Bulldogs to edge Eels

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Parramatta versus Canterbury. Always exciting. Now that we’re semi-national these days it’s wonderful to have two Sydney teams do battle in such an important game.

Let me start with the Bulldogs.

I’ve got a bit sick and tired of saying ‘Canterbury is going to do this’ and ‘Canterbury is going to do that’. The fact is they haven’t been producing. When you go looking for the reason, they just haven’t got the blend. Haven’t got the team. The Bulldogs have a lot of individuals that are very, very good.

However, there’s something missing.

I think we’ve now got to take it for what it’s worth, this is no longer the Bulldogs of old.

A big plus for the Dogs though is the fact they’ll have their big three forwards on the park for the first time in many weeks: Williams, O’Meley and Mason. That’s a factor that I don’t think enough people have taken into account.

O’Meley plays the game with so much passion. If that can rub off, it can be contagious.

Parramatta has been up and down as well. They lost a match at WIN Stadium, then blew Brisbane off the park, then went to Auckland on a five day break and beat the Warriors.

How does that happen?

Ben Smith is going to be missed, primarily because he defends the right side, the same side Sonny Bill will hover.

Tim Smith’s shoulder worries me greatly.

The odds are stacking the Bulldogs way.

Will it be a high scoring affair like the previous meeting, where 56 points were scored?

I don’t think so.

Not in a knock out final.

Michael Hagan would be stupid though if he tells the Eels ‘excitement players’ to calm it down. That would spoil the games of the Haynes and the Inus and the Tahus. You just have to let them go.

So there will be plenty of hot potato stuff, but I don’t believe that will necessarily translate into points.

Looking ahead, Parramatta would be better equipped to beat Melbourne the week later. Only a month ago, the Eels extended the Storm at Olympic Park. The Bulldogs were slaughtered against Melbourne a week after.

Without confidence, I’m tipping the Bulldogs.