NRL Team List
The Eels have made just one change for their Round 3 clash with the Titans and it is an enforced one. Corey Norman has been relegated to the supporting the team from the bleachers for a week with a hamstring injury. You could be forgiven for beginning to man the panic stations given we are travelling to a stadium where we have a lesser than stellar record without our best player. Belay that order for the moment though trooper, the Eels showed in the preseason that there is plenty of fight in this team – even without their superstar half – when they held the Penrith Panthers to a 6-all draw sans Corey Norman.
On that particular day it was Troy Dargan who partnered Clinton Gutherson in the halves. While Dargan performed to an adequate level in that fixture, his lacklustre start to the season proper in the Holden Cup (along with an equally quiet start to 2017 for Jamal Fogarty in the ISP) means that Jeff Robson will deputise the injured Corey Norman. Robson is a known quantity for the Eels and while he may have his limitations, his ability to follow the game-plan will free Gutherson and Bevan French to become the fulcrums in attack.
Kirisome Auva’a and Siosaia Vave make their first appearances on the shadow bench following their Round 2 debuts for the Magpies but initial reports suggest both are short of a gallop. Look for them to come into contention further down the road.
Fitting with this week’s theme of no(r)man left behind, there are a couple ex-Eels behind enemy lines at the Gold Coast – though neither will feature on Friday night. Jarryd Hayne and Nathan Peats will both miss a shot at revenge against the Eels and they join an extensive injury list for the Titans that also features Anthony Don, Daniel Vidot, Will Zillman and Karl Lawton.
This has all the makings of a classic trap game for the Eels. The Titans enter Round 3 on the back of two losses with their backs against the wall following a horror injury run and a torrid start to the season off the field with widespread criticism levelled at the commitment of superstar recruit Jarryd Hayne. The Eels find themselves short their best player and travelling North on a short 5-day turnaround. Going back a couple of years you would already be scratching a line through the Eels. Brad Arthur’s men are made of sterner stuff these days and you have to imagine that our commander-in-chief will have the Eels prepared for a prime-time ambush.
Parramatta Eels side
1. Bevan French
2. Semi Radradra
3. Michael Jennings
4. Brad Takairangi
5. Josh Hoffman
6. Clint Gutherson
7. Jeff Robson
8. Suaia Matagi
9. Kaysa Pritchard
10. Tim Mannah (c)
11. Manu Mau
12. Tepai Moeroa
13. Beau Scott (c)
Interchange
14. Nathan Brown
15. Daniel Alvaro
16. Rory O’Brien
17. Frank Pritchard
18. David Gower
19. Marata Niukore
20. Kirisome Auva’a
21. Siosaia Vave
Intrust Super Premiership Team List
The lethargic start for the Magpies (and indeed our Holden Cup squad) continued after they fell prey to the reigning ISP Premiers in the Illawarra Cutters. Nathan Cayless has made several changes – both forced and voluntary as he looks to ignite a team that looks like they are still caught in the preseason.
Scott Schulte shifts to fullback to replace the injured Honeti Tuha. Dane Aukafolau returns to the centres following one week in the Holden Cup. George Jennings shifts to the wing as a result. Aukafolau is joined in moving up from the NYC by Troy Dargan who comes into the team to cover the promotion of Jeff Robson to the NRL squad. Siosaia Vave moves into the starting front row, pushing Kelepi Tanginoa to the bench while Jack Morris earns his first start of the season in the backrow. Cody Nelson will cover the short term loss of Cameron King at hooker.
The Magpies desperately need to rectify the crucial errors in execution and discipline that have plagued their start to 2017. There are no more excuses, even with the loss of key personnel this week.
Wentworthville Magpies side
1. Scott Schulte
20. Bureta Faraimo
25. Kirisome Auva’a
4. Dane Aukafolau
5. George Jennings
6. Troy Dargan
7. Jamal Fogarty
8. Alex Twal
9. Cody Nelson
10. Siosaia Vave
11. Marata Niukore
12. Jack Morris
13. David Gower
Interchange
14. Sam Gorman
21. Joseph Ualesi
22. Kelepi Tanginoa
17. Danny Howard
18. Andrew Pearn
Holden Cup Team List
Like their senior brethren in the Intrust Super Premiership, the NYC squad has gotten off to a dismal start to 2017. After suffering a thrashing at the hands of the Sea Eagles in Round 1, the Eels looked to have rebounded against the Dragons after racing out to a 22-8 lead before capitulating to lose 26-22. Again, execution and discipline or a lack thereof have cruelled any serious ambitions about emerging victorious over the first two rounds. It is time to get to work and grind out a win.
Luke Burt has responded with a number of changes. Troy Dargan has been elevated to the ISP so in comes Kamren Cryer to partner Dean Matterson in the halves. Noel Aukafolau, who was bumped out of the team by his elder brother in Round 2, comes back into the centres as Dane Aukafolau joins the Wenty roster. Tangi Hokai makes his starting debut for the Eels. Finally, Ray Stone has been promoted to the starting pack at lock to replace the injured Steve Dresler.
Austin Dias and Greg Leleisiuao make their first appearances in the extended team list.
Parramatta Eels NYC side
1. Anthony Layoun
2. Haze Dunster
3. Tuimavave Afualo
4. Noel Aukafolau
5. John Fonua
6. Dean Matterson (c)
7. Kamren Cryer
8. Sean Keppie
9. Denzal Tonise
10. Tangi Hokai
11. Filia Utoikamanu
12. Salese Faingaa
13. Ray Stone
Interchange
14. Reed Mahoney
15. Dylan Clifford
16. Beni Valu
17. Oregon Kaufusi
18. Mitch Butfield
19. Dom Murphy
20. Tomoci Alamoti
21. Austin Dias
22. Jye Challenor
23. Greg Leleisiuao
Who was it on 1eeyed who put he moka on Norms, with his blog what would we do if we lost Norman?
I guess we will soon find out, although Robbo and Gutho did ok in the latter part of last season so they should know each others game ok. Certainly will mean some style change for the team.
This is why we can’t have nice things damn it!
It will never be ideal but a vastly undermanned Gold Coast team is about as good as it gets when it comes to losing your star play-maker for a week. I can see us dialing the expansiveness back a little bit. Robson will plug away at his tasks while Gutherson and French can be the difference makers on the flanks.
I can see us utilising our forwards more to make up for the gap in play-making. Matagi and Brown can play direct and late up the middle to exploit lazy forwards and this could be the game where Kaysa starts to run the ball more.
A bit of a bumma mate but, I tend to think that seeing Normie is only out for a week I would say its likely precautionary as we face the Sharks the following week and will certainly want him up and firing in that game.
With Hayne and Peats out of the Titans game they lose a little but how much will be the question, I actually wonder if this might be a good game to play Gower in at the expense of Irish, would add a bit more mobility to the pack.
We are currently on awinning streak of 4 games. 2 this season and the last 2 games of 2016. The 2 wins from 2016 were with Robson and Gutherson in the halves
It will be a tough ask but I believe that we can still get another away win. What we do know is that they will give us their best.
John, I’m not too worried about this game although we have had problems in the past with the Titans, so there should be no complacency or there will be problems. Some young players brought in to the Titans side and they have a good halves pairing.
Hopefully Norman being out dampens the complacency. And did Wenty’s jersey numbers 2 and 3 get lost at the laundromat or something?
No doubt it would help having Norman on Friday, but I think it is actually a great opportunity. To become a great team, not just good, that maintains success long term year in and out, we have to have belief, strong team spirit, team structure, discipline, resilience and talent across the park. I am so convinced that we are well on the way to having these things.
As much as I genuinely loved watching Hayne play for Parra, the fans, other players and coaches saw Parra become a one man team. No Hayne= No Win.I myself was guilty of this many times. We are past that and therefore it’s not just about scrapping a win this week, although a win will be fantastic, it’s actually a chance to show that we are potentially a great team rather than a group with some talented players.
2016-17 Parra Eels have shown me that they rely on all to win and improve, not just one person.
I loved going to Win Stadium on Sunday and look forward to Friday, as I trust that the coaches will be able to use whatever happens in the game to make our team better whatever the result.
Can someone explain why Wenty are going so shite?
On paper they should be among the favourites and that is without the ineviatble drop back of Obrien, Alvaro + addition of Will Smith, Falou, De Gois, Terepo.
Robbo has partnered clint on 8 occasions and itwas those performances that convinced the coaching staff that clint was worthy of no 6 , robbo is safe and still miles ahead of the other options . Robbo will only have to do his own job because everyone else is capable of doing their own , clint and robbo stepped up to the plate in far worse circumstances than this !