NRL Team List
First up, apologies for the lack of a Whiskey Musings this week. My sister and her family made a surprise trip from Melbourne and left me otherwise occupied on a previously free long weekend.
After sustaining a bad loss against the North Queensland Cowboys in Darwin last week there is one notable change to the named team this week and one notable inclusion to the extended bench. Kirisome Auva’a is billed to play at right wing for the Eels following a week out with an unspecified knee injury while Michael Jennings is also in the mix for an early return from a quadriceps injury after Brad Arthur included him on the extended bench in the #20. Nathan Davis is the player to drop out of first-grade contention – although it is through an injury to his hamstring (Round 17) rather than an indifferent showing against the Cowboys.
Even with the potential returns of Auva’a and Jennings, there is no doubt that this is a team that desperately needs the bye. After gritting our way to victory against the New Zealand Warriors, we are limping our way to the week off. Corey Norman (MCL), Mitch Moses (Hip), Tim Mannah (Ribs), Tepai Moeroa (Ribs) and Nathan Brown (Ribs) along with Auva’a and Jennings are playing or will be playing noticeably banged up while Josh Hoffman (MCL) and David Gower (Broken Hand) and Davis all inch closer to a Round 17 return.
The problem of course is that the St George Illawarra Dragons lie between the Eels and the bye. The Dragons have been the genuine surprise packet of 2017 and have sustained a bright start to the season to find themselves in the Top 4. The good news for Parramatta is that they will be without the services of their Origin stars in Josh Dugan and Tyson Frizell but the bad news is that they will be fired up for a rebound victory after getting embarrassed by the Canterbury Bulldogs in Round 15.
The Eels themselves will be looking to bounce back after getting a thorough working over by the Cowboys but make no mistake – this will be a tough game.
Parramatta Eels side
1. Bevan French
2. Semi Radradra
3. Brad Takairangi
4. Clint Gutherson
5. Kirisome Auva’a
6. Corey Norman
7. Mitch Moses
8. Daniel Alvaro
9. Kaysa Pritchard
10. Tim Mannah (c)
11. Manu Ma’u
12. Tepai Moeroa
13. Nathan Brown
Interchange
14. Beau Scott (c)
15. Suaia Matagi
16. Kenny Edwards
17. Will Smith
18. Marata Niukore
19. Siosaia Vave
20. Michael Jennings
21. John Folau
Intrust Super Premiership Team List
After a heart breaking loss to the Wyong Roos the week before, the Wentworthville Magpies fell back into a slump as they ran afoul of the North Sydney Bears on Sunday. Nathan Cayless has made a number of changes as he looks to reignite his team in the business end of the season.
Siosaia Vave is listed to start at prop for the Magpies after missing two weeks in the NRL with a calf injury. The big bopper is also listed on the extended bench for first grade so there could be some shenanigans in play. He is joined in the starting pack by Marata Niukore, who presumably missed last week while covering for the NRL side in Darwin. John Folau moves back to the centres after a brief stint in the backrow with Greg Leleisiuao sliding back to the Holden Cup to help cover an outside back selection crisis.
Matt Woods returns from injury and is joined on the bench by Ray Stone, Jack Morris and Kelepi Tanginoa.
Wentworthville Magpies side
1. Honeti Tuha
2. Bureta Faraimo
3. John Folau
4. Dane Aukafolau
5. George Jennings
6. Troy Dargan
7. Jeff Robson
8. Alex Twal
9. Cameron King
10. Siosaia Vave
11. Marata Niukore
12. Cody Nelson (c)
13. Joseph Ualesi
Interchange
14. Ray Stone
15. Matt Woods
16. Kelepi Tanginoa
17. Taniela Lasalo
18. Jack Morris
19. Scott Schulte
Holden Cup Team List
Missing a swathe of their stars to injuries and higher honours and in tandem with a truly diabolical officiating performance, the junior Eels were over ran by the Cowboys 40-4 on Saturday. Alas, it doesn’t get any easier this week with Parramatta losing John Fonua, Filia Utoikamanu and Oregon Kaufusi to the NSW Under 18s Origin squad while Troy Dargan, Dane Aukafolau and Ray Stone hold down their spots in the ISP.
The timing could not be any worse either. After trotting out an undermanned outfit against a team with Top 4 aspirations last week in the Cowboys, they now go around the bend once more with another Top 4 contender as they prepare to lock horns with the Dragons.
In good news they will be boosted by the return of powerhouse winger Greg Leleisiuao but it is honestly hard to see a path to victory. At any where near full-strength this young team can match it with the best in the Holden Cup but we are now talking about 7+ first choice players unavailable for selection.
Boom halfback Joe Taipari earns his first named start for the team, although he played 80min in the halves on the weekend. Taipari was part of the dominant Under 18s National Championship squad and impressed in his limited opportunities on the weekend as he worked himself into the game. Hopefully we will continue to see rapid growth in the young play-maker as he looks to hit the ground running.
Parramtta Eels Holden Cup side
1. Anthony Layoun
2. Greg Leleisiuao
3. Emosi Alamoti
4. Noel Aukafolau
5. Haze Dunster
6. Dean Matterson (c)
7. Joseph Taipari
8. Sean Keppie
9. Denzel Tonise
10. Frank Salu
11. Beni Valu
12. Salesi Faingaa
13. Tangi Hokai
Interchange
14. Reed Mahoney
15. Mitch Butfield
16. Dylan Clifford
17. Dom Murphy
18. Matt Price
19. Austin Dias
20. Nick Okladnikov
21. Sam McGregor
22. Netane Masima
23. Jye Challenor
Forty I noticed vave in the ISP is there a reason for this … as I have noticed when its other players coming back from injury there straight in the NRL side. Also on the ISP I notice the number 17 that name rings a bell. How long has he been in the eels system if I’m correct he has been around a long time.
I’m glad I’m not BA when Hoffman n Jennings come back. Where does he put them.
1. French / gutherson
2. Radradra
3. Jennings / takarangi
4. Avua’a / gutherson
5. Hoffman.
6. Norman / gutherson
7. Moses.
Personally I’d put gutherson at 1. We need his experience n his size at the back.
I like the Hoffman n avau’a combination along with the Jennings n semi combo.
I think it’s time brad takarangi came of the bench in place of Kenny Edwards.
Kenny is killing us with stupid penalty’s at the wrong time at the wrong end of the field.
Any news on eels resigning karisome Avau’a. I hope there give him 2 more years. Cheers 40/20 go the eels.
Forty I noticed vave in the ISP is there a reason for this … as I have noticed when its other players coming back from injury there straight in the NRL side. Also on the ISP I notice the number 17 that name rings a bell. How long has he been in the eels system if I’m correct he has been around a long time.
I’m glad I’m not BA when Hoffman n Jennings come back. Where does he put them.
1. French / gutherson
2. Radradra
3. Jennings / takarangi
4. Avua’a / gutherson
5. Hoffman / French
6. Norman / gutherson
7. Moses.
Personally I’d put gutherson at 1. We need his experience n his size at the back.
I like the Hoffman n avau’a combination along with the Jennings n semi combo.
I think it’s time brad takarangi came of the bench in place of Kenny Edwards.
Kenny is killing us with stupid penalty’s at the wrong time at the wrong end of the field.
Any news on eels resigning karisome Avau’a. I hope they give him 2 more years. I think he brings big game experience after all his played in the 2014 GF with souths. Cheers 40/20 go the eels.
What do you make of young Greg from the under 20’s that everyone seems to be talking about. Winger I think. You think he has to bide his time in the lower grades do you think he will be off 1st grade standard by next year 2018 ?
I for won don’t think BA has rubber stamped French as the #1 for the remainder of the season.
If french hasn’t yet found some form against St George after being given the benefit of the doubt through injury, I think Gutherson would be the slightly better option at fb.
Guth
Semi
Jenko
Taka
Hoff
Hi All
Personally, I think a combination of 2nd year jitters and lack of confidence is really hampering Frenchs game at the moment.
I think he needs to have a really big game V the Dragons or he is a real risk of losing the #1 jersey to Gutho.
I have just finished watching the 1st half of the round 2 win over the Dragons and the single biggest thing that jumps out at me compared to some of our recent games is…defensive line speed! In round 2 EVERY Single player was up and in the Dragons faces. The last couple of weeks it’s been hit ‘n’ miss whether we have had that intensity.
Look at the top teams… Storm, Sharks and the Cowboys ( to a lesser extent this year maybe) but they are up and into the ball runner at the ruck, giving them no chance to bend the defensive line and get any 2nd phase play going.
I am a huge Kaysa fan so am not looking to suggest he is the problem (although IDG was pretty good at pulling everyone else along with him) but I do think KP needs to get a bit more mongrel into him in this area of his game.
We all know great defense wins the tight and tough games and it starts with line speed. Then shut down the ball and THEN the momentum and points will come.
We were lucky in round 2 that the Dragons didn’t control the ball or complete their sets (a result of our defensive effort) but we should be prepared for a different Dragons team this weekend.
Bevan French for MoM if we are going to win and for him to hold his spot in the top grade once Jennings and Auva’a return.
Love the site, Love the Eels!
Come on Parra!!!!!!