CommBank Stadium will play host to Friday's Round 18 NRL game between Parramatta Eels and New Zealand Warriors. The game kicks off at 7:55 pm with Parramatta Eels heading into the game as favourites with the bookmakers. Continue reading for our in-depth preview of the Parramatta Eels vs. New Zealand Warriors game and give you our free tips and bets.
When: Friday July 15, 2022 at 7:55 pm
Where: CommBank Stadium
Bet: Bet On This Match HERE
Parramatta Eels vs New Zealand Warriors Odds
Parramatta Eels vs New Zealand Warriors Preview
Parramatta is searching for back-to-back wins – an elusive task in 2022 – to consolidate its Top 8 position and keep pushing for the Top 4, having done enough to put away struggling Wests Tigers 28-20 on the back of Mitchell Moses’ class.
It was far from a complete performance from the Eels, who fought back from an early double-digit deficit in another example of the occasional giant-killers brining themselves down to the level of their opponents.
The Warriors had a week off in the wake of their stirring – and surely emotionally draining – 22-2 defeat of the Tigers in their Mt Smart homecoming. Under-fire Shaun Johnson took control, Chanel Harris-Tavita was magnificent at fullback and Addin Fonua-Blake led the engine-room charge to underpinned the end of a seven-match losing streak.
Stacey Jones’ first win as interim coach also represented the Warriors’ biggest winning margin and lowest score conceded since prior to Nathan Brown’s arrival. But it’s been a busy time since – Reece Walsh has confirmed his exit, while Andrew Webster has signed on as coach from 2023.
The Eels have named Junior Paulo to back up 48 hours after the Origin decider. Ryan Matterson remains sidelined and Jake Arthur has been added to the bench.
The Warriors have lost Dallin Watene-Zelezniak, Ronald Volkman and Bayley Sironen. The shaky Ed Kosi comes in on the wing, Harris-Tavita reverts to five-eighth after Walsh’s return from COVID, and Jack Murchie is back in the 17.
Parramatta has won its last three against the Warriors, cruising to a 34-18 Magic Round victory last season after the Eels took out close, controversial wins over the unlucky Warriors in 2019 and ’20.
The 5-11 Warriors are all but out of the finals equation, but there were plenty of positive signs in the Tigers shut-out. Kosi’s match-up with Maika Sivo is a terrifying prospect for the visitors, who have won just one game (also against the Tigers) away from Redcliffe and Auckland.
The Eels have the firepower to blow most teams – and certainly the Warriors – off the park. But the $1.16 favourites have managed just two wins by more than 10 points and have been far too unreliable to get behind them giving away this many points at the line.
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Head To Head Bet
We're tipping Parramatta Eels to win at $1.13 odds.
First Try Scorer
First Try Scorer: Maika Sivo at $7.00.