Sydney’s sunny weather on Friday has Andrew Johns confident Parramatta can progress to the preliminary finals for the first time since 2009.
It’s been 13 years since the Eels have been within one game of a grand final, the longest preliminary final drought in the competition.
They were well beaten, 27-8, by defending premiers Penrith last week, in slippery conditions at BlueBet Stadium.
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Despite receiving rain on Thursday evening, Friday has been sunny, and perhaps just as importantly, with a drying wind, meaning CommBank Stadium should be in good shape for the match against Canberra.
“I think the Eels can bounce back,” Johns said on Wide World of Sports’ Freddy and the Eighth’s Tips.
“Both teams play very similar, really attacking footy.
“It’s going to be a great game. Dry weather, fast track, open footy.”
Johns agreed with co-host Brad Fittler that Parramatta five-eighth Dylan Brown was unusually quiet in the loss to Penrith
“He didn’t run enough,” Johns noted.
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“I know the conditions were really poor, it was so slippery to move the ball.
“I think a drier track will suit the Eels. I think they can still make the big one.”
While Johns is tipping Parramatta to return to the winners circle, Fittler is expecting the Raiders to win through to a preliminary final against North Queensland in Townsville.
“I’m going to go for Canberra. They’re unpredictable, they’re unconventional,” he said.
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“Somehow they’re never out of the game these days, they just have pretty good resilience. It doesn’t seem to bother them.
“I think it has a lot to do with Jack Wighton, and (Josh) Papali’i.”
Saturday’s match pits the Sharks against the Rabbitohs for the right to play Penrith in the preliminary final.
The Sharks will have to overcome the disappointment of a 92nd minute loss to the Cowboys, while Souths will have to back up from a bruising encounter with the Roosters.
“The key for Cronulla is they cannot give away penalties,” Johns said.
“No team is better at set starts, and set plays, than Souths. If you keep them in a ding-dong arm wrestle that just goes back and forth, they can’t get into that formation and that shape, especially on that left side.
“The key for the Sharks is discipline. If they limit the penalties they give away, I think they win.”
Scroll below for the current leaderboard and week two finals tips by Andrew Johns and all Nine’s expert tipsters!
Andrew Johns: Eels, Sharks
Brad Fittler: Raiders, Rabbitohs
Billy Slater: Eels, Rabbitohs
Wally Lewis: Eels, Sharks
Michael Chammas: Eels, Rabbitohs
The Mole: Eels, Sharks
Ben Glover: Eels, Sharks
Peter Psaltis: Raiders, Sharks
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