NRL Team List

 

With a 22-16 victory over the Rabbitohs now in the books, the Eels enter Round 13 sitting at 6-6 and place outside the Top 8 on F/A only. We are still some way from where we want to be – between injuries and on-field issues but the signs are trending upwards. Continuing with the positive theme of the day, Nathan Brown is a pleasant surprise in this week’s NRL team list. Evidently he must have tucked into some juicy spare rib over the weekend. Badum tish.

Parramatta’s bustling lock-forward has seemingly made an early recovery from a rib injury sustained against the Canberra Raiders and is now in line to play this Friday. Brown’s return causes a minor reshuffle through the starting pack, bench and shadow bench. Daniel Alvaro is desperately unlucky to drop back to the bench after brilliantly deputising for Brown, but he could potentially still be in the mix for a starting spot pending game-day shenanigans. This in turn bumps Will Smith into the #19. Suaia Matagi and Tim Mannah are named to start in the front-row but given the success enjoyed in Round 12 by the starting trio of Mannah, Vave and Alvaro, it is difficult to see Brad Arthur not tinkering with the named front-row prior to kick-off.

Kaysa Pritchard produced his best game to date in his young career in Round 12 and it really felt like the presence of a relief hooker on the bench in Will Smith made all the difference. The injury to Brown presented Arthur with the opportunity to tweak his bench last week but now that he is expected to return how does it all play out? Do we trust Kaysa to rapidly build on the standout game and go back to four forwards on the bench? Or does someone miss out for Smith? So many questions!

 

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. Marata Niukore

21. Nathan Davis

 

Intrust Super Premiership Team List

 

Fresh off of conquering the bye the Wentworthville Mapies have looked to inject a whole stack of youth into their roster. Dane Aukafolau is back in the centres and continues to yo-yo between ISP and Holden Cup. This week he is also joined by NYC compatriots Ray Stone and Greg Leleisiuao. Stone has been a rock for the Under 20s through the middle but has been named to an edge in the #12. Of course David Gower can comfortably play on the fringes in the ISP, thus enabling the two backrowers to swap positions but Stone does have a chunk of experience on the edges from his days at the Wests Tigers.

Greg Leleisiuao is curiously named on the bench, perhaps pointing to a backline reshuffle at some point. The powerhouse winger has been a sensation in the Under 20s and this presents him with a massive opportunity to climb the depth charts for first-grade. Leleisiuao has been nigh untouchable at times this year so how he transitions to playing against seasoned men will be crucial.

Elsewhere we see Will Smith named at fullback. On face value this would seemingly indicate that the utility will drop back from NRL duties but it is far too early in the week to conclusively say either way. Scott Schulte returns from an injury layoff and joins Jack Morris and Honeti Tuha on a -man extended bench.

 

Wentworthville Magpies side

1. Will Smith

2. Nathan Davis

3. John Folau

4. Dane Aukafolau

5. George Jennings

6. Jamal Fogarty

7. Jeff Robson

8. Alex Twal

9. Cameron King

10. Rory O’Brien

11. Marata Niukore

12. Ray Stone

13. David Gower

Interchange

14. Sam Gorman

15. Kelepi Tanginoa

16. Joseph Ualesi

17. Greg Leleisiuao

18. Honeti Tuha

19. Jack Morris

20. Scott Schulte

 

Holden Cup Team List

 

After falling just short against the Rabbitohs in Round 12, the outside back stocks are starting to run thin for our valiant Holden Cup team. Tui Afualo was last listed as injured while the club has prioritised the development of Dane Aukafolau and Greg Leleisiuao over results in the junior grade. With a number of options from the triumphant SG Ball squad slowly filtering through the training process, the options are limited for Luke Burt. Haze Dunster handily solves a problem one wing but Burt has turned to utility forward Dylan Clifford to fill the breach in the centres for the moment. With that said, he also has the option of blooding the dynamic Ethan Parry from the extended bench.

Troy Dargan is expected to back up on an extremely short turn around from NSW Under 20 Origin duties on Wednesday while Denzal Tonise shifts back to lock to cover for the promoted Ray Stone. Burt clearly likes to inject Reed Mahoney into the game at a crucial juncture in the first half as he has elected to leave the standout rake on the bench and bring Matt Price into the starting role.

From here to the conclusion of Origin 2 will be a tricky passage for our NYC squad to navigate. They are going to feel the pinch of rep selection once more when the NSW Under 18s go into camp during Origin 2. If they can hold on and scrap their way to a few victories they will be in the box seat to come home with a wet sail.

 

Parramatta Eels NYC side

1. Anthony Layoun

2. Haze Dunster

3. Dylan Clifford

4. Noel Aukafolau

5. John Fonua

6. Dean Matterson (c)

7. Troy Dargan

8. Sean Keppie

9. Matt Price

10. Tangi Hokai

11. Filia Utoikamanu

12. Salesi Faingaa

13. Denzal Tonise (c)

Interchange

14. Reed Mahoney

15. Mitch Butfield

16. Beni Valu

17. Oregon Kaufusi

18. Frank Salu

19. Emosi Alamoti

20. Dom Murphy

21. Austin Dias

22. Ethan Parry

23. Netane Masima