NRL Team List
There were shades of 2016 in the aggression, attitude and intent in the performance against the Panthers on Saturday so it is only fitting that Kenny Edwards reprises a role that he relished last season – Mr Fix-It. With Brad Takairangi succumbing to a posterior cruciate ligament injury and faced with the prospect of a tough road-trip to Townsville Brad Arthur understandably opted for the experienced, albeit patch-work, solution rather than throwing the likes of Jamal Fogarty or Troy Dargan into the cauldron.
David Gower returns to first-grade on account of the bench spot opening up with the re-shuffle of the halves. The bench is otherwise unchanged, as you would expect following a solid win.
Moving on to the shadow bench and we have the first appearance of the season for John Folau, who earns a spot here on the back of a powerhouse effort at right centre in the Intrust Super Premiership. Shadow bench staples Will Smith, Marata Niukore and Cameron King round out the extended roster.
Parramatta Eels side
1. Clinton Gutherson
2. Semi Radradra
3. Michael Jennings
4. Kirisome Auva’a
5. Josh Hoffman
6. Kenny Edwards
7. Corey Norman
8. Suaia Matagi
9. Kaysa Pritchard
10. Tim Mannah (c)
11. Manu Ma’u
12. Tepai Moeroa
13. Nathan Brown
Interchange
14. Beau Scott (c)
15. Daniel Alvaro
16. David Gower
17. Siosaia Vave
18. John Folau
19. Will Smith
20. Marata Niukore
21. Cameron King
Intrust Super Premiership Team List
Wenty made it two wins in a row as they ground out a 13-12 victory over a big and powerful Penrith outfit. There are several changes to the team in spite of the consecutive victories although they are enforced by way of injury. Honeti Tuha replaces George Jennings on the wing with Jennings missing a week due to a quadriceps injury.
Troy Dargan and Jamal Fogarty swap jerseys in the halves. They seem to have pretty defined roles within the Wenty systems so this is likely a cosmetic change only.
Craig Field, Jordan Martin and Atini Gafa are named on a 6-man extended bench and will likely be fighting it out between themselves for the last spot on the game-day roster.
Wentworthville Magpies side
1. Will Smith
20. Bureta Faraimo
3. Nathan Davis
4. John Folau
5. Honeti Tuha
6. Jamal Fogarty
7. Troy Dargan
8. Alex Twal
9. Cameron King
10. Joseph Ualesi
11. Marata Niukore
12. Cody Nelson (c)
13. James Hasson
Interchange
14. Jack Morris
15. Kelepi Tangiona
16. Sam Gorman
17. Craig Field
18. Jordan Martin
19. Atini Gafa
Holden Cup Team List
The Eels played out a thrilling 32-36 loss against the table-topping Penrith Panthers on Saturday and will be left ruing a raft of missed opportunities in the second half. Penrith shot out of the blocks to a 18-0 lead but from there the Eels were by far the better team and the lack of competition points to come from the effort should be fuel for the fire moving forwards.
Luke Burt has backed his young charges to bounce back as he names an unchanged roster from the game-day squad on Saturday. Beni Valu officially replaces Frank Salu in the first seventeen, which only to further lower the already low average age of the roster!
Parramatta Eels NYC side
1. Anthony Layoun
2. Greg Leleisiuao
3. Tuimavave Afualo
4. Dane Aukafolau
5. John Fonua
6. Dean Matterson
7. Kamren Cryer
8. Sean Keppie
9. Denzal Tonise
10. Tangi Hokai
11. Filia Utoikamanu
12. Salesi Faingaa
13. Ray Stone
Interchange
14. Reed Mahoney
15. Mitch Butfield
16. Beni Valu
17. Oregon Kaufusi
18. Dom Murphy
19. Noel Aukafolau
20. Haze Dunster
21. Frank Salu
22. Austin Dias
23. Sam McGregor
No Moses?? lol
I’m not a fan of what BA is doing with the halves since French’s injury. I really think we would be better served by leaving Gutho in the halves shifting Hothman to fullback and putting someone like G Jennings, Folau, Faraimo etc onto the wing. Since Bevans injury our attack has looked very disjointed and average and continuing to put players like Edwards in there isn’t going to improve it.
I was about to write the exact same thing Clive.
I’m liking the combo of karisome avua”a n Hoffman there gelling well. Maybe it’s time brad offers him karisome a new 2 yr deal n make taka our number 14.
The selection of kenny at 6 is why i question BA at times it appears to me that he has a core group tgat he will pick regardless of postion having someone like kenny at 6 puts pressure on normz to be on point all game. I hope smith comes in or possible falou with hoff to 1 and gutho to 6.
I am not so sure about he call to move Hoffman to FB and Gutho back to the halves.
To me it reduces our ball playing ability and weakens two positions (wing and FB) to strengthen one.
Hoffman in m eyes is not a ball player, rather just a runner of the ball. Its also been a fair while since he has played FB and thus his positioning and timing at FB would be amiss.
Whilst not overly keen on Kenny playing 5/8 regularly, it seems like its the best option. Personally. I would have liked to see Dargan get a short run in that spot til either Takas or French are back. From all reports he has been very good in Wenty and 20’s consistently, whilst the other candidate The Fog has failed to live up expectations and has been labelled as “bog ordinary” elsewhere.
Playing Kenny at 5/8 this week can make sense as his opposite number is of a similar stature (if JT does not play).