Ye Olde NRL Team List
Gather round folks, huddle close to the hearth and take in what little warmth there be to share. Times be awful dark I tells you, a man can hardly take a brisk step forwards these days without hearing the shrill pierce of one of them…referees and before you know it the world has been set right on its head I say.
Have you heard the whispers from yonder South? They say Old Man Bellamy has lost his touch they do. I swear it on me old lady’s grave. Can’t say I am one to believe it but my old lady, rest her weary bones, always did say ‘lose a half, find a hole’. Never really did make much sense now that I think about it but them tidings from Melbourne sure have folk talking.
What about whathisname up in them Northern tropics? Mister Green? All I did hear through the summer was how bountiful the autumn harvest was going to be for them cow-herders but they are saying that time has finally caught up with that crafty old fox Thurston. I’ll be damned if it has mind you but that do be what the common folk be saying.
The world be plum crazy as a matter of fact. The heralds be crying all day about Dragons in the sky and even such madness as an invasion of invincible Warriors from the Southern seas. There even be talk about a stray Tiger lurking around them fancy parts of town. Times are mad and the common folk ever madder still – and can ye blame them? The kingdom out West be in right disarray. I heard a rumour on the street corner just this week that nearly knocked my cap off. They said the sun ain’t risen out West for over a full month. Times be as dark as I can recall, even after that awful purge of two-oh-sixteen.
Yet there still be hope, Eels’ honest truth I tells ya. Come close now lest ye be overheard telling the legend. For all them dark tidings on the lips of folk everywhere, they also whisper about a fallen king. A hero of yesteryear. A bastion of hope. The legend says he will rise up once more and finally bring a new dawn to the West. Gutherson they called him but most folks round these parts hail him as King Gutho. I don’t know nothing about no legends or twice-risen kings but I do know the folks out West need some sort of win. My bones be telling me that king or no king, it is time to go to war.
Parramatta Eels side
1. Clint Gutherson
2. George Jennings
3. Michael Jennings
4. Kirisome Auva’a
5. Bevan French
6. Corey Norman
7. Mitch Moses
8. Peni Terepo
9. Kaysa Pritchard
10. Tim Mannah (c)
11. Manu Mau
12. Tony Williams
13. Tepai Moeroa
Interchange
14. Beau Scott
15. Kenny Edwards
16. Daniel Alvaro
17. Kane Evans
18. Will Smith
19. David Gower
20. Suaia Matagi
21. Josh Hoffman
Jersey Flegg Team List
With far more modern stylings I bring you the pleasant tidings that the Eels secured their third win of the season with a 22-14 win over the Manly Sea Eagles. They keep in touch with the Top 4 by doing so with core players Dylan Brown, Reed Mahoney and club debutante Jaeman Salmon starring. Salmon, a high profile recruit from Cronulla, has big shoes to fill following a cruel injury to Joey Taipari but he has plenty of talent in his own right to aid the team.
Parramatta take on Canberra’s Jersey Flegg affiliate in Mounties this week and can actually leap frog their opponents into the Top 4 with a victory.
Parramatta Eels Jersey Flegg side
1. Haze Dunster
2. Ethan Parry
3. Tuimavave Afualo
4. Noel Aukafolau
5. Taufa Afu
6. Jaeman Salmon
7. Dylan Brown
8. Sean Keppie
9. Reed Mahoney
10. Oregon Kaufusi
11. Nick Okladnikov
12. Jesse Cronin
13. Michael Tupou
Interchange
14. Sam McGregor
15. James Porter
16. PJ Vaigalu
17. Dylan Clifford
18. Jaydn Field
19. Bruce Wakeling
20. Michael Cheer
21. Austin Dias
Great to see the King back. Hope he is not overburdened by expectation in his first game back after so long. Physical repair of the injury is one thing, getting the confidence back may take time
All the best Gutho.
No Wenty teamlist?
Wenty have the bye this week!
4 point win last week
Is Faingaa still injured?
Not sure to be honest mate. I had been hoping he would be due back some time about now but obviously he is bogged down in his efforts to get back on the field. One of the bigger losses for the team to be sure.
The shortest round review with teams for the season yet, and introduced with such eloquence that one would have thought we were transferred back to a Shakespearean central stage theatre in ye olde dart. With the great King Gutho arriving on a white stallion to be the MC for the theatrics to follow.
Having had a look at the NRL team list there has been some changes and hopefully it may bring a joyous end to the nights entertainment fest. As John Eel has said, the concern is that he is not overburdened with high expectations for the game. No doubt he would be jumping out of his skin and be mentally ready for the game, his physical condition would also be ok based on the training done, what is missing and has been for a while now is actual match condition but I suspect that he will lift especially in attack. The opposition will not doubt target him as well as Bevan. So there will be extra responsibilities on those around them to ensure they are well covered by their team mates.
A look over the team gives me some encouragement but the loss of Nathan Brown is going to be a big gap to fill as his power against Penrith was excellent, someone else needs to step up or better still the whole pack., and therein is a bit of a concern to me.
Reflecting on the Penrith game, the amount of time that Scott and Mannah spent on the field I believe puts added pressure on the rest of the forwards. They seriously need to be sharing the time on the field for longer periods, but I ask are they able to? Tepai, I hope is ok from the head knocks and Peni being given a run on Prop spot means he has to also shows a lot more than against Penrith.
The one forward who has been very consistent throughout last year and this is Alvaro yet he seems to lack some of the power of last year, his gallery stats show he is still 108Kg but he looks a bit leaner this year and is not hitting quite as hard in his runs.
I am not trying to be negative especially given the uplift in the whole team especially the forwards against Penrith, which thoroughly pleased me despite the loss, I don’t believe it will be long before the team will be in the winners circle again and shut up the detractors of the team and club, the one big hope that will start in Canberra this Saturday night.
Eels by 8
I agree.
Really think Alvaro lacks some weight / punch – despite His improved fitness.
Surprised we are still forcing the 80min hooker thing…heaven help us if KP gets KO’d. – who will play hooker if there is injury?
This side is more dynamic up front but lacks flexibility. Smith has to be 14, Edwards, Alvaro & Evans Matagi Vave – hard to carry both Scott & Mannah . Sad but true.
All the very best to the King. Missed Him in every way. May he live long, remain injury free and thus prosper!
Hopefully some of the positive attitude we found last week has rubbed off onto Kane Evans. I still feel a man of his size can be huge value if he just puts in
lol
This week’s TLT probably deserved that Pou. I regret nothing though.
I can’t believe some of the comments they must just write what comes to them during their sleeping hours? How can we need bigger forwards on the one hand and Wilbur Smith on the bench on the other hand? This is absurd!
Preposterous recommendations that Wilbur play 5/8 a position I’ve not seen him play since his belated comeback match for Wenty against the Doggies at Belmore early last year and then only for 5 mins while he rotated through hooker/half and fullback. Followed the suggestion that he should swap with Corey Norman going to fullback when it is the one position we have most depth in already, let alone taking our best 5/8 out of position is fanciful.
Do fans really believe coming on this site to just bag our team and numerous individuals will be of benefit without making any constructive alternative is ridiculous. To suggest that we sack the coach and half the team because we don’t need experience in the side to nurture and educate the young fellas that ARE coming through whilst saying there aren’t any young fellas is stupid or ignorant or both ie; Bevan, Gutho, Jennings the younger, Tep and Kaysa are all around 22 – 24. That’s not counting Stone, Mahoney, Marata and a host of young blokes in Jersey Flegg who are just quite ready for NRL and certainly not ready to be feed to the Lions when we are struggling.
Its the tough times that show the supporters from the fair weather followers mate , we will come out the other side and your comments are spot on
Rowdy, total agree, but let me say that I was one person over at the other site that also suggested the idea of having Smith at 6 and push Norms back to fullback, Norms has played there in the past and could handle the position quite ok, I would love to see Salmon tried at 5/8 but I believe he is a bit young at the moment. OTOH Smith has done well in each of the spots he has played except, IMHO at fullback, I don’t think he should be there. As such at 6, he could be ok, as he has played in the spine positions at 9 in the past.
All that aside though with Guth back, the problem is solved for the 1 spot.
I also said in an earlier reply in this thread, my thoughts regarding some of the forwards, hopefully though in a non condemning manner. I believe there needs to be some changes and would love to see the likes of Stone, Marata along with others given a shot in the top side, could be beneficial to the team and to them as feeling they have a future at the eels.
I do not however hold to the theory call or whatever is said regarding the sacking of our coach.
The vitriol on the other site makes me wonder actually how many over there are really fans of the eels, let alone being supporters, I posted there a piece of an RL web site and highlighted a piece in the article, none on there picked up on the bolded section and when I challenged them on that as it was not the coach saying what was printed regarding the certain player but the article writer.
I also took aim at the attitudes and the way many are taking to how they call the coach and players alike, to me they border on defamation, if the people who are copping these remarks decided to take action against them. All that did was get me a gob full and telling me I was immature. My response was to say I will no longer post there, especially regarding anything I see that may be of a positive nature regarding the eels, as it always, as per so many replies and blogs there no just full of abject hatred. At least that’s how it seems to me.
Apologies for this reply if its seen as being along the lines of that other site as I don’t want that here.
No chance.
Rowdy I like your comments especially the last sentence. Throwing young players to the Lions before they are ready is not the way to introduce young players to NRL.
One of the best calls I read was Gutho to hooker & Williams to the wing???
Guyho to hooker has merrit i believe but not during the season he has all the attributes to be good at it
Williams to the wing thats hilarious
Williams to wing has more merit as he made his NRL debut there!
Gutho to hooker is a classic example of what I’m speaking about, what about Gutho to linesman? at least we’d get the touchline call from the Wests Tigers game right after a blatant knock at their end results in play on and a “TRY” at the other end by Corey Thompson who put the ball on the corner post at ground level!
You might be on to something, maybe we should sign Perenara to play again LOL!
Well if you think about smith wallace luke farrah as examples were not junior hookers they were turned into hookers all are good footballers solid competitors.
Im not saying move him there im saying its not the worst idea hes a smart enough football player to make it work.
Williams was never the fastest winger cant see him keeping up now he was a gun center as a junior i wonder how his career would of gone if he stayed there
One in from where he plays now. Agility might be Trex’s biggest challenge there these days.
It’s a long way to bend down to pass off the deck for someone as tall & lanky as Gutho, not to mention how much the defensive load would affect his attack.
Trex’s winger days are long gone, he’s flat out keeping up with the back row in short stints.
Love your work Forty. Brilliant!
Great read btw. Thx for taking the time to provide alternative & fun content whilst still keeping the footy the focal point.
Look forward to the redemption story in chapter 2.
Agree with Susan and MattL. You are a very clever man Mr Forty20, quite the wordsmith, and I am looking forward to your next contribution, made a bit easier by a win!
Regarding experience v youth, both are needed, it is getting the mix right and league followers will be interested to know that Fui Fui has just signed a new contract with UK team, Workington (league 1??) at the age of 38.
Great fun write up Forty.
The team has a different balance with Terepo & Williams running on, Gutherson at the back and the speedster French on the wing – maybe this represents a change of tactics? The focus on a fast defensive line of 2017 is possibly being balanced by the inclusion of impact forwards – an adaptation to the refereeing changes which gives those impact forwards more room to wind up?
Having Gutherson back is good news, he provides a level of competitiveness and running game that can only help and having French instead of Hoffman provides some finishing skills missing last week.
The bench and rotation will be interesting – the possible inclusion of Smith covers KP/French/Guth injuries and importantly provides a rotation option for KP (not an 80 min option IMO and HIA prone). If the tactics are to balance the defensive forwards with some impact forwards then the rotation of the two definites Alvaro + Edwards requires another impact forward (Evans? Matagi?) which means no room for Scott.
We won the penalty count last week for the first time this year (showing previously missing discipline) and maybe with a tweak to the tactics we see a momentum changes this week – good luck to the guys.
DDay, your comments on the refereeing changes are interesting. When you look at it, Parra play a similar style to Melbourne and Brisbane through the middle. Those teams are also struggling a bit this year, and this is not the style of play Parra have been renown for over the years. Even last year we looked most threatening when we threw the ball and kicked to our wing. We need to do this a bit more with French and Jennings.
I like the idea of starting with Terepo and bringing Alvaro on for Mannah, but we can’t afford Terepo losing the ball or giving away penalties. We need to build momentum and strike early.
Great read Forty, we can forget the creative effort you put in to entertain the masses, whilst still delivering a sound message. Bravo mate!
My only real comment on the team that I am generally happy with is that I prefer Williams coming off the bench for impact. Having said that I would not be critical of BA’s team.
Can’t forget!
There’s a temptation to have 4 forwards against a big pack like the Raiders, but I think Smith should be there to cover the risky injury prospects like Kaysa, Gutho & even French.
If they stick to the 17 listed, I hope old Beau has been practising his dummy half passing.
Watched the eels v sea eagles Jersey Flegg match at Cabra last weekend. There were trainers everywhere giving instructions. Let the players make the own decisions. Sea eagles lost because they lost their concentration as they had to listen to their trainers all through the second half. It was disgraceful and a lot of spectators were talking about it after the game.
Trainers on the field are a blight on the game for me. Bad enough in the NRL sides worse if its going on with the jnrs.