Rugby League / James Cleary / 13 August 2010 / Leave a comment Bet Now

James Cleary sees a defeat at the hands of the Brisbane Broncos all but ending the Parramatta Eels' 2010 play-off prospects.

The Eels are four points outside the top eight and defeat would leave them realistically needing to win their remaining fixtures to qualify. Heavy back-to-back losses to the Roosters and the Titans have also left their points differential in poor health.

Victory for the home side, who lie in seventh before kick-off, would go a long way towards guaranteeing their late-season participation for a 19th consecutive year.

The Broncos won 10-6 in the last meeting between the sides in June, with both teams trading wins in the two matches prior to then. The visitors have only won three times in 14 visits to Suncorp, while overall the Broncos have won 25 and the Eels 15 from 41 games.

The home side are likely to be without veteran skipper Darren Lockyer (rib), who picked up the injury in a tackle from Luke O'Donnell in last weekend's 34-26 defeat of the Cowboys. Corey Norman is likely to deputise, with Corey Parker taking over captaincy duties. Winger Antonio Winterstein (leg) does return though, having missed out last time with a knee injury. Ben Te'o, who made a speedy comeback from two fractured bones in his foot last week, is named in the front row in place of Nick Kenny, while Alex Glenn will be at centre and Matt Gillett will be in the back row.

Ben Smith may miss out through a ban for the Eels, so Manase Manuokafoa or Pele Peletelese could come in, with Brendan Oake still out with a thumb injury. Otherwise, Timana Tahu's return in place of Jonathon Wright is the visitors' only change.

Hot prospect Corey Norman will be looking to step up for the Broncos, with Lockyer absent. He impressed in round 14 in a big win against the Rabbitohs, and is one of a clutch of prospects who have impressed in 2010, namely Matt Gillett and Josh Hoffman, the duo having claimed 16 tries between them this season.

Eels skipper Nathan Cayless will break Brad Fittler's record of 216 games as captain to become the most-capped skipper in NRL history, and he is more than capable of producing a big game just when his side need him most. The World Cup winner and his fellow props will fancy their chances of success against back Ben Te'o, a stand-in in this position for the home side.

With so much at stake for both sides, and despite the absence of Lockyer, I'll plump for the in-form Broncos to take it by at least 10.