The St George Illawarra Dragons will travel to face the Parramatta Eels at Pirtek Stadium, Parramatta on Monday (7.00pm).
Head Coach Paul McGregor has named local Albion Park Oak Flats Eagles junior Drew Hutchison has been named as halfback, replacing Benji Marshall who has been being rested.
Meanwhile, centre Tim Lafai will come straight into the run on side, taking the place of the suspended Taane Milne who took the early guilty plea on a Grade 1 “Dangerous Throw” charge.
The Red-and-Whites Dragons will be keen to get a win in their final away game of the season in what will be the last ever game played at the current Pirtek Stadium.
|
Parramatta Eels (15th) |
St George Illawarra Dragons (11th) |
||
Record |
11 wins, 11 losses |
9 wins, 13 losses |
||
Points |
228 |
16th |
295 |
14th |
Tries |
67 |
14th |
50 |
15th |
Line Breaks |
71 |
14th |
59 |
15th |
Tackle Busts |
661 |
5th |
610 |
7th |
Offloads |
241 |
7th |
239 |
8th |
Tackles |
7310 |
6th |
7712 |
2nd |
Missed Tackles |
583 |
8th |
581 |
11th |
Parramatta Eels
The Eels enter the match-up having lost five of their previous six fixtures during a period in which they have failed to score 19 points or more.
One of their best attacking weapons in the competition is their young fullback Bevan French, who scored who has scored 13 tries in just 11 games this year.
Parramatta Eels |
Position |
St George Illawarra Dragons |
Bevan French |
Fullback |
Josh Dugan |
Semi Radradra |
Wing |
Kurt Mann |
Michael Jennings |
Centre |
Euan Aitken |
Brad Takairangi |
Centre |
Tim Lafai |
Michael Gordon |
Wing |
Jason Nightingale |
Clint Gutherson |
Five-eighth |
Gareth Widdop |
Jeff Robson |
Halfback |
Drew Hutchinson |
Danny Wicks |
Prop |
Leeson Ah Mau |
Issac De Gois |
Hooker |
Mitch Rein |
Tim Mannah |
Prop |
Mike Cooper |
Manu Ma’u |
Second Row |
Tyson Frizell |
Tepai Moeroa |
Second Row |
Joel Thompson |
Beau Scott |
Lock |
Jack de Belin |
|
|
|
Kaysa Pritchard |
Interchange |
Will Matthews |
Kenny Edwards |
|
Jacob Host |
Peni Terepo |
|
Jake Marketo |
Daniel Alvaro |
|
Luciano Leilua |
David Gower |
|
|
History (Since 1999)
Each team has won 14 fixtures a piece in their most recent 30 encounters with two games ending in a draw.
While the Eels have won the last three matches, the Dragons lost only one of the 11 previous games.
Pirtek Stadium has always been a tough place to play for the Dragons, coming away with the two competition points only three times in 14 starts.
Key Match Up (Jason Nightingale vs. Semi Radradra)
In one of his toughest tasks all season, Jason Nightingale will have to go up against one of the most dangerous wingers in the competition in Semi Radradra.
Despite being hampered by injury this season, when he is on the field, Radradra has been one of the Eels best, averaging 150.4 metres per game, while scoring 11 tries in 17 matches.
Much like Radradra, Nightingale has been one of the standouts for the Dragons in 2016, averaging 137.3 metres per game, including 935 metres in his last six outings.
Round |
Date |
Result |
Score |
Venue |
26 |
September 2, 2012 |
Win |
Parramatta Eels - 8 St George Illawarra Dragons - 29 |
ANZ Stadium, Olympic Park |
10 |
May 18, 2013 |
Win |
St George Illawarra Dragons - 32 Parramatta Eels - 12 |
WIN Stadium, Wollongong |
25 |
September 2, 2013 |
Loss |
Parramatta Eels - 26 St George Illawarra Dragons - 22 |
Pirtek Stadium, Parramatta |
10 |
May 17, 2014 |
Loss |
Parramatta Eels - 36 St George Illawarra Dragons - 0 |
Pirtek Stadium, Parramatta |
16 |
June 27, 2015 |
Loss |
Parramatta Eels - 16 St George Illawarra Dragons - 12 |
Pirtek Stadium, Parramatta |
Game Day Information
Date: Monday, August 29
Venue: Pirtek Stadium, Parramatta
Gates Open: 4.30pm
NYC: 4.45pm
NRL: 7.00pm
Broadcaster: Fox Sports
Click Here For Round 25 v Parramatta Eels Game Day Information!
