Parramatta Eels 2017 Downer NRL Auckland Nines squad
Nathan Brown
Kenny Edwards
Jamal Fogarty
Bevan French
David Gower
Clint Gutherson
Josh Hoffman
George Jennings
Cameron King
Suaia Matagi
Tepai Moeroa
Corey Norman (c)
Marata Niukore
Scott Schulte
Rory O’Brien
Semi Radradra
Honeti Tuha
Joseph Ualesi
Troy Dargan
The Parramatta Eels will make their annual pre-season pilgrimage over the Tasman Sea next weekend. This year they will also mount a defence of their phantom Auckland Nines crown and after casting a quick eye over the named team, boy do they have one heck of a chip on their shoulders.
Brad Arthur has enlisted the services of six players from his triumphant 2016 squad including three of the true super stars of the limited format in Corey Norman (named as captain), Semi Radradra and Bevan French. Cameron King, David Gower and Tepai Moeroa round out the tournament-winning core of the team and they are joined by NRL regulars Kenny Edwards and Clint Gutherson.
New recruits Nathan Brown, Jamal Fogarty, Josh Hoffman, George Jennings, Suaia Matagi and Marata Niukore all get their first chances to don the Blue & Gold and impress Brad Arthur. Fringe NRL prospects Scott Schulte, Rory O’Brien, Honeti Tuha and Joseph Ualesi all have a terrific opportunity to improve their stock. Troy Dargan is the lone Holden Cup player named to the squad.
With a forward pack that features some of our most dynamic and explosive middle and edge players and a peerless back line laden with speed and class there are no doubts about it, Brad Arthur and the Eels have come to play.
Forty’s Back to Watch – There are several other players who deserve a mention here – Semi Radadra is a given and Scott Schulte has done nothing but impress in the pre-season but in the end it always comes back to my man Bevan French. French catapulted himself into premature super stardom in the 2016 Auckland Nines when he set a tournament record 8 tries. Last year the Eels kept the game plan remarkably simple and only really schemed to exploit their opposition with French’s breakaway speed on the flanks. This time around, look for a maturing French to stamp his name on the weekend as a option play-maker as he is given greater freedom to roam both edges and play what is in front of him.
Forty’s Forward to Watch – I was leaning towards the slick Marata Niukore here but I am ultimately giving Nathan Brown the nod. The Eels have opted for a lighter pack this year with only two true props (Matagi, O’Brien) so I believe a lot of the onus in controlling the ruck will fall to Brown. With a massive motor and a plenty of grunt as he switches through his gears, Brown can punch holes in the rapidly fatiguing defences found in the Nines. Couple this with his ability to offload and you have a player that can create space on the edges by drawing in defenders up the middle.
Forty’s Half to Watch – With reigning Player of the Tournament Corey Norman at the helm, the Eels have in their possession arguably the most devastating shot-caller in the short history of the Nines. We will overlook Norman today given his stardom in the format and consider one of the three other play-makers named to play. I can see fans clamoring to have Clint Gutherson or Jamal Fogarty listed here but I am going left of left-field to install Troy Dargan as our half to keep your eyes on.
Dargan’s exploits in the Holden Cup in 2016 saw him named to the Holden Cup Team of the Year but his season ended in something of a slump as the Eels limped through the final rounds of the regulation season before crashing out of Week 1 of the finals.
The young halfback has bounced back in a big way through the 2016-17 pre-season and is set to flourish as the offsider to Norman and Gutherson. With teams potentially looking to take away the space from the two premier Parramatta halves, Dargan will have opportunities to run, pass and kick to a dynamic back line.
How good does that squad look? Good balance of experience, youth, new recruits, comeback kids, speed and mobile forwards. Smart selections and exciting team, look forward to seeing how some of names that have featured in TCT training reports aim up.
It’s interesting that we have a number of players who’ve had a special mention in my reports find their way into the team. That’s because they’ve done something to make me pay attention, and no doubt it’s stood out to the people who count like BA. Don’t be surprised to have some players surprise you.
Thanks for the confident perspective you blokes have put on this team and their chances in the tournament. Unfortunately I can’t agree with Forty’s rap on Troy Dargan and I believe he is a big risk to undermine our assault on the Nines if he plays, which I don’t believe he will as BA has named 19 in the squad of which one will have to drop off., I expect that one to be TD.
Comments made concerning TD’s drop in form towards the end of the year are enough for me to expect he is named in the squad as much as a confidence booster for this year as anything else. I hope I’m wrong for the kids sake. After all it’s only my opinion.
The rest of the squad looks to be considerably stronger potentially than last year. Go Parra!
Strong opinion Rowdy. We welcome that because you’ve based that on exposed form and haven’t been disrespectful. However, I’d reckon that there’s an element of reward for effort in his naming. With every week of pre-season training the kid has improved. Then you’ve also got an element of “show me” if he makes the final cut. I guess we’ll see what transpires.
Don’t forget, Dargan’s 2016 Holden Cup campaign was also only his first full season at that level. He played SG Ball the year previous. I expect he’ll be a lot better this year, and last year he still made team of the year.
Quite often players of dargan’s age and talent can show rapid improvement in their conduct and play during the course of a pre-season. The coaching staff at Parramatta obviously feel that he has, and thus have rewarded him with his selection to the 9s squad.
I just can’t wait to watch our new recruits and some young guys don the eels colours.
Brown, Fogarty and hopefully Dargan will be great to watch.
The Norman / French combo won’t be too bad to keep an eye on either!
A week to go Grunta! How good is that?!
Just concerns me a bit that all our halves are going over. Hope none get injured, same with KE whose season ended in 2015. Would imagine Semi likely to drop off if can’t get clearance to travel.
I believe that he has got clearance?
Yes semi is cleared to travel.
Great squad but lets look at the other squad not there ,alvaro ,auvaa ,de gois ,jenko, taka, manu ,mannah, franky p,kaysa p, beau ,vave, nelson,robson , will smith,peni, twal,kelepi,baretta, jack morris , cant remember the last time the club had depth like this !
Chika, we could make a very decent and competitive nines squad out of those players you named who weren’t selected to play Nines!
What a great squad we have chosen. A fantastic balance of experience, youth, our top players and some emerging ones as well. There will be a few boys there who surprise us – can’t wait until next Saturday!
Having been away since Oz day I have not completely caught up on all the emails and updates, I have to say that the selection of Dargan seems to be very much one from Left field, although good to see the youngster chosen as it could build up his confidence.
I have to say though, that I am both surprised and disappointed that Alex Twal was not selected as it would have been good for him also.
My hope is that he along with Tepi are not potential discards from the eels after this year and are resigned, they are both young and should form very much the basis of our forwards for some years to come.