VENUE & TIME: Parramatta Stadium, Saturday, September 4, 5.30pm (AEST)
COVERAGE: Fox Sports
HEAD TO HEADPlayed 27, Eels 16, Warriors 11
LAST TIME: Warriors 35 – Eels 6 at Mt Smart Stadium, Round 17, 2010
WALKING WOUNDED: For the Eels, Jeff Robson returns from a knee injury at half-back, shifting young Daniel Mortimer back to the bench and removing rookie Anthony Mitchell from the squad altogether. The Warriors remain unchanged, with Joel Moon added as an 18th man option and injured duo Ian Henderson (ankle) and Michael Luck (leg cut) not expected back until the first week of finals.
FORM: After a brief run of form post-Origin, the Eels' season has descended into utter disappointment in the final month of the premiership rounds. They were absolutely horrible in the first half against the Rabbitohs last Friday night and things didn't really improve until late in the game when the horse had well and truly bolted. This was a side tipped by many at the start of the season to take out the premiership. They have now missed out on the finals and could finish as low as 12th on the ladder in a virtual 15-team competition. Simply not good enough. The Warriors put on an attacking feast in front of their biggest home crowd of the season last Friday night and as result remain a chance of another Mt Smart Stadium appearance in week one of the finals. They have won three of their last four and appear to be building momentum at the right time of the season. Credit must go to coach Ivan Cleary for the club's incredible 2010 turnaround.
WHO'S HOT: The 21,617 crowd at Mt Smart Stadium last Friday night got their money's worth in one fell swoop when the genius of full-back Lance Hohaia struck just after half-time in the form of a stunning 60m chip and chase try, reviving memories of entertainers Phil Blake, Scott Gale and the like. Hohaia picked up two tries in the match and appears to be in the best form of his career. We can now see why the club let Wade McKinnon go mid-season.
WE THINK: The Eels were still in with a finals' sniff last Friday night, making their disgraceful performance against the Bunnies all the more perplexing. Without a finals' chance this week they shouldn't even be in the hunt, but there is a little matter of co-skipper Nathan Cayless's final home game that could inspire these massive under-achievers into some sort of action. The Cayless factor – and to a lesser extent the farewells of Mateo, Inu and Keating - are the only genuine reasons why Parra remain a chance against the Warriors, who have prevailed in four of the previous five outings between the two clubs. The Warriors also have plenty to play for and that includes a top-four spot if the Titans happen to falter against Wests on the Friday night. That should be enough to inspire this far more disciplined unit to victory, albeit by a narrow margin. Warriors by 2.
TEAMS
Parramatta Eels:
Jarryd Hayne, Luke Burt, Joel Reddy, Timana Tahu, Krisnan Inu, Kris Keating, Jeff Robson, Nathan Cayless [c], Matthew Keating, Fuifui Moimoi, Nathan Hindmarsh [c], Ben Smith, Feleti Mateo. Interchange: Daniel Mortimer, Tim Mannah, Justin Horo, Justin Poore.
New Zealand Warriors:
Lance Hohaia, Kevin Locke, Brent Tate, Jerome Ropati, Manu Vatuvei, James Maloney, Brett Seymour, Sam Rapira, Aaron Heremaia, Russell Packer, Simon Mannering [c], Lewis Brown, Jacob Lillyman. Interchange: Alehana Mara, Ben Matulino, Ukuma Ta'ai, Jesse Royal, Joel Moon.
Referees: Matt Cecchin, Tony De Las Heras