NRL Team List
Brad Arthur has refused to let a catastrophic season-ending injury to his star fullback/five-eighth/super-utility Clinton Gutherson derail his team’s season, leaping to the front foot early this week to reinforce to the media the depth the Eels possess in the backline. Arthur is absolutely correct as well. While the loss of Gutherson IS devastating blow to the team, they can not use it an excuse to fall short of the finishing line from here. It would be a disservice to themselves and their fans after all the hard work they have done to date to hold a 11-7 record heading into Round 21.
This week’s match looms as a pivotal battle for the Eels as well. While Parramatta possess one of the easiest runs home this season the Broncos stand in their way not once but twice in the final six rounds. In a congested Top 8 where as many as five teams are vying desperately for 4th spot these two games represent a possible 8 point swing between the two franchises. Additionally, given that the Broncos are the only Top 8 team that the Eels will face in the run home – this is THE litmus test for where our team is at heading into the post-season.
Fortunately the Eels welcome back a cadre of reinforcements this week. Technically Kirisome Auva’a and Peni Terepo have already checked off the injury list in recent weeks. Auva’a has turned out for Wenty in their last two victories while Terepo was initially named in the ISP last week before he was rested at the last moment. They are joined this week by Josh Hoffman, who has been named on the right wing as Bevan French moves to fullback, while Frank Pritchard is back from a long, long layoff as he claims a spot on the extended bench.
Parramatta has made minimal changes in recent rounds as they looked to keep a winning (if scrappy) formula ticking over en-route to the longest active winning streak (4) in the NRL. Player availability, or a lack thereof, has certainly played a part in it but it is no secret that we aren’t the strongest team through the middle. Is this the week we see the Eels look to field some impact off the bench via Terepo and/or Pritchard? How do you fit them into the team?
It all makes for one of the most intriguing lead-ups to a Parramatta game in some time!
Parramatta Eels side
1. Bevan French
2. Semi Radradra
3. Michael Jennings
4. Brad Takairangi
5. Josh Hoffman
6. Corey Norman
7. Mitch Moses
8. Siosaia Vave
9. Cameron King
10. Tim Mannah (c)
11. Manu Ma’u
12. Tepai Moeroa
13. Nathan Brown
Interchange
14. Daniel Alvaro
15. Kenny Edwards
16. Suaia Matagi
17. Will Smith
18. David Gower
19. Peni Terepo
20. Frank Pritchard
21. Kirisome Auva’a
Intrust Super Premiership Team List
In a round where their NRL brethren eked their way out to a 17-16 victory over the Tigers and their NYC juniors scrapped their way to a 24-20 against the same foe – the Magpies were thoroughly dominant in their 46-10 rout of the Tigers. Wenty’s late season resurgence has been nothing short of impressive with the feeder club now stringing together five consecutive victories to perch just a single win outside the Top 4. The Magpies have reaped the benefits of fielding the same line-up in recent rounds and their backline and backrow in particular look to be in ominous touch.
Nathan Cayless has boosted his formidable team – on paper at least – with Peni Terepo and Frank Pritchard named to play on Sunday. Big bodies is very much the order of the day here with Willis Meehan also cleared to make his club debut for the Magpies. The monstrous reshuffle has actually forced the in-form trio of Ray Stone, John Folau and Magnus Stromquist to the bench.
Wentworthville Magpies side
1. Honeti Tuha
2. Nathan Davis
3. Kirisome Auva’a
4. Dane Aukafolau
5. George Jennings
6. Troy Dargan
7. Jeff Robson
8. Joseph Ualesi
9. Cody Nelson
10. Peni Terepo
11. Marata Niukore
12. Frank Pritchard
13. David Gower
Interchange
14. Ray Stone
16. Magnus Stromquist
17. John Folau
23. Willis Meehan
Holden Cup Team List
After a brilliant victory over the Storm in Round 18 the Eels slipped back into some sloppy habits as they overcame a plucky Wests outfit in the final minutes to win 24-20. Luke Burt has elected to show faith in his charges, making just the one enforced change with Oregon Kaufusi shifting into the starting team for the injured Beni Valu.
Ethan Parry makes an appearance in the extended team list where he joins fellow SG Ball squad member Dylan Brown. With injuries robbing the team of some of their best young talent in Tui Afualo and Filila Utoikamanu and higher duties taking Troy Dargan, Ray Stone and Dane Aukafolau out of the picture the Eels really need more from their senior players in the home stretch. Denzal Tonise has worked tirelessly throughout the season but Dean Matterson and Anthony Layoun need to be pillars around which their junior cohorts can rally around in the coming weeks.
A Top 4 spot beckons the Eels if they can find any sort of consistency in the run home.
Parramatta 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. Denzal Tonise (c)
10. Oregon Kaufusi
11. Dylan Clifford
12. Salesi Faingaa
13. Mitch Butfield
Interchange
14. Reed Mahoney
15. Tangi Hokai
16. Frank Salu
17. Dom Murphy
18. Dylan Brown
19. Nick Okladnikov
20. Ethan Parry
21. Austin Dias
22. Jye Challenor
23. Jaydn Field
Forty good team lists; question will parra forwards play dominant for 80? They can but will they; we do that we win and i reckon by 10. Otherwise i am concerned a Bronco early blitz, which would make us chase and we do not do this well at times…
We have to dominate the middle 3rd imo; we have the backs to come home.
Looking forward to hearing how Meehan goes. I was wondering when his conditioning would be good enough for ISP.
What are the eligibility criteria for ISP come finals time?
Surely Gower, Terepo, Pritchard and/or Vave won’t have played enough games to allow them to play for the Magpies into the post season (if hypothetically both grades make playoffs and the teams are still roughly as named this week)
Just curious as to why BA keeps naming players in the team and pulling them on game day. Perhaps players need to only be named a certain number of times to play post-season.
I believe there has to be 19 named right up until an hour before kickoff, and none of those are allowed to play any other grade that round.
Good wrap 40 especially liking the lower grade thoughts as many haven’t the opportunity to catch up with the games.
Terepo and Pritchard are a must inclusions in the upcoming weeks, and imo Smith needs to drop off leaving Brown as the dummy half stop gap for King, and there’s no reason why Edwards can’t fill in at centre if there’s an injury out wide.
There’s a definite need for more size.
Pritchard fully fit may take Alvaro’s spot.
I would be surprised if Pritchard replaced Alvaro – they play very different roles. Though maybe Moeroa could play Alvaro’s worker role in the middle. Still, Alvaro is our hardest worker in the pack.
Chief I’m not liking franky Pritchard in our team he looked slow b4 he got injured n I don’t think that has changed 1 bit. With teripo he runs hard. He reminds me of a young ffmm. Yeah even the great FFMM had hands like feet n we know how that turned out right.
That Wenty team looks good, and if they run to form they would be a hard side to beat in the top comp as well
Good write up 40/20.
As I have been preaching to everyone with all the players out injured coming back minus k.pritchard , gutherson , Scott. We will only get stronger. What I didn’t expect was injury’s to gutherson , Scott n k, Pritchard.
I’m hoping we continue on our winning streak. Eels by 2.
Eels 24 bronco’s 22.