Parramatta Eels vs Canberra Raiders Verdict
Parramatta have lost three straight, but they continue to be very competitive and can take advantage of a Canberra side missing some key names. The Raiders have lost three of four games and are struggling for points, so take the unders.
- Parramatta have won their last three home games against Canberra.
- Five of Parramatta's last six games have gone under the total points line.
- Six of Canberra's last seven games have gone under the total points line.
- The Raiders are without Ethan Strange and Hudson Young due to Origin commitments.
- Josh Addo-Carr has scored 12 tries in his last 10 games at CommBank Stadium.
Head to Head
Canberra have dominated the recent series, winning four of the last five meetings and posting scores of 50 and 40 points against the Eels last season.
However, Parramatta have traditionally been much stronger in this matchup at CommBank Stadium, winning their last three home games against the Raiders.
Parramatta Eels Form - Eels More Competitive
The Eels sit near the bottom of the ladder but their performances have been more competitive than the results indicate.
They pushed the Bulldogs all the way in a 14-12 defeat on Monday and have continued to show effort despite injuries and a disrupted season.
Their defence was particularly encouraging against Canterbury, holding them scoreless in the first half with some desperate defence.
The return of Mitch Moses is due after Origin, but young players like Isaiah Iongi, Tallyn Da Silva and Joash Papalii are beginning to grow into larger roles.
Parramatta's attack remains inconsistent, but their defensive effort has improved significantly. Five of their last six matches have finished under the total points line, highlighting the lower-scoring trend that has developed around the Eels.
Canberra Raiders Form - Heavy Defeat Continues Downtrend
Canberra's season took another hit last week when they were comprehensively beaten 26-0 by the Roosters.
The Raiders struggled to generate any attacking rhythm and now lose Ethan Strange and Hudson Young to Origin duty. Strange has been a key part of their spine this season, while Young's work rate and edge-running presence are difficult to replace.
Daine Laurie shifts into the halves and several younger players have been forced into bigger roles as Ricky Stuart searches for answers.
Canberra hold statistical advantages in run metres and post-contact metres, but recent form has been concerning, with losses in three of their past four games and just 21.6 points scored per game across their last five outings.
The under trend has also been prominent, with six of their last seven games finishing below the total.