NRL Team List
With the Eels finishing fourth in both the NRL and Holden Cup they are now set to face the runaway juggernauts in both grades in week one of the finals. Brad Arthur’s men will face the Melbourne Storm while Luke Burt’s troops will face the Cronulla Sharks. Put them together and you have the deadliest of natural disasters – the sharknado.
While Arthur and Craig Bellamy have already been involved in some pre-game verbal jousting involving ruck interpretations, BA has opted out of playing ducks and drakes with his team sheet. Bevan French has not been named in any capacity this week with Will Smith set to marshal the team from the back once more.
In fact the only change to the team comes care of Daniel Alvaro moving from the bench to the starting front row in place of Siosaia Vave. How Arthur utilises both his starting pack and bench will be crucial if the Eels are to secure an upset victory.
The Eels triumphed 22-6 over a weakened Storm at AAMI Park in Round 18 in a result that has been largely written off as a ‘gimme’ for the Eels. There is no arguing that the Storm are a vastly improved team with their bevy of Origin stars back but I think if the Eels are to pull off one of the greatest ambushes in the current iteration of the finals system, the experience gained there two months ago will be crucial.
It should be noted that the second placed Sydney Roosters struggled to put away the same weakened Melbourne Storm roster in Adelaide in Round 16. It took a cracking Mitchell Pearce field goal in golden point to seal the 25-24 victory. Fast forward to Round 23 and a full strength Storm barely fended the Roosters off at AAMI Park 16-13.
The Storm are deserved short, short odd favourites after their superb regular season campaign but they aren’t unbeatable. For all of the talk about the vaunted pair of flankers Melbourne field, it was Semi Radradra who completely blew the game open in Round 18 with three astonishing line breaks in his first three touches.
Parramatta do have the weaponry and personnel to push Melbourne even if the Storm possess the superior and more well-balanced squad. It is going to take plenty of discipline and grit along with the courage to take our chances, the right chances, when they present themselves along with perhaps a smidgen of luck!
The pre-game verbal war between Arthur and Bellamy has lifted the tension to palpable levels but with all that said, when all is said and done we were barely given a lick of making the Top 8 at the start of the season – let alone the Top 4. To say that we have defied expectations is to put it mildly. In that light I am simply going to enjoy Saturday for what it is – our first taste of finals footy in 8 years!
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 (c)
11. Manu Ma’u
12. Tepai Moeroa
13. Nathan Brown
Interchange
14. Beau Scott (c)
15. Kenny Edwards
16. Siosaia Vave
17. Suaia Matagi
18. Kaysa Pritchard
19. Josh Hoffman
20. David Gower
21. Frank Pritchard
Holden Cup Team List
Luke Burt and our young men face an opponent every bit as intimidating as Craig Bellamy’s Melbourne Storm in the record breaking Cronulla Sharks NYC team. So prolific have they been in 2017 that they earned a jaw dropping six selections in the Holden Cup Team of the Year. Parramatta’s sole player to earn the same honour was blockbusting winger Greg Leleisiuao.
And that was very well deserved thank you very much. Well done Greg.
Still even with the odds stacking so heavily against them coming into this match our young lads share one important fact with their NRL brethren – they were one of the few teams to already defeat their vaunted opposition this year.
Burt has thrown his full confidence behind the squad that fought their way to fourth place, making only one major change. Anthony Layoun returns from a week off (be it injury or suspension) to reclaim the #1. Dylan Brown slides to the bench which in turn pushes Tangi Hokai to 18th man.
The other minor change to the team comes with Ray Stone returning to lock after a highly successful stint on the left edge. Mitch Butfield drops back to the bench as a result while Dylan Clifferd moves into the starting team to fill the void at left edge,
Like the Storm in the NRL final, the Sharks will be deserved red-hot favourites on Saturday. Burt and his young charges have shown plenty of grit and character throughout the season though. They have overcame a vast gulf in age and experience along with numerous season-ending injuries to core players. I have no doubt that they will give it a red-hot crack!
Parramatta Eels Holden Cup side
1. Anthony Layoun
2. Greg Leleisiuao
3. Dane Aukafolau
4. Noel Aukafolau
5. John Fonua
6. Dean Matterson (c)
7. Troy Dargan
8. Sean Keppie
9. Denzal Tonise (c)
10. Oregon Kaufusi
11. Dylan Clifford
12. Salesi Faingaa
13. Ray Stone
Interchange
14. Reed Mahoney
15. Mitch Butfield
16. Frank Salu
17. Dylan Brown
18. Tangi Hokai
19. Emosi Alamoti
20. Dom Murphy
21. Nick Okladnikov
22. Joseph Taipari
23. Austin Dias
Words simply can’t be found to articulate my anticipation for Saturday!!!
One half of me says that the Storm are “due” for a loss after their last defeat coming from our Eel sword in round 18.
The other half of me says I would rather see that loss come in either 2 or 3 weeks time and a Parra loss this weekend wouldn’t be as bad as our own loss in 2 or 3 weeks time.
Then another half of me says a week off to rest and recuperate would be a great thing while the final half of me thinks we are better off not having the break and risking loosing any momentum we have.
ARGH…my excitement and the nervous energy is killing me! But it’s OK as my 4 halves means that there is actually 2 of me so loosing 2 of my halves is actually not a bad thing!
Go you Eels!
No team has won 8 games in a row this season. Time for a loss
I’m tipping a parra victory for both NRL n 20’s sides.
Everyone is tipping Melbourne to roll us like they did south’s n the same for John Morris side the sharks.
I hope brad brings out the best in the boys in this game n the same with burty.
Lets prove the knockers wrong n get up in these games. Lets show them we are not here to make up the numbers.
Win lose or draw I’m proud of our team coach n administrator’s n new CEO bernie gurr.
Look out storm we eels are coming. You might be the best at wrestling so good that WWE wants shares in the storm. Remember after the match you won’t have been in a game but a war.
#Eelsforlife.
Forty do you think that he will stick with Auva’a or go with Josh Hoffman. I belive he will go with Some even though he persevered with Josh all season until his injury.
John IMO I think the only change will be vave into the run on side n Alvaro back to the bench.
He wants a big n robust body like karisome avau’a to get us out of our 20 metre zone with big strong runs. He we compensate karisome faults under the high ball n stay with his big powerful.
Parra by 4
Eels 22 storm 18.
#Eels4life#
I agree Rev. On one occasion he has dropped Vave to Wenty for a run. But BA has persevered with Vave even though he is not as fit as he should be. He has done a job for BA though and the strategy worked against the Broncos. Also you are right about Kirisome. He may have some problems with high ball but his nett gain is worth the inclusion.
I read on Fox Sports news today that they have reported that F Pritchard has been offered a one year extension. That may mean that they are not looking to get another Middle forward for next year.
John I like franky Pritchard his a big game player n big body. I’m expecting him to play some semi’s through out this campaign.
I haven’t heard anything about playing on next year but will be good for 1 yr.
3 big body’s up front next year vave , Evans , big franky.
Go the eels.
#Eels4life#
One thing is for sure and that is Bellamy’s tactic of kicking to Semi from last game won’t be repeated.
That backfired big time and exposed Vunivalu