Canberra Raiders vs Parramatta Eels Preview & Prediction | 2025 NRL | Regular Season
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The ladder-leading Canberra Raiders will be overwhelming favourites when they host a Parramatta Eels side languishing near the bottom of the table.
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How to watch on TV: UK – Sky Sports / Australia – Foxtel / US – Some matches are televised live on Fox Sports
How to watch online: UK – Sky Go & Watch NRL / Australia – Kayo Sports / US – Watch NRL, and if the match is televised in the USA it can also be streamed live on Fox Sports platforms
Canberra Raiders team news
The return of Origin stars Josh Papalii and Hudson Young has sparked a bit of a tweak to the forward pack, with Papalii to start in the front row and Young in the second row. Corey Horsburgh switches to lock, with Morgan Smithies and Simi Sasagi going to the bench. Noah Martin and Trey Mooney go back to the reserves, while Chevy Stewart has been picked at 18th man.
Squad: 1. Kaeo Weekes 2. Jed Stuart 3. Matthew Timoko 4. Sebastian Kris 5. Xavier Savage 6. Ethan Strange 7. Jamal Fogarty 8. Josh Papali’i 9. Tom Starling 10. Joseph Tapine 11. Hudson Young 12. Zac Hosking 13. Corey Horsburgh 14. Owen Pattie 15. Simi Sasagi 16. Morgan Smithies 17. Ata Mariota 18. Chevy Stewart 19. Trey Mooney 20. Noah Martin 21. Danny Levi 22. Ethan Sanders
Parramatta Eels team news
Joash Papalii has been named at five-eighth, with Ryley Smith selected at hooker upon his return from suspension, while Dylan Brown is now out of the 17, and back to 18th man. Kitione Kautoga (ankle) will miss this game, with Jack Williams moving to the second row and J’maine Hopgood promoted to the start in the front row. Jordan Samrani is the new player on the bench.
Squad: 1. Isaiah Iongi 2. Zac Lomax 3. Bailey Simonsson 4. Sean Russell 5. Josh Addo-Carr 6. Joash Papali’i 7. Dean Hawkins 8. J’maine Hopgood 9. Ryley Smith 10. Junior Paulo 11. Charlie Guymer 12. Jack Williams 13. Dylan Walker 14. Tallyn Da Silva 15. Jordan Samrani 16. Matt Doorey 17. Sam Tuivaiti 18. Dylan Brown 19. Dan Keir 20. Toni Mataele 21. Ronald Volkman 22. Haze Dunster
Canberra Raiders vs Parramatta Eels prediction
The Canberra Raiders (1st) are fresh from a bye in Round 19. Their last outing was a close 28-24 victory over the St George Illawarra Dragons in Round 18, their seventh win on the bounce.
The Parramatta Eels (15th) were soundly beaten 32-10 by the Penrith Panthers last week. Their form of one win in five has seen their season head toward another disappointing finish.
Canberra’s forward pack dominance is evident with four players - Matthew Timoko, Sebastian Kris, Corey Horsburgh, and Joseph Tapine - all ranked in the NRL's top 20 for post-contact metres. This stat allows the Raiders to move downfield easier than most teams, creating more scoring opportunities from the red zone.
Eels winger Josh Addo-Carr has been a rare bright spot for the team, leading his squad’s try-scoring with 9 tries this season.
The Raiders have a slight edge in the historical matchup, and they annihilated the Eels 50-12 when they met in Round 6 this season. Canberra has won the last three encounters between the clubs.
This appears to be one of the biggest mismatches of the round. The high-flying Raiders at home against a struggling, injury-hit Eels team points to a lopsided sided battle in favour of the green machine.
Canberra Raiders vs Parramatta Eels tip: Canberra Raiders to win by 13+ points
