NRL Team List
After slumping to disappointing losses over the last two weeks the Eels now travel to Canberra to face a team that is a great deal better than their 1-3 record suggests. Parramatta will be looking for a return to form in the fundamental aspects of their game after cruelling their own hopes recently with constant errors and lackluster execution.
Brad Arthur has stood resolute with his troops that went down to the Cronulla Sharks on Saturday night. Only the inclusion of Tepai Moeroa, returning from suspension, differentiates this week’s roster. Moeroa comes straight back into the the starting backrow and starts a cascade of positional and roster changes from there. Manu Ma’u returns to his preferred left-edge which in turn drops Frank Pritchard back to the bench. Pritchard’s form in his maiden starting jumper for the Eels was a pleasant surprise but Moeroa’s return likely leads to greater balance for the team. David Gower is the unfortunate loser out of the reshuffle as he slips back to the shadow bench.
Speaking of the shadow bench, Peni Terepo makes his first appearance here following his 3-game suspension for an off-field matter in the preseason.
While the blockbuster match up between Michael Jennings and Semi Radradra versus BJ Leilua and Jordan Rapana should be the one of the headline grabbers this week, plenty of Parramatta fans will be keying into the opposite side of the field where Brad Takairangi and Josh Hoffman will cross paths with Jarrod Croker and Nic Cotric. Our right edge has had its…issues in recent times and Croker is as wily and savvy as they come when dissecting a defence.
In a massive boost for the Raiders, hooker and core play-maker Josh Hodgson has been named despite initial fears about a sternum injury. The men in lime green will be without the services of the other English international on the books as Elliot Whitehead serves a 1-game suspension for tripping.
Parramatta Eels side
1. Bevan French
2. Semi Radradra
3. Michael Jennings
4. Brad Takairangi
5. Josh Hoffman
6. Clint 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. Daniel Alvaro
16. Frank Pritchard
17. Siosaia Vave
18. David Gower
19. Peni Terepo
20. Jeff Robson
21. George Jennings
Intrust Super Premiership Team List
After teasing fans in Round 3 about finally playing up to their potential, the Wentworthville Magpies slipped back to underwhelming form as they threw away a (very) late lead against the Newcastle Knights. It doesn’t get any easier this week for the Magpies as they travel to Canberra to take on a formidable Mounties outfit.
Nathan Cayless has made several changes to the team this week. Cameron King is sidelined with injury and rather than separating his young halves pairing of Troy Dargan and Jamal Fogarty, Cayless has elected to slot veteran play-maker Jeff Robson into the #9 jersey this week.
After missing Round 4 Marata Niukore checks out of the concussion protocol and straight back into the starting backrow.
The Magpies are trotting out the heavy weaponry on the bench this week, forgoing a utility in place of four big forwards. The extra help around the ruck might prove to be the difference given the issues that the Magpies have had in controlling the middle corridor of the field to date in 2017.
Wentworthville Magpies side
1. Scott Schulte
2. Bureta Faraimo
3. Nathan Davis
4. Kirisome Auva’a
5. George Jennings
6. Jamal Fogarty
7. Troy Dargan
8. Rory O’Brien
9. Jeff Robson
10. Peni Terepo
11. Marata Niukore
12. Jack Morris
13. Cody Nelson (c)
Interchange
14. Kelepi Tanginoa
15. James Hasson
16. Joseph Ualesi
17. Alex Twal
Parramatta Eels NYC side
1. Anthony Layoun
2. Greg Leleisiuao
3. Tuimavave Afualo
4. Dane Aukafolau
5. John Fonua
6. Dean Matterson (C)
7. Kamren Cryer
8. Sean Keppie
9. Reed Mahoney
10. Tangi Hokai
11. Filia Utoikamanu
12. Salesi Faingaa
13. Denzal Tonise
Interchange
14. Mitch Butfield
15. Dom Murphy
16. Beni Valu
17. Oregon Kaufusi
18. Austin Dias
19. Noel Aukafolau
20. Dion Solaese
21. Nick Okladnikov
22. Jye Challenor
23. Haze Dunster
BA has shown faith in the squad. Let us hope they reward with a good effort and application.
Unlucky for Gowie but I think that’s probably our strongest side. As much as I love the Gowie!
I wonder if Peni will have a week in wenty and then push for a top 17 spot? But at the expense of who? Alvaro?
Cam King will find it very hard to make the top team if he spends so much time injured, which is a shame. Is he signed beyond 2017?
We are going to have to play at least as well as we did in the first two rounds to beat the Raiders at home. They aren’t in great form either and will have a point to prove at home.
I remember Leleisiuao featured prominently in your call last week. The stats tell us he made 8 tackle breaks, 2 linebreaks and 175 metres. I’ve been wondering why we signed him. Certainly no indicator of a guaranteed future first grader, but very few NRL outside backs didn’t have stats like this in the NYC. He put up similar numbers in his debut last week, so he’s on track.
I think we can utilize Terepo ‘ strong running game at the expense of Alvaro, who although does his fare share of the workload, defeats the purpose of having an impact player off the bench, changing the momentum.
We definitely need our best 17 out there after two sub part performances, and there’s no reason why we can’t pump 30 minutes out of Peni. Surely he is fit enough.
Well both Taka and the Hoff have had 4 weeks together without any meaningful improvement. I not sure what BA thinks will happen in the 5th week.
If BA has a serious fault it is his reluctance to make timely changes when obvious problems are apparent.