NRL Team List
The Eels have made two changes following their season-ending loss to the Titans on Saturday night. In a thoroughly unsurprising twist given the luck of our outside back in 2016, Bureta Faraimo has been ruled out for 6-8 weeks with a fractured cheekbone. Vai Toutai is rushed into the team in Faraimo’s place after recently overcoming a knee injury and he will presumably hold down the left flank for the Blue & Gold. Beau Scott also returns to the starting team following a one week hiatus with an ankle injury which forces a reshuffle that sees Peni Terepo drop back to the bench and Cody Nelson drop out of the team.
Manu Ma’u has been named in the centres but his availability will depend on the outcome of his trip to the judiciary tomorrow night. Ma’u was cited for a dangerous throw on Gold Coast halfback Ashley Taylor and is facing one week on the sidelines as a result. If Manu’s appeal is quashed the Eels will likely have to turn to either John Folau or Honeti Tuha as the next man up. Tuha has been on a tear for the Magpies in the last month but his best football has come from fullback while John Folau has just one game under his belt after returning from a fractured wrist. Folau’s early season form was quite strong but much like with Vai Toutai – match fitness is a huge concern. Alas, barring an unlikely early return from injury by Michael Jennings the Eels will be left with little recourse but to pick one of Tuha or Folau in the event that Manu is made to sit the round out.
In better news, Kaysa Pritchard, Kelepi Tanginoa and Mitch Cornish are in the mix to be cleared to return to play next week although this is tempered by the loss of Matt Woods for the remainder of the season as he undergoes shoulder surgery following a shoulder dislocation.
As for the Round 21 game itself, the Eels will host the Wests Tigers at ANZ playing for little but pride – which to be fair has proven to be a powerful currency under the tutelage of Brad Arthur. The Tigers have been engulfed (again) by the drama between Jason Taylor and Robbie Farah but managed to keep it together on the field last week against the Dragons, notching up a 25-12 victory. James Tedesco is the obvious danger man in the Tigers line up and although we did a fine job containing him in our 8-0 triumph in Round 4, we will likely face a far tougher proposition on Saturday given our rather dire lack of first-string personnel. Another play to watch out for is Mitch Moses – especially given the defensive fragility of our left edge. Moses is enjoying a solid year and given the lack of chemistry between our various make-shift halves and centres, there is an opportunity for him to exploit it like the Titans did in Round 20.
Dyldam Parramatta Eels NRL vs Wests Tigers, 5.30pm, Saturday August 30 at ANZ Stadium
1. Michael Gordon
2. Vai Toutai
3. Manu Ma’u
4. Brad Takairangi
5. Bevan French
6. Clint Gutherson
7. Jeff Robson
8. Danny Wicks
9. Isaac De Gois
10. Tim Mannah
11. Kenny Edwards
12. Tepai Moeroa
13. Beau Scott (c)
Interchange:
14. Rory O’Brien
15. Peni Terepo
16. David Gower
17. Daniel Alvaro
Holden Cup Team List
Following a hugely disappointing 52-10 thrashing at the hands of the Titans on the weekend the Eels have made a string of changes to their Holden Cup team. Alex Twal is the chief inclusion of note for Luke Burt’s team. With Wentworthville on ice this week due to a bye, Twal has been freed up to to return to the NYC where can he hopefully re-ignite a pack that has lost it way a bit over the last two weeks. The new look pack features captain Denzal Tonise back at hooker and Tom Amone at lock while Filia Utoikamanu has been dropped (unsure as to whether injury is at play here) with Tom Field promoted to start in his place.
If Alex Twal is the most important inclusion for the team this week, by far the most interesting addition is that of newcomer Jye Challenor. A mid-season (or rather late-season) transfer to the Eels from arch-rivals the Canterbury Bulldogs sees the former Australian Schoolboy bookend rushed straight onto the bench. The Eels have definitely lacked for penetration and impact from their rotational players throughout the season so hopefully Challenor can provide exactly that come Saturday afternoon.
Dyldam Parramatta Eels NYC vs Wests Tigers, 3.15pm, Saturday August 30 at ANZ Stadium
1. Mason Cerruto
2. James Gammidge
3. Tyrell Fuimaono
4. Dane Aukafolau
5. Jermaine Mati-Leifi
6. Michael Doolan
7. Troy Dargan
8. Alex Twal
9. Denzal Tonise (c)
10. Jamie Stowers
11. Jack Morris
12. Tom Field
13. Tom Amone
Interchange:
14. Dean Matterson
15. Kurt De Luis
16. Steve Dresler
17. Jye Challenor
Hey mate how’s Steve Dressler going in NYC? He started off with plenty of wraps on him.
Finding his feet currently, mate. He had an awesome SG Ball campaign and has been used in small bursts off the bench since coming into the 20s recently. I think he will be just fine once he finds his groove in the team and adjust to the faster pace of the 20s age group.
Cheers mate, I appreciate the insight.
Burry will need to get the NYC to leave ft big time after last week’s thrashing.