NRL Team List
Remember that old rugby league adage? One player gets injured and two defy all logical expectations to return to duty. Me neither but that is what this week’s team sheet is telling us. Just as Bevan French is ruled out for the remaining two regular season games with a shoddy hamstring, Beau Scott and Kaysa Pritchard have shockingly overcome season-ending injuries to rejoin their team mates in the hunt for the Top 4.
Scott and Pritchard make their return on the shadow bench but you could reasonably make a case for both to potentially feature in Thursday’s high stakes fixture against the Broncos. With Manu Ma’u serving a one week suspension for a shoulder charge and Will Smith moving from the bench into the #1 there are now two spots open in Brad Arthur’s top seventeen.
However both players would of course be well short of a gallop after sitting out all action since Round 15. Kenny Edwards moves from the bench into the starting backrow while David Gower has been named on the bench as two-fold replacement for Ma’u. Frank Pritchard currently occupies the final spot on the bench as the fourth forward in the spot vacated by Smith’s move to fullback.
The returns of Beau Scott and Kaysa Pritchard adds plenty of intrigue to a massive clash. The Eels bounced back into the winner’s circle with a solid 30-8 victory over the Titans last week and a win over the Broncos genuinely reignites a tilt at the Top 4. Does Arthur tinker with his roster to add the grit and savvy of Scott or the energy of Kaysa?
Parramatta Eels side
1. Will Smith
2. Semi Radradra
3. Michael Jennings
4. Brad Takairangi
5. Kirisome Auva’a
6. Corey Norman
7. Mitch Moses
8. Daniel Alvaro
9. Cameron King
10. Tim Mannah
11. Kenny Edwards
12. Tepai Moeroa
13. Nathan Brown
Interchange
14. David Gower
15. Suaia Matagi
16. Frank Pritchard
17. Peni Terepo
18. Siosaia Vave
19. Josh Hoffman
20. Beau Scott
21. Kaysa Pritchard
Intrust Super Premiership Team List
The Magpies squandered a golden opportunity to keep their destiny firmly in their own hands as they threw away a 24-8 lead over the Newcastle Knights over the course of the final 12min of play. Wenty now rely on the fourth placed Bulldogs prevailing over the 8th placed Cutters before even factoring in that they themselves need to defeat the third placed Panthers.
Our boys have no one to blame but themselves though. The capitulation against Newcastle is not an isolated incident this season and the Magpies have lost plenty of games in the final moments due to serious lapses of concentration.
Nathan Cayless has made a number of switches to the starting and reserve forward pack this week but the most notable change is the move to put Cody Nelson to lock and promote Josh Tangitau to starting hooker.
Wentworthville Magpies
1. Honeti Tuha
2. Josh Hoffman
3. Nathan Davis
4. Dane Aukafolau
5. George Jennings
6. Troy Dargan
7. Jeff Robson
8. Joseph Ualesi
9. Josh Tangitau
10. Magnus Stromquist
11. John Folau
12. Marata Niukore
13. Cody Nelson (c)
Interchange
14. Matt Woods
15. Scott Schulte
16. Kurt De Luis
23. Willis Meehan
Holden Cup Team List
The Eels continued their surge in the back end of the season with a solid 38-16 victory over the Titans. The win catapulted Parramatta into third spot on the ladder but they now need to consolidate their position with the Dragons and Cowboys breathing down their necks.
Luke Burt hasn’t needed to make any serious changes to his team in light of their recent outstanding form but there are some notable additions to the extended bench. Vallance Harris, a SG Ball prop and standout in the Eels’ post season charge to the National Championship, earns a call up to the extended squad.
The big news here though is the addition of Tui Afualo to the line up. Afualo was a dominant presence in the early parts of the season before a foot ligament injury sidelined him for the best part of three months. Whether he plays or not this week, an imminent return for the wrecking ball centre bodes well for the Eels as they enter the business part of the season!
Parramatta Eels side
1. Anthony Layoun
2. Greg Leleisiuao
3. Emosi Alamoti
4. Noel Aukafolau
5. John Fonua
6. Dean Matterson (c)
7. Dylan Brown
8. Sean Keppie
9. Denzal Tonise (c)
10. Oregon Kaufusi
11. Ray Stone
12. Salesi Faingaa
13. Mitch Butfield
Interchange
14. Reed Mahoney
15. Tangi Hokai
16. Frank Salu
17. Nick Okladnikov
18. Joseph Taipari
19. Austin Dias
20. Ethan Parry
21. Tuimavave Afualo
22. Valance Harris
23. Kamren Cryer
I like the name Valance Harris. For some peculiar reason it conjures thoughts of Jack Palance and Richard Harris.
Very good! He was certainly a powerhouse in SG Ball. Glad Tui is on the verge of returning.
Agreed Achilles – well said
Haha cute
My apologies Pou. We always intended to keep TCT ad-free but times are tough! 😛
Tui Afualo was in great form prior to his injury he was working really well with Leleisiuao, they had a good combination going.
It was a powerful combination indeed John.
To me this nrl game is the game of or season so far: to win against another top 4 away is a test. We are down two fullbacks and Mau. But cometh the hour cometh the team…please get up parra – cheering from Belfast this wk.