Napa to rip into the Eels

BULLDOGS enforcer Dylan Napa is ready to rip in during tonight’s NRL season-opener against western Sydney rivals Parramatta at a sold-out Bankwest Stadium.

“Games are won in the middle and we definitely know what we’re in for,” Napa said.

One opponent Napa may relentlessly hunt down tonight is an old Canterbury adversary, Parramatta’s Nathan Brown.

Late last year at Bankwest Stadium, Bulldogs skipper Josh

Jackson became angry at Brown after the Eels forward shoulder-charged Canterbury’s Dallin Watene-Zelezniak.

And in May, 2017, Brown smashed the 113kg Napa, then a Sydney Roosters prop, in a fierce but legal one-on-one hit at Sydney Football Stadium.

“Parramatta has a really strong forward pack and games are won in the middle,” Napa said.

“It was a really tough game out there (last year).

“We had a good win and we know we’ll have to recreate something like that again. We know it won’t be easy but we’re ready for the challenge.

“In each game, a platform needs to be laid by the pack and we’re very confident with the forwards we’ve got.

“It’s been a very long and hot pre-season but everyone is excited to play.”

Canterbury will play tonight under heavy scrutiny after two key players, Corey Harawira-Naera and Jayden Okunbor, were stood down after having sex with school students during a pre-season trip to Port Macquarie.

Melbourne recruit Joe Stimson and winger Christian Crichton are the replacements.

Bulldogs coach Dean Pay fronted a 10-minute media conference inside Sydney’s Belmore Sports Ground yesterday where he tried to keep dialogue away from his misbehaving pair and on footy.

“There’s one thing I know and that is they will stick together and make sure we get out there and put in a really good performance, not only for us but everyone that supports us,” Pay said. “It will be a challenge, that’s for sure.

“But we will be prepared and we will be ready.

“We’ve just got to get on with what we need to get on with. That’s where we’re at.

“I’m still looking forward to it. I can’t wait to get out there.

“The rivalry is still there and we’re looking forward to putting our best foot forward and give ourselves the result we’re looking for.

“Look, it’s difficult and obviously there are challenges to it. The positive out of it is Joe Stimson gets a start, so he plays his first game for the club. Dean Britt plays his first game for the club.”