NRL Match Preview: Round 5 v Eels

Author: Joel Beatton dragons.com.au
Timestamp: Thu 3 Apr 2025, 09:27 AM

The Dragons will be looking to build on their opening win of the season on Saturday afternoon when they face the Eels at CommBank Stadium in Round 5 of the 2025 Telstra Premiership.

The club's Knock-On Effect NSW Cup squad will be in action also against Parramatta prior to the kick-off to the NRL match.

Round 5 - Round 5 - Saturday 5 Apr

Full Time

Eels

Dragons

Venue: CommBank Stadium, Sydney

Highlights Latest

KEY INFO

Buy Tickets
Date Saturday, April 5th
Venue CommBank Stadium, Parramatta
Watch Kayo & Foxtel
12:30PM Gates Open
12:40PM Knock-On Effect NSW Cup | Dragons v Eels
3:00PM NRL | Dragons v Eels

RED V LOOKING TO BUILD

Shane Flanagan's Dragons snagged a key win over the Storm in Round 4 to open their account for 2025.

Jaydn Su’A was enormous for the Red V chalking up 130 run metres and five tackle breaks from 13 carries to go along with 25 tackles as he was named the side's Coaches' Player of the Match.

Co-captain Clint Gutherson – who returns to CommBank Stadium this weekend – also enjoyed a standout afternoon assisting on Valentine Holmes' try and running for 190 metres from 20 carries.

The focus will be on building consistency over the coming weeks with a host of big-time matchups awaiting Flanagan's men.

'We're trying to be more consistent': Leilua looks to build on Storm win

TEAM NEWS

DRAGONS

Emre Guler (suspension) is unavailable for the Dragons with Toby Couchman named to start and Blake Lawrie coming onto the interchange.

STORM

Rookie hooker Ryley Smith earns a shot in the run-on side for Parramatta after spending the opening month of the season coming off the pine.
Joey Lussick and Charlie Guymer drop out of the 17 with Luca Moretti and club debutant Dylan Walker coming onto the bench.
Walker joins the club having spent the early part of the season with the Warriors.

Round 5 - Round 5 - Saturday 5 Apr

Full Time

Eels

Dragons

Team Lists

Backs

Fullback for Eels is number 1 Isaiah Iongi

Fullback for Dragons is number 1 Clinton Gutherson
Winger for Eels is number 2 Sean Russell

Winger for Dragons is number 2 Tyrell Sloan
Centre for Eels is number 3 Will Penisini

Centre for Dragons is number 3 Moses Suli
Centre for Eels is number 4 Zac Lomax

Centre for Dragons is number 4 Valentine Holmes
Winger for Eels is number 5 Josh Addo-Carr

Winger for Dragons is number 5 Christian Tuipulotu
Five-Eighth for Eels is number 6 Dylan Brown

Five-Eighth for Dragons is number 6 Kyle Flanagan
Halfback for Eels is number 7 Dean Hawkins

Halfback for Dragons is number 7 Lachlan Ilias

Forwards

Prop for Eels is number 8 Joe Ofahengaue

Prop for Dragons is number 8 Toby Couchman
Hooker for Eels is number 19 Charlie Guymer

Hooker for Dragons is number 9 Damien Cook
Prop for Eels is number 10 Junior Paulo

Prop for Dragons is number 10 David Klemmer
2nd Row for Eels is number 11 Shaun Lane

2nd Row for Dragons is number 11 Luciano Leilua
2nd Row for Eels is number 12 Kitione Kautoga

2nd Row for Dragons is number 12 Jaydn Su'A
Lock for Eels is number 13 J'maine Hopgood

Lock for Dragons is number 13 Jack De Belin

Interchange

Interchange for Eels is number 9 Ryley Smith

Interchange for Dragons is number 14 Jacob Liddle
Interchange for Eels is number 14 Dylan Walker

Interchange for Dragons is number 15 Blake Lawrie
Interchange for Eels is number 15 Luca Moretti

Interchange for Dragons is number 16 Hamish Stewart
Interchange for Eels is number 16 Sam Tuivaiti

Interchange for Dragons is number 17 Dylan Egan