NRL Team List
The Eels will travel to Wollongong in Round 2 to face the biggest surprise packets of Round 1 in the Dragons after ‘Mary’ McGregor’s men walloped the Panthers 42-10. It is difficult to ascertain just how much of the defeat resulted from the terrible play of the Panthers but it benefits us little to discredit the performance of the Dragons – they looked seriously impressive.
Of course the Eels themselves are coming off a tidy victory after dispatching the Sea Eagles 20-12 on the back of a clinical effort from Corey Norman and a multitude of standout efforts in the forward pack. It should then come as no surprise that Brad Arthur has named an unchanged line-up for the Eels, although there are two changes to the shadow bench.
George Jennings and Marata Niukore have been named in the 21-man squad, taking the places of Scott Schulte and Jamal Fogarty from Round 1. Jennings and Niukore were two of the better performers in a disappointing Wenty outfit who were first start losers on Saturday.
It remains to be seen how exactly Arthur views the shadow bench given some of the tricky stipulations involved in substitutions closer to game day (which could see you potentially forced to activate a second tier player if not managed correctly). Presumably it reflects who is on the cusp of first grade but is there a ‘horses for courses’ element to it depending on a given match up? Is it also a minor reward for good individual form or will it skew completely to Top 25 players regardless? Tracking who gets named to the shadow bench and the manner of their form when named will be an interesting sub-narrative to Team List Tuesday over the upcoming months.
Parramatta Eels Side
1. Bevan French
2. Semi Radradra
3. Michael Jennings
4. Brad Takairangi
5. Josh Hoffman
6. Clinton Gutherson
7. Corey Norman
8. Suaia Matagi
9. Kaysa Pritchard
10. Tim Mannah (c)
11. Manu Ma’u
12. Tepai Moeroa
13. Beau Scott (c)
Interchange
14. Nathan Brown
15. Rory O’Brien
16. Daniel Alvaro
17. Frank Prithcard
18. David Gower
19. Cameron King
20. George Jennings
21. Marata Niukore
Intrust Super Premiership Team List
The Magpies were a disjointed mess in their season opener yet somehow still managed to mount a late comeback that saw them claw within two points of the Bears before a try on the siren ensured the Bears were eight points winners. Coach Nathan Cayless has rung through the changes following the disappointing loss although I dare suggest that the roster movements have more to do with a swathe of troops returning from the injury ward than Cayless looking to read the riot act!
Kirisome Auva’a and Cody Nelson return to the starting line up for Wenty. Dane Aukafolau drops back to the Holden Cup to make way for Auva’a while David Gower absence from the line up allows Nelson to take over the duties at lock. Gower is named on the shadow bench for the NRL team so it will be interesting to see what is in play for the experienced forward. Moving onto the bench now where the Magpies also have received some big reinforcements – quite literally! Joseph Ualesi is back from a sternum injury while Siosaia Vave makes his debut for Wentworthville as he looks to get some game time under his belt and push towards the NRL roster.
Wentworthville Magpies side
1. Honeti Tuha
2. Bureta Faraimo
3. George Jennings
4. Kirisome Auva’a
5. Scott Schulte
6. Jamal Fogarty
7. Jeff Robson (c)
8. Alex Twal
9. Cameron King
10. Kelepi Tanginoa
11. Marata Niukore
12. James Hasson
13. Cody Nelson
Interchange
14. Jack Morris
16. Joseph Ualesi
17. Danny Howard
22. Siosaia Vave
Holden Cup Team List
Much like Wenty, the Eels’ NYC team was extremely disappointing in their first outing of the season. Manly ran roughshod all over them in the 38-20 defeat which was highlighted by regular lapses of concentration in possession and a distinct lack of discipline in the ruck.
Luke Burt has stuck firm with his boys though, which is of course completely fair play given that it was ultimately only a loss in Round 1. There is the sole change for the 20s though as Dane Aukafolau drops back from the Intrust Super Premiership after the return of Kirisome Auva’a from suspension. As a result Dane has unfortunately ousted his younger brother Noel Aukafolau from the team as a result though!
Ray Stone has been named to the extended roster in a positive sign. Stone is one of a number of players that have been unavailable for selection due to injury. As they filter back into the team over the coming weeks the competition for spots will serve to strengthen the youthful team that Burt has assembled.
Parramatta Eels NYC side
1. Anthony Layoun
2. Haze Dunster
3. Tuimavave Afualo
4. Dane Aukafolau
5. John Fonua
6. Dean Matterson (c)
7. Troy Dargan
8. Sean Keppie
9. Denzal Tonise (c)
10. Frank Salu
11. Filia Utoikamanu
12. Salesi Faingaa
13. Steve Dresler
Interhcange
14. Reed Mahoney
15. Tangi Hokai
16. Dylan Clifford
17. Oregon Kafusi
18. Kamren Cryer
19. Noel Aukafolau
20. Ray Stone
21. Mitch Butfield
22. Dom Murphy
23. Beni Valu
Anything to read in the extended bench naming of two primary forwards along with Niukore who is listed as both 2nd row and centre, along with another back in Jennings?
I’m thinking brad is trying to hide taka’s injury by naming Jennings jr.
I like many was shocked by the dragons win over gus Gould’s boys.
From all reports his boys didn’t play that well.
So if you look at it like that that win vs Penrith was not as good as the eels vs manly.
You will find with the dragons will try n match us in the forwards & to me it will be there down fall.
Go parra
I expect a win by wenty, I’ll be a little disappointed if they don’t get up.
I would hope BA drops O’Brien to Wenty and brings Gower in his place. O’Brien didn’t do much to my mind and we know what Gower always brings.
I agree Glenn but with the manly game you will find brad was looking for size n O’brien brings good size. If you notice that everytime he O’brien ran the ball it took 3 plus players to bring him down.
I like gower he has a good offload in his game. If he is playing (gower) then I expect a much more attacking outfit.
I expected no changes to the Eels, and given we won first up, that wouldn’t be a big call to make.
The Wenty pack seems an incredibly mobile pack that will be relying on its bench for size.
I think Vave’s inclusion on the Wenty bench points towards the team looking for both impact and consistency from their prop rotation. Twal and Tanginoa led the way for Wenty in the opening exchanges on the weekend but we definitely lacked punch and direction after they went off. Vave should address that – even if it is only for a game or two before he moves up.
40’s, reading the match report on Wenty, Twal seemed to have a good game early on, was wondering how he went overall. I rate him as a future NRL player and one to watch.
Twal was very, very solid. Plays in the same style as Tim Mannah if you want a comparison that is close to home. There was a bit of venom in his defence as well. He and Kelepi laid the wood on the North Sydney pack with some shuddering hits but our right edge really struggled on the whole which undid all the good work.
I don’t think think he has maxed out his frame just yet either. Another strong preseason in the weight room and on the field will place him in good stead.
The fact that has been handed the challenge of starting for Wenty is a good indication for mine. He has some players in front of him currently in Vave (once match fit), Gower and O’Brien but strong continued form for the Magpies will get him in the mix – especially since we are trending towards a four-forward bench in first grade.
Thanks mate, I have the opinion that he will form the basis of the next generation of props at the eels. maybe with Alvaro especially given the age of those in front of him and how long they play for. He’s shown as being off contract end of this year and really hope he gets another contract, very much a future prop.
I think this will be Gowers last season with the club also, if Twal develops more I would even think he could jump O’Brien in the pecking order.
The Dragons let all be seen last week and will be poorer for it. BA will have the team studying how the Dragons scored so many points and will ensure we shut them down. I’ll be surprised if the Drags get more than 12 points?
This should be a cracker of a game, both teams coming off good wins and confidence high. As much as I like and respect what BA is doing with O’Brien, I also hope that he brings in Gower for a couple of reasons. The first is he deserves another shot. The second being that Saints are good when defending a straight and structured play. Throw in offload after offload, like Gowie does and they aren’t the same team. Off the cuff cover defense is not their strong point.
GO YOU EELS!