NRL YTD (13-6)+5.70 Units !
Parramatta Eels v Sydney Rabbitohs
Pirtek Stadium
Friday 4:35am est
Can anything stop the South Sydney juggernaut? One thing's for sure, the Parramatta side that we saw fall 22-0 behind in 22 minutes in Auckland last weekend is no chance.
However the Eels side that blitzed Manly on their home patch in Round 1 on the back of a physical, young and intimidating forward pack aiming up may just be a chance – it just depends which Eels side we get.
For their part the Bunnies just keep on keeping on. A willing Wests Tigers well and truly took the fight to them last week, but it never quite looked like being enough as the Rabbitohs – on the back of a two-try performance from centre Dylan Walker, battling on with a broken hand – ground them out of the contest.
It's a Rabbitohs side that seems to have forgotten how to lose and it will be a massive ask for the Eels to stay with them on Friday night.
The Eels are unchanged from the side that fought back to 29-16 against the Warriors this week, while Souths have brought in former Bulldog Daryl Millard for his club debut in place of Walker.
Watch out Eels: New club captain Greg Inglis has really hit the ground running this year after a massive 2014, averaging 161 metres per game with 10 tackle breaks, three line breaks, four line break assists, three try assists and two tries. His remarkable effort in his own in-goal to beat several defenders and send winger Alex Johnston away for a 110-metre try in that thrilling win over the Roosters in Round 2 was simply freakish.
Watch out Rabbitohs: Eels five-eighth Corey Norman has been in career-best form this year. After being named in the Auckland Nines team of the tournament, Norman has been laying on some superb tries for the Eels with slick passing, deft kicking and some very quick tap-ons. His four try assists so far this year is only one behind front runners Adam Reynolds and Daly Cherry-Evans.
Key Match-Up: The current Bunnies playmakers v the former Bunnies playmakers. There was controversy aplenty when Parramatta nabbed popular and enigmatic South Sydney halfback Chris Sandow on a big-money deal but the Redfern faithful got over that with the emergence of star halfback Adam Reynolds. Meanwhile Nathan Peats, sick of being stuck behind Kiwi Test rake Issac Luke, departed Redfern for Parramatta to prove himself as an 80-minute No.9. The feisty hooker still has plenty of mates at the Rabbitohs but there will be no love lost when he runs out on Friday night.
The History: Played 118; Eels 50, Rabbitohs 65, Drawn 3. It's very ugly reading for Eels fans against the Rabbitohs in recent times, who are on a seven-game, five-year winning run against the blue-and-golds. In some ways it's not surprising – the Bunnies have been a powerhouse of late while the Eels have been in the doldrums since their 2009 Grand Final loss. But the losing run extends back past when Souths were a winning side; in 2010 and 2011 they missed the finals and were still far too good for Parramatta, whose last win against the cardinal and myrtle was a 22-8 win in early 2010. Souths have averaged 34 points per game to Parramatta's 10 in that time, for a combined score of 236-74. Ouch.
What Are The Odds: Eels $3.20 v Rabbitohs $1.35. A huge 90 per cent of money has come for the Rabbitohs in what Sportsbet punters have identified as the bet of the round. Even at the line of -7.5, South Sydney have been backed off the map.
Match Officials: Referee: Ben Cummins. Assistant referee: Alan Shortall. Touch judges: Nick Beashel and Rick MacFarlane. Video Referees: Bernard Sutton and Luke Patten.
The Way We See It: There's not a lot to be optimistic about for Eels fans in terms of the recent form of both sides or recent history between the two teams. Rabbitohs 13+.
Sleepy's Offical Play - Rabbitohs -7.5 (-120)
________________________________________________________________
Wests Tigers v Bulldogs
ANZ Stadium
Friday, 4:35am est
The Concord Kids take on the Belmore Bruisers in what is supposed to be – on paper at least – a total blue and white wash.
But then again, so was the Tigers' clash with the Rabbitohs. And judging by the courageous effort Dylan Walker had to produce to help his side to a hard fought win, then the only washing the Bulldogs will be doing is the grass stains off their jerseys on Friday night.
Make no mistake about it: the joint venture side got down and dirty with the defending premiers last week and held their own for much of the contest, eventually succumbing to a 20-6 defeat. Similarly, the Bulldogs trip to Brookvale last Friday only confirmed their reputation as the battle-hardened veterans they are, scraping away with a 16-12 victory in the northern beaches sandpit.
In essence, Des Hasler's side are made of it, and Jason Taylor's team is looking for it.
Taylor has handed rookie flyer Delouise Hoeter his NRL debut in place of suspended winger Pat Richards, who took the early guilty plea on his dangerous contact charge on Greg Inglis. The goal-kicking ace will be available next week.
In another key blow, in-form prop Aaron Woods is out with a knee injury, with Kyle Lovett joining the bench. Dene Halatau and Kevin Naiqama were also in some doubt for the Tigers.
For the 'Dogs, Hasler has named an unchanged line-up.
Watch Out Wests Tigers: We're only three games into the season but new Bulldogs fullback Brett Morris already holds the crown of tackle-bust king, streaking away from the competition with his 20 tackle breaks thus far.
The former Dragon has also averaged a mammoth 171 running metres and almost two line-breaks a game, making him priority number one for the Tigers defensive line. Many questioned whether the world's best winger could cover the entire backfield, but so far he's handled it with aplomb.
Watch Out Bulldogs: Third only to Roosters halfback Mitchell Pearce and Sharks fullback Michael Gordon in the "supports" department this year is Tigers young gun Luke Brooks, with 71. The raps on this kid go as far as Leichhardt to Campbelltown, and his instinct to follow a ball runner with free arms has often been the energy in his side's surges upfield this season. If there's half a chance of a line break, you can safely – and responsibly – bet that he'll be backing them up.
Key Match-Up: Martin Taupau v James Graham. Such is the aggression that Taupau has brought into Taylor's starting 13 that the coach has already publically voiced his concern about his enforcer conceding penalties. And up against another bloke who never takes a backward step in Graham, it will be fascinating to see who'll stand over the other. Either way, it certainly makes for one of the more mouth-watering individual stoushes across the weekend. Someone bring the extinguisher on Friday night because this colossal match-up is certain to provide the fireworks.
The History: Played 27; Wests Tigers 10, Bulldogs 17. The Bulldogs were ambushed 46-18 in the first encounter at the Olympic venue last season, although they exacted some revenge with a 30-10 thumping exactly one month later at the same ground. It was their sixth win in their past seven clashes.
What Are The Odds: Tigers ($2.75) v Bulldogs ($1.45). Twice as much money for the Bulldogs in this one, although punters have been tempted to back the Tigers with the 6 point start. Perhaps a strong early start from Wests is on the cards with James Tedesco the best backed player in the first tryscorer market at $15.
Match Officials: Referee: Ashley Klein. Assistant Referee: Adam Gee. Touch Judges: Brett Suttor and Adam Reid. Video Referee: Steve Chiddy and Luke Phillips.
The Way We See It: The Tigers were willing against the Rabbitohs last week, but so were the Bulldogs, and on that basis alone, we learn towards the "away" side by eight in what will probably a more tense affair than the previous two blowouts between these sides.
Sleepy's Official Play - Bulldogs (-225)
____________________________________________________________
Write-up taken from NRL.com