Raiders vs Eels Prediction: Get on Parra in the handicap betting

The bang-in-form league leaders against the team in 15 th place, you say? It would appear there can be only one result in the NRL Premiership clash between Canberra Raiders and Parramatta Eels on Saturday at GIO Stadium (15:00 local, 06:00 BST).

But the Raiders have not been hammering teams out of sight and the Eels will have reason to believe they can scare Ricky Stuart’s table-toppers when they head to the ACT. Read on for my Raiders vs Eels predictions, complete with latest team news and Betfred’s match odds.

Raiders vs Eels Odds

No prizes for guessing the balance of power in the match-winner market, with the Raiders a 2/9 shot at an implied probability of 81.8%.

For what it’s worth, the Eels are 10/3, with the draw in 80 minutes priced at 25/1. Down in the two-way handicap you will find Parramatta being given a 14.5-point start in return for a shift to 5/6, while Canberra are 20/21 to overcome the disadvantage.

Team News

Josh Papalii and Hudson Young come back into the starting line-up for the Raiders following their involvement in the State of Origin decider, so Morgan Smithies and Simi Sasagi are dropped to the bench.

Noah Martin and Trey Mooney step down in the reshuffle, with Corey Horsburgh moving to loose forward.

Kitione Kautoga’s ankle problem means changes in the pack for the Eels, as Jack Williams moves to the second row and J’maine Hopgood starts at prop.

In the halves, Joash Papali’i – not to be confused with the Raiders’ Josh – starts at six for only the second time having led a winning effort from stand-off against the Gold Coast Titans in round 16.

Rugby League Odds

Handicap 3-way Alt 1: Eels +10 @ 6/4

The last time the Raiders conceded fewer than 10 points was back in round one against the Warriors, and five of their last six victories – including all of the last three – have come by margins of six points or fewer.

And sure, the Eels are not the most potent of teams. Indeed, aside from the Newcastle Knights they are the least potent team of all. But there’s been a real stickability about some of their performances this season, even considering what an abject failure it has been on the results front.

So I’m backing them to give the Green Machine a bit of a scrap here even if it gets them nowhere on the ladder. ‘Sticky’ Ricky Stuart will see his side take the points, but he might also get the odd scare, so I fancy that +10 on the Eels at 6/4 and an implied probability of 40%.

Eels Over 17.5 Total Points @ 10/11

Given the way the Raiders tend to put points on their opponents and their tendency to go through rocky periods in games, I can see a few tries being available to the Eels.

Parra have cleared 18 points in eight of their 16 games to date, and only four-time reigning champions Penrith Panthers have kept them from doing so in recent weeks.

They have threats too, especially in the person of Josh Addo-Carr, and with Isaiah Iongi starring when entering the line at full-back they could have the Raiders rocking from time to time.

While Canberra should have enough to win by a couple of scores, I can well imagine the Eels crossing a few times.

You can read all our latest Rugby League Betting Tips at our dedicated Betfred Insights Rugby League content hub.