THE LONG HARD LOOK WITH MIKE WILSON
Parramatta Eels v Melbourne Storm
Parramatta Stadium, 7.00pm
Eels $3.05, Storm $1.39 (Luxbet)
Eels: Luke Burt, Etu Uaisele, Justin Horo, Ben Smith, Jordan Atkins, Jarryd Hayne, Jeff Robson, Tim Mannah, Matt Keating, Fuifui Moimoi, Nathan Hindmarsh (C), Taniela Lasalo, Reni Maitua. Interchange: Casey McGuire, Shane Shackleton, Mitchell Allgood, Pat O’Hanlon
Storm: Billy Slater, Matt Duffie, Dane Nielsen, Maurice Blair, Justin O’Neill, Gareth Widdop, Cooper Cronk, Jesse Bromwich, Cameron Smith (c), Bryan Norrie, Adam Blair, Sika Manu, Kevin Proctor. Interchange: Rory Kostjasyn, Ryan Hinchcliffe, Adam Woolnough, Jaiman Lowe
The second and third placed Sea Eagles and Dragons respectively have stumbled this round giving the Melbourne Storm a fantastic opportunity to streak away at the top of the table if they can put the Eels to the sword.
They shouldn’t have a problem if the round 5 encounter between these two sides is any indicator. On that day the Storm were ruthless, running over the top of the Eels on their way to a 38-0 victory.
Fast forward to the present and the Storm are on an 8 game winning streak and confidence is high, whereas the Eels have won 2 out of their last 11 and confidence is waning.
Few will forget this match last year at Parramatta Stadium when the two fullbacks, Billy Slater and Jarryd Hayne, went toe to toe following a head butting incident. I wonder if we’ll get more of the same this time……..
Mike’s Best Bet: None
Starting Bank: $2000, Current Bank $2547.49
(Team lists sourced from nrl.com.au)
