NRL Round 3 Preview - Eels v Sharks @ ANZ Stadium

Parramatta Eels v Cronulla Sharks @ ANZ Stadium
 
Preview - The Eels and Sharks collide at ANZ Stadium with both sides desperate to register their first win of the season on Saturday night. Most people had both sides in the Top 8 at the start of the season, with both Clubs having Premiership aspirations. However, whilst the Sharks have gone down narrowly twice, the Eels have been blown off the park. The Sharks would have been cursing themselves last week after throwing away victory against their arch rivals the Dragons after coughing up a 14-0 lead, to go down 20-16 with a comical series of second half errors sealing their fate. The Eels put in one of their most embarrassing performances in several years, with their worst ever loss to Manly in a 54-0 rout in hot conditions at Lottoland last year. Brad Arthur said his side didn't have a go, and will be sure to have had several home truths and harsh words as he looks to get a reaction from his players this week. 
 
History - It's been very tight between these two club in recent seasons with the Sharks edging it having won 6 from the past 11 encounters. Last season when the sides met at ANZ stadium the Sharks frustrated the Eels all night running out 20-6 winners. The Eels last victory over the Sharks was back in 2014. 
 
Parramatta Eels’ Scouting Report - Brad Arthur has stuck solid with the side that were thumped last week at Lottoland. Pressure will be on the entire Eels’ forward pack, with no single forward running for more than 100 metres last week. The likes of Captain Tim Mannah and Nathan Brown have been well down on form early this season, and will need to get over the advantage line against an aggressive Sharks pack if the Eels are any chance of bouncing back here.
 
Cronulla Sharks Scouting Report - The Sharks have lost Matt Moylan to injury with the experienced Trent Hodkinson set to make his debut for the Sharks. Shane Flanagan has made another big change to his backline with  20-year-old Jesse Ramien named to start at centre for his debut. The youngster is off to the Knights next season and has big wraps on him.  With just one NRL game under his belt, Ramien has been given the huge assignment of shutting down star Parramatta three-quarter Michael Jennings. Josh Dugan retains his spot at fullback, whilst Flanagan will be expecting a much better performance from Valentine Holmes, after he appeared to be sulking last week, running less than 40 metres against the Dragons after being put back on the wing. Paul Gallen is expected to play despite battling an injury. 
 
Verdict - Sharks 1-12 
 
This is one of the best games of the round for me, as it contains two teams with lofty expectations coming into the season that are desperate to avoid a 0-3 start. I’m expecting this to be a very physical game with plenty of niggle, however I just think the Sharks forward pack will be too strong for Parramatta. I think the Eels are really in need of rebuilding a pack that lacks size and impact, with several of their forwards looking a bit punch drunk. The Sharks actually looked outstanding in the first 40 minutes against the Dragons, and it was not a lack of effort, rather some bone headed individual errors that curtailed them. Parramatta look to me to have some players lacking confidence, and struggling defensively, and I can’t see them solving those issues in a week, despite the bounce-back factor.