The Dyldam Parramatta Eels will go head to head with the Melbourne Storm this Sunday afternoon at Pirtek Stadium for their Round 9 clash.
The Storm currently sit third on the NRL Telstra Premiership ladder, and Eels Assistant Coach Steve Murphy says that the Blue and Gold will need to be at their best this weekend to take on their opposition and will be buoyed by the return of winger Semi Radradra.
“Like all teams in the NRL, Melbourne are a quality opposition and we will have to be at our best this weekend,” Murphy said.
“Semi has prepared really well the last couple of weeks and has been close and ready to go so it will be great to have him back in the starting line up and he will give the boys plenty of confidence inside and out” he added.
With the Eels having several players involved in the recent Representative Round, Murphy said that the rest of the squad would benefit from not being in action but rather resting and recouping from niggling injuries.
“We had a fair few involved in representative games over the weekend with the Tonga v Samoa game and also the City-Country clash,” Murphy said.
“The boys are rested up and the rest of the squad has a couple of days off to rest and recoup to get over a couple of niggling injuries and we should be ready to go this Sunday.”
Eels Round Nine Training Gallery
The Eels have had victories over the Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles and South Sydney Rabbitohs at Pirtek Stadium this season, and the Blue and Gold will be looking for their third victory at home this weekend.
The Eels boast a strong record at home with nine victories from their past twelve appearances, however Murphy is not focused on their home ground advantage, rather focusing on the team’s own performance.
“It is always an advantage going to Pirtek Stadium but it is just as important that we get back to playing football and playing the way we want to play,” Murphy said.
“We haven’t been overly consistent and we haven’t been playing the type of football we want to be playing for long periods of the game so we get a chance to do that this week and that’s what we will be endeavouring to do.”
The Round 9 clash falls on Mother’s Day, where families can access a general admission family ticket from only $20, and Murphy was looking forward to celebrating the day.
“It will be great to see the families and mothers out there. I am sure my mother will be at the game!” Murphy said.
“It is a great day a great initiative. They do so much for us and do so much for our players in preparing them and getting them to games so it is a wonderful occasion.”
Eels mums visit Training
Thanks to our game day partners, Dyldam, we will be celebrating at our game on Mother's Day with a yellow rose giveaway for the first 400 mums in the Parramatta Motor Group TryLine City precinct. Head to our community tent to collect a rose for your mum on the day!
Parramatta Motor Group TryLine City will also host a pamper tent on Sunday, offering a choice of:
· 10 minute express manicures
· 10 minute hand massages
· 6-10 minute mini shoulder and back massages
