NRL: Robson's chance here at last

Eels halfback Jeff Robson will play in front of the biggest crowd of his career. Photo/ Getty Images

Emerging Parramatta halfback Jeff Robson says he has been waiting the best part of a decade to play in a match as big as the Eels' NRL preliminary final blockbuster against the Bulldogs.

The clash between two of the game's great rivals is expected to attract a crowd of more than 60,000 to ANZ Stadium.

The huge stadium could accommodate many times over the population of Robson's home town of Barellan in New South Wales' Riverina. The 2006 census numbered the residents at 366.

Friday's game will be the biggest of the 27-year-old halfback's career and something he has aimed to be part of since leaving his home town in his mid-teens to pursue a league career.

"It's something that I've been working for, for eight or nine years since I've moved to Sydney, so it will be outstanding," said Robson.

But he is less sure about how he will prepare for the prospect of playing in front of the biggest crowd of his career.

"I couldn't tell you, I'll just soak it all in," Robson said.

His rise has been a decade in the making. One unproductive stint with Parramatta was followed by just six first-grade appearances at Manly, before he headed back to the Eels.

Brett Finch's move to Melbourne threw open the door of opportunity for Robson and he grasped the chance to strike up a combination with rookie five-eighth Daniel Mortimer.

But the battler from Barellan never envisaged staking a claim to a permanent place in just a few months: "I was just hoping to play a couple of games this year, and to play 20 and be in the semifinals is sensational."

Parramatta's backs and sparkling attack have garnered most of the headlines in their electrifying late-season charge, but their defence has been equally impressive.

Eliminate the 37-0 final round loss to St George Illawarra and the Eels have conceded only 74 points in their nine wins either side of that blip.

"Our defence has been outstanding over the last couple of weeks and I think that's pretty much what's won us the game [against Gold Coast last Friday]," Robson said. "If we continue to do that, I think we'll go a long way to winning next week."

* NRL semifinals

Eels v Bulldogs
Sydney, 9.45pm Friday

Storm v Broncos
Melbourne, 9.45pm Saturday

- AAP