Parramatta are massive favourites heading into this Friday night’s NRL season opener against the Brisbane Broncos at Suncorp Stadium.
Up against last year’s wooden spooners, Parramatta will be confident of leaving Queensland with the two points if their opponents’ recent trial form is anything to go by.
The Broncos looked slick and sharp while racing to an 18-6 half-time lead against North Queensland at Redcliffe late last month but – after the break – it all fell apart, opening the door for the Cowboys to score 28 unanswered points.
The Eels also lost their final trial of the pre-season to Penrith, with Parramatta coach Brad Arthur describing his side’s attack against the 2020 minor premiers as “clunky”.
It’s been two weeks since that defeat, and the Eels have been working hard at training refining their attack and working on new combinations.
Arthur is expected to name a near full-strength line-up to tackle the Broncos, who will be playing under a rookie NRL coach in Kevin Walters for the first time.
While Walters has been very successful at an Origin level with Queensland, this Friday night’s game against the Eels will be the first time he’s coached his own first grade side.
It’s been 35 years since Parramatta last celebrated a Premiership and, while they got awfully close last year, the Eels will be in the mix again with bookmakers come Finals’ time.
Three of their opening five games are against teams that failed to make the top eight last season, but they do have a clash against Premiers Melbourne in Round 2.
If Parramatta’s premiership drought is to finally come to an end this season, they’ll need to start the year well, win the games they are expected to win, and avoid any major injuries to their spine as their depth in key positions is rather thin.
Parramatta’s chase for glory kicks off this Friday night when they take on the new-look Brisbane Broncos at Suncorp Stadium. The match will be broadcast live on Channel Nine and FOX League from 8pm.
Troy Dodds is Parra News' Managing Editor and Breaking News Reporter. He has more than 20 years experience as a journalist, working with some of Australia’s leading media organisations. In 2023, he was named Editor of the Year at the Mumbrella Publish Awards.