NRL Team List
Are you one of those fans that has been clamouring for an age for Brad Arthur to shift Michael Jennings to the right edge in order to reignite that hot, steamy and even sexy partnership that Brad Takairangi and Semi Radradra enjoyed in Semi’s record breaking 2015 season? If you are then I am going to need you to grad a hold of a door frame or something else that can otherwise support your body weight…
He is back in the side, returning from injury, and on Semi's left edge! Welcome back @bradtaka_ https://t.co/5irf5Dg28F #blueandgold pic.twitter.com/JQ4j7wHUxx
— Parramatta Eels (@TheParraEels) May 23, 2017
They’re back. Together that is. And by together I mean on the left edge, not in an actual relationship.
With a mounting injury toll (Issac De Gois, Peni Terepo, Frank Pritchard) now ruling out core players Michael Jennings (Quadricep, Round 16) and Corey Norman (MCL, Round 17) for the immediate future, the Eels stand to benefit from any black magic and aces up the sleeves they possess. Here is to hoping that the dynamic duo pick up right where they left off in 2014.
Speaking of black magic, Nathan Brown has been named to play – to my very genuine surprise given the talk about a rib or rib cartilage injury. Brown has been Parramatta’s best in 2017 and his relentless drive and impact around the ruck would be sorely (and I mean sorely) missed should he succumb to said injury.
The first seventeen for the Eels are otherwise named as the same squad that narrowly fell to the Canberra Raiders in Round 11.
The shadow bench features a little bit of everything this week with the versatile David Gower and the bigger body of Rory O’Brien likely both serving as cover for Brown. Will Smith will serve as the utility option in a worst case scenario while Nathan Davis finally pushes his way up the pecking order on the back of some solid efforts in the Intrust Super Premiership.
Parramatta Eels side
1. Bevan French
2. Semi Radradra
3. Brad Takairangi
4. Kirisome Auva’a
5. Josh Hoffman
6. Clint Gutherson
7. Mitch Moses
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. Kenny Edwards
17. Siosaia Vave
18. David Gower
19. Will Smith
20. Rory O’Brien
21. Nathan Davis
Holden Cup Team List
On paper this week’s game should be a lopsided victory for the Eels. Parramatta are sitting in 4th place with 7 wins from 11 starts and currently riding a 3 game win-streak while the Rabbitohs are mired down in 15th place with just 3 wins from their 11 games. However, no game should ever be taken for granted in rugby league – especially in the Holden Cup.
This game starts to look more and more like a trap game when you consider that the Eels will also be without Troy Dargan and Ray Stone with both earning selection in the NSW Under 20s squad that will play next Wednesday. To add even more fuel to the fire, boom centre Tui Afualo has also been ruled out through injury.
Luke Burt has made two conventional roster moves and one interesting switch in light of the three spots he now needs to cover. Noel Aukafolau replace Afualo at right centre and finally joins his elder brother Dane in the same NYC team for the first time ever. No joke. Ever other time Noel has played this season it has been because Dane earned a call up to the ISP and then every time Dane dropped back it would be at the expense of his younger brother.
Tangi Hokai moves back into the team following Ray Stone’s ‘week off’ in the second straight forward roster move.
The eye-catching name in today’s team sheet is that of Reed Mahoney, who will donning the #7 is place of Troy Dargan. Mahoney has been a nightmare for opposition teams through the ruck as a hooker so it will be really interesting to see what he can do from a standoff position. With Mahoney named in the halves Matt Price then comes into the team in the bench hooker role.
One name to monitor in the Friday Late Mail will be that of Joe Taipari. The SG Ball star features in the extended team sheet for the second week in a row and also stands out as one of the few players with experience in the halves. Could a sneaky debut be on the cards?
Parramatta Eels NYC side
1. Anthony Layoun
2. Greg Leleisiuao
3. Noel Aukafolau
4. Dane Aukafolau
5. John Fonua
6. Dean Matterson (c)
7. Reed Mahoney
8. Sean Keppie
9. Denzel Tonise (c)
10. Frank Salu
11. Filia Utoikamanu
12. Salesi Faingaa
13. Tangi Hokai
Interchange
14. Matt Price
15. Mitch Butfield
16. Beni Valu
17. Oregon Kaufusi
18. Dylan Clifford
19. Dom Murphy
20. Haze Dunster
21. Austin Dias
22. Joseph Taipari
23. Emosi Alamoti
Like I’ve said b4 will be interesting we’re all these players will fit into once Norman n Jennings come back. I’m glad I’m BA
Dear Forty, thanks for the initial question. Yes I am !!! Sooo glad to have BA at least be able to switch Taka to the left, even if only for the next 3 or 4 games to recreate the 2015 “most lethal; leftside attack in the NRL”!!!!
Now I’ll go back and read on. I just had to answer your question immediately.
Its a whoopee big time for me with Taka and Semi hopefully reunited, it may also ignite some good left side plays with Gutho, & Ma’u back in the equation, Gutho as sub for Norms. What will certainly be interesting is if this really works big time then it gives the coach an enormously good headache as what to do with MJ when he comes back.
Me, I would put MJ to the 4 shirt and do some experiments for the 5 spot.
I would seriously love to be watching the 20’s match as well.