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Rise of player power


Phil Gould and Glenn Jackson discuss whether Canberra Raiders coach David Furner lost his job because of a backlash from players.





AAMI Park, Melbourne, Sunday 3pm (AEST)

Last meeting: Round 20 2012 - Eels 16 bt Storm 10 at Parramatta Stadium

Head-to-head: Storm 15 Eels 11

Referees: Adam Devcich, Gavin Morris

TV: Delay, Channel 9 (4pm)

TAB: Storm $1.04 Eels $11.50 Draw $41

FootyTab: Eels +22.5


Phil Mitchell writes: Parramatta have only two away games remaining to try to avoid an unwanted slice of NRL history. If the cellar dwellers fail to defeat either the Storm or the Knights two weeks later, they will become the first team since South Sydney in 2006 to finish a season without a victory on the road. The Eels have lost 10 away games this season by a whopping average of 23 points; they have lost their past four matches in Melbourne (including a 38-0 drubbing in 2011); and their best player, Jarryd Hayne, is on the injured list again. The Eels will give it their all as usual but if the Storm are on their game, they should run up a cricket score.


Phil's tip: Storm by 38.


AAP writes: A David and Goliath battle. Then again, that would best describe every clash the lowly Eels contest. Parramatta need to win at least two of their final three games to be any hope of avoiding back-to-back wooden spoons. But stats suggest pigs will fly, hell will freeze over and NSW will win an Origin series before Parramatta taste victory again over Melbourne. They have not won in Melbourne since 2005. Their only trip to AAMI Park resulted in a 38-0 loss in 2011. They are 0-13 away from Parramatta this year, conceding 33 points per game. Oh, and their strike weapon Jarryd Hayne (knee) is out. In contrast, Melbourne have won three straight ahead of the finals including a result similar to what is expected at AAMI Park this weekend - a 68-4 thumping of Canberra.


Key: The Storm turning up. The only conceivable way the Eels can hope to jump Melbourne is if the defending premiers preoccupy themselves with their next clash against Manly rather than the game at hand.


STORM: Billy Slater, Sisa Waqa, Will Chambers, Maurice Blair, Justin O’Neill, Brett Finch, Cooper Cronk, Jesse Bromwich, Cameron Smith (capt), Bryan Norrie, Kevin Proctor, Ryan Hoffman, Ryan Hinchcliffe. Interchange: Jason Ryles, Tohu Harris, Jordan McLean, Kenneath Bromwich.


EELS: Jake Mullaney, Ken Sio, Ryan Morgan, Vai Toutai, Semi Radradra, Ben Roberts, Luke Kelly, Tim Mannah (capt), Matt Keating, Fuifui Moimoi, Reni Maitua, Mitch Allgood, Darcy Lussick. Interchange: Junior Paulo, Joseph Paulo, Peni Terepo, Pat O’Hanlon, Daniel Harrison (one to be omitted).