick-start their momentum created in Round 13.
Both sides enjoyed a win against each other in 2022 by healthy margins with the Bulldogs thumping Parramatta 34-4 before the Eels returned serve with a 42-6 result in August last year.
With a hamstring injury ruling Nathan Cleary out of Origin II the likes of Matt Burton and Mitchell Moses could come into calculations for a state recall with strong performances on Monday.
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Team news
Bulldogs: Skipper Reed Mahoney will start after being declared fit to play by a NRL appointed neurological expert, while Jacob Kiraz (elbow) is also good to go. A late change an hour from kick-off sees Chris Patolo move into the starting side at prop and Max King revert to the bench. The Bulldogs will otherwise take the field as named.
Eels: Veteran hooker Josh Hodgson dopped out of the team an hour before kick-off due to a neck injury, which means Brendan Hands starts and Luca Moretti joins the bench. Reagan Campbell-Gillard (groin) returns along with Andrew Davey (concussion). Daejarn Asi will play five-eighth following the NRL on Wednesday advising that Dylan Brown is subject to a No-Fault Stand Down Condition under the NRL Rules.
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Stat Attack
- Maika Sivo leads the NRL in tryscoring with 15 from 13 matches. The Eels powerhouse has now scored 45 tries in his past 50 games.
- The Bulldogs have conceded more penalties (94) than any other team in 2023. The Cowboys are the second worst offenders with 85.
- The Bulldogs have won only three of their past 15 games against the Eels
- The Eels only have won eight of their past 10 clashes against the Bulldogs at Accor Stadium.
- Bulldogs winger Josh Addo-Carr has scored 21 tries in 18 games at Accor Stadium.
- Eels coach Brad Arthur will surpass Brian Smith’s record of 243 games at the helm of the club.
- The Bulldogs have won their past three games played on the June long weekend.
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Stats supplied by David Middleton, League Information Services, author of the official annual of the NRL.