NRL Team List
The Eels are doing it tough this week. With two more games to play out before our first bye Parramatta have to run the gauntlet that is the North Queensland Cowboys and the St George Illawarra Dragons until they get a reprieve. Brad Arthur has somehow cobbled together a first grade roster for this round, so let’s take a gander. Spoilers; there IS good news. Kind of.
As BA alluded to in the Round 13 post-match presser, Corey Norman is potentially poised to play this week. The caveat here is that he has been named in the #21 so there is a possibility that he could sit out for another week of recuperation. Norman’s return would be a massive boost for the team and would give fans their first look at a Moses-era full-strength spine. Obviously the Eels would be delicately managing the risk of Norman returning a week too early but this is a crucial period in the season where the Eels can steal a march on their Top 8 competition.
In a boost to the forward pack, Tim Mannah returns to the starting team after missing the victory over the Warriors with a rib injury. Despite picking up a knee-injury late in the game last week, Kirisome Auva’a has been named in the centres while Siosaia Vave is named on an extended bench after succumbing to a calf injury last week.
The other big starting team news is that Nathan Davis is in line to make his club debut for the Eels on the right wing. Davis, a Parramatta junior, moved to the Titans in 2016 where he broke into the NRL before injuries enforced a premature end on his season. Since rejoining the Eels earlier this year, Davis has been a solid and productive member of the Wentworthville backline. The catch here for Davis is that if Norman is a late inclusion then he seems like the one most likely to make way in the reshuffle.
Parramatta Eels
1. Bevan French
2. Semi Radradra
3. Brad Takairangi
4. Kirisome Auva’a
5. Nathan Davis
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. Will Smith
18. John Folau
19. Siosaia Vave
20. Marata Niukore
21. Corey Norman
Intrust Super Premiership Team List
Following a heart breaking loss to the Wyong Roos on Sunday the Magpies are set to receive a raft of reinforcements. Bureta Faraimo, Troy Dargan and Cody Nelson are all included in the starting team for Wenty this week while Atini Gafa claims a spot on the bench. There is a distinctive youthful flavour to the ISP team this week with boom rookies Greg Leleisiuao, Dane Aukafolau and Ray Stone all joining Dargan in the starting team.
Scott Schulte and Danny Howard help fill out numbers on the bench with a number of usual Wenty players possibly in the mix for the NRL fixture in Darwin.
Wentworthville Magpies side.
1. Honeti Tuha
2. Bureta Faraimo
3. Dane Aukafolau
4. George Jennings
5. Greg Leleisiuao
6. Troy Dargan
7. Jeff Robson
8. Alex Twal
9. Cameron King
10. Joseph Ualesi
11. Cody Nelson
12. Ray Stone
13. Kelepi Tanginoa
Interchange
14. Jack Morris
15. Scott Schulte
16. Danny Howard
17. Atini Gafa
Holden Cup Team List
The Eels put the cleaners through the Cowboys when they last met this season but victory will be a tougher ask this time around. Parramatta will be without five of their premier players (Afualo, Aukafolau, Dargan, Leleisiuao and Stone) due to promotions or injury and are now reaching deep into the depth options. Emosi Alamoti holds his spot at right centre after a solid debut against the Warriors while the dynamic rake Reed Mahoney will partner Dean Matterson in the halves in the absence of Troy Dargan.
For the second week running Matt Price will oversee the ruck duties at hooker while on the bench, Dylan Clifford returns to active duty for the Eels.
Much like how their senior cohorts in first-grade will be made to fight tooth and nail for a win on Saturday, so too will our young troops in the 20s. Whereas a win for our NRL squad keeps the chasers for a Top 8 spot at bay, our NYC team is looking to reclaim a spot in the Top 4 with victory this weekend.
Parramatta Eels NYC side
1. Anthony Layoun
2. Haze Dunster
3. Emosi Alamoti
4. Noel Aukafolau
5. John Fonua
6. Dean Matterson (c)
7. Reed Mahoney
8. Sean Keppie
9. Matt Price
10. Tangi Hokai
11. Filia Utoikamanu
12. Salesi Faingaa
13. Denzel Tonise (c)
Interchange
14. Dylan Clifford
15. Mitch Butfield
16. Beni Valu
17. Oregon Kaufusi
18. Frank Salu
19. Dom Murphy
20. Netane Masima
21. Joseph Taipari
22. Ethan Parry
23. Austin Dias
Have you heard what has happened to Kamrin Cryer in the NYC team yet?
I thought he was a very good player and goal kicker – seems to have disappeared off the scene..Just wonderin’
Forty, are you able to offer anything on the present availability of Kamren Cryer for the NYC team please ?
I believe he is injured mate but I am not sure on the severity of it all. NRL clubs tend to be quite tight lipped about injuries to their juniors these days which can lead to frustrating periods where you wonder what happened to a given player.
Absolutely..sometimes you need to be a detective to keep track of personnel. Thanks for your reply..much appreciated….glad also to see that other fans had noticed his contribution and then gone missing without obvious explanation !
Do you believe that should JT not play, Norman is less likely to play. Also where is the Fog? Have not read anywhere that he is injured. Has he been dropped. I am also interested to hear about Kamren Cryer he looks a likely prospect.
Speaking of missing troops, is big Tui Afualo (sp?) injured?
Yes. He is the rare example of someone that the club has actually made reference to sustaining an injury in a recent team list. Again no official time line though.
I reckon Auva’a won’t play.
40/20. What’s your thoughts on starlings comment last night on guth / Norman / Moses in the halfs.
He was saying how we would be mad to move guth from 5/8 even though we brought Moses over on big $$$. IMO I’d have Norman 5/8 Moses 7 n guth to 1 bevan to 5 pushing Davis out of the side. Your thoughts plz.
It’s my belief that Gutho was initially purchased as a centre, but one who could also play fullback. The late purchase of Jennings saw Gutho’s initial selection on the wing. What became very clear to anyone associated with the club was just how dedicated he is to being a better footballer. So a move closer to the ball throughout 2016 was no surprise. He’s done well in the halves. As a centre he will succeed.
Now taking your opinion into consideration, Gutho has all the attributes of a fine fullback, especially his ability to read the game and direct the defence. I can assure you, his talk is outstanding. As a fullback he will succeed.
So where does BA play him? For the coach the answer lies in wherever it’s best for the team. For now, it’s centre.
Next year, without Semi on the wing, maybe BA might consider French’s success as a winger. Who knows?
I can see French playing a similar role to that of Alex Johnston. Quick and agile on the wing and also a handy back up number one with gutho being my first choice.
Hey Forty, just curious as to why Fogarty is excluded from this weeks team list? Reading the live blog from the Wenty game it doesn’t seem as though he was injured in that match..
Thanks!
He wasn’t injured. We might get some news on that from the club in the near future, Hearndo.
Thanks mate!
Who’s this Emosi Alamoti kid?