NRL Team List
I have had the good fortune of never requiring a spinal tap in my relatively young life but it seems Brad Arthur is ready to go to extreme lengths to diagnose what is wrong with his ‘spine’ this week. While you can’t go freely rearranging your vertebrae on a literal basis, rugby league allows for some more creative tinkering to the backbones and Arthur has done just that as he switches Corey Norman and Clinton Gutherson to fullback and five-eighth respectively.
It should be noted at this point that I am no fan of this switcheroo (preferring to say, outright drop Norman) but it seems that ‘BA’ is intent on exhausting all possible permutations of the (extremely) limited first grade roster he has available currently before turning to unproven options.
On some level it makes a degree of sense. Gutherson has struggled to finish off backline movements in recent weeks and could benefit from handling the ball more often as he looks to shake off understandable playing rust. Norman on the other hand is playing out of sync with his left edge and could potentially be aided from the streamlined role in attack that comes with playing fullback.
My issues here are two-fold though. Firstly is the concern that it is a matter of public record that Norman is reticent to play fullback. Secondly is that even if the Eels break the shackles on Thursday night, the composition of this line-up is not necessarily conducive to longer-term success and thus you are back at square one.
The first point can potentially be reasoned as a direct response to Norman’s reluctance to don the #1 with his coach issuing a personal challenge to his mercurial play-maker in the hope that it kindles a competitive fire in a man that is running ice cold on the field. It is harder to frame an argument around the second point beyond the time old ‘it is so crazy that it might just work’.
‘BA’ was cagey when prompted by a question in the Round 11 post-match press conference as to whether he would be looking to blood more rookies with the season all but over.
The answer for now is a tentative no.
Scrambling the spine in such a manner feels something more akin to shuffling deck chairs on the Titanic given our issues team wide. The decision will likely be met with apathy and frustration (and understandably so) but if you look closer at the team list you will note that Ray Stone and Jaeman Salmon are creeping their way up the depth charts as the occupy jerseys #18 and #19. Furthermore, Marata Niukore retains his spot in the provisional game-day roster as the winds of change blow ever so gently over Western Sydney.
Still, this could very well be a case of Arthur issuing a final ultimatum to one his highest profile players in Norman. Mitchell Moses answered the call on Friday night when his coach pointedly and publicly stated that Moses needed to be focused solely on the Eels rather than an Origin berth.
Now it seems that the blow torch has been turned on his partner in the halves…just how will he respond to the challenge from his coach?
There is some other team news to report with Siosaia Vave vaulting from the Intrust Super Premiership right into the starting line-up for the Eels following the season ending ACL injury to Beau Scott. The move means that Manu Ma’u will possibly start the game in a more tradition left-edge role after taking over the duties at lock in the last month or so. The in-form Peni Terepo is listed to start the game at lock as Parramatta throw a TLT vibe of looking to muscle up against the Broncos.
Kane Evans makes his return from a calf injury (the non-Humble kind) but will likely have to fight his way back into NRL contention from the ISP.
Parramatta Eels side
1. Corey Norman
2. Bevan French
3. Michael Jennings
4. Brad Takairangi
5. George Jennings
6. Clint Gutherson (c)
7. Mitch Moses
8. Daniel Alvaro
9. Cameron King
10. Siosaia Vave
11. Manu Ma’u
12. Tepai Moeroa
13. Peni Terepo
Interchange
14. Will Smith
15. Suaia Matagi
16. David Gower
17. Marata Niukore
18. Ray Stone
19. Jaeman Salmon
20. Kane Evans
21. Josh Hoffman
Intrust Super Premiership Team List
Wenty fell short of a spirited comeback against the top seeded Mounties on the weekend landing 10-points adrift at 24-34 but the youth brigade did their part well as they start to take control of the bits and bobs line-up at their disposal. Jaeman Salmon and Reed Mahoney genuinely threatened the defence of the competition front-runners and will be looking to bounce back against the Bears this week.
As we have come to expect on TLT, the Wenty roster looks somewhat lacklustre when stripped of the 4-man contingent named on the NRL shadow bench. Salmon, Ray Stone, Josh Hoffman and Kane Evans will provide a substantial boost for the plucky Magpies as they look to keep in touch with the Top 4 in the ISP.
Wentworthville Magpies side
1. Nathan Milone
2. Nathan Davis
3. Kirisome Auva’a
4. Dane Aukafolau
5. Eddie Aiono
6. Brad Deitz
7. Arana Taumata
8. Magnus Stromquist
9. Reed Mahoney
10. Haimona Hiroti
11. Matt Woods
12. Piki Rogers
13. Yileen Gordon
Interchange
14. Jack Morris
15. Daniel Dole
16. Oregon Kaufusi
17. Kurt De Luis
18. Dylan Izzard
Jersey Flegg Team List
Parramatta prevailed against the Mounties in an eerily similar reversal of the ISP scoreline as they secured a 32-24 victory. Impressively, the Flegg squad overcame a lopsided 3-11 penalty handicap en route to claiming the two competition points. Strong performances from young stars Dylan Brown and Stefano Utoikamanu paved the way forwards while the savvy and industriousness of backrower Jesse Cronin also proved more than useful.
Sydney Shield prospect Todd Sapienza is performing admirably in his relief play-making duty as he steps into the considerable boots of Joe Taipari.
Coach Dean Feeney makes minimal changes to a roster that has been competitive throughout the 2018 season. Salesi Faingaa shifts back into the starting line up and blog-favourite Steve Dresler looks set to be cleared for his first action since Round 2 of 2017. James Porter is the odd-man out but presumably through injury with the rangy forward impressing in his maiden Flegg season.
Parramatta will host the Bears at Ringrose Park on Sunday.
Parramatta Eels Jersey Flegg side
1. John Fonua
2. Haze Dunster
3. Tuimavave Afualo
4. Noel Aukafolau
5. Taufa Afu
6. Todd Sapienza
7. Dylan Brown
8. Sean Keppie
9. Aden Carling
10. Michael Tupou
11. Dylan Clifford
12. Salesi Faingaa
13. Jesse Cronin
Interchange
14. Nick Okladnikov
15. Stefano Utoikamanu
16. PJ Vaigalu
17. Steve Dresler
18. Vea Tapa
19. Bruce Ward
20. Charbel Tasipale
21. William Kei
22. Valance Harris
What a disaster this season has become. At the end of last year we were one of the competitions form teams with one of the best halves pairings in the game. Now we can’t beat anyone and our “fashion designing five eight” is more interested in his next collection of shitty clothes “dropping” than his footballing career.
If I was Brad I would drop Calvin Corey to reserve grade and bring Jarryd into the halves. Let Moses run the team and tell Hayne to run the ball.
Can’t go any worse than we are now.
I do agree that dropping Norman rather than shuffling him to fullback seems to be the more elegant solution Clive.
Plugging Hayne or Takairangi into five-eighth until Salmon is seen as somewhat ready for a debut would be an acceptable compromise for mine.
Mayhaps there are still a few twists to play out this week as it stands.
Personally, and only typing on a computer thinking that where to from here. While there is still a very thin and remote chance of making the finals, it really is time that our future will not include, IMHO many more than 6-7 of those off contract end of this year, possibly add a couple who are likely to said to look around the clubs, meaning that some super salesmen are needed in their own managerial ranks.
I do believe that there will be more changes as the season unfolds and I would rather see young players who want to play for the club given the most opportunities that can be given to them to shine at the higher levels.
Great read 40. I am happy BA has moved Norman albeit not out the door but maybe he’s trying to give Hayne another week. Guth will provide some stability IMO in the halves. Norman if he BUYS into the team can float around the halves etc. IMO Smith is not the best option for halves. I also think we are closer to winning this week than losing.
With some media speculation around Bellamy and Broncs could it unsettle them? Who knows…..
For a controversial take (which Forty and I have already discussed), I respectfully disagree with Forty’s comments regarding Corey.
IF (note the capitals, IF) the rumours of Corey’s impending sale are true, obviously you’d want to keep his price up. Forty maintains (with supporting evidence, mind you) that dropping Corey to ISP would not affect what a team is willing to pay for him. I disagree, I think it would cause his price to drop.
The season is effectively over and you can do little but make either big or little changes to try win games, whilst at the same time preparing for next season. I think this move is our best shot of doing both (Corey’s price up, Gutho close to the action, Corey finishes backline plays). If the goal was to keep Corey long term, however, I dislike this move as much as Forty does.
With that said, Forty and I do agree that Corey was absolutely dreadful last week, as he has been for most of this season.
Would definetley affect his value !!!!!!!
I am with Forty on this one. Paul Vaughn was dropped to Mounties and the Dragons paid $700,000 for him for the 2017 season. Anyone interested in Corey would have a view to his ability already. I do agree his value and what other clubs are willing to pay to buy out his contract is critical.
The other point that has infuriated me this season with Corey is him running into Cul-de-sac’s and getting tackled in possession. I wonder if Colmac could give us stats on how many times he has been tackled in possession.
Essentially my exact thoughts about Norman on both the micro and macro levels, John. Amusingly, I used the very same player as a point of comparison in my initial argument with Mitch!
I could give you a 100 that went the opposite way to your 1 !!!
Forty, Corrie whether he realises it or not is playing for his future right here and now, and it certainly applies more for next year than even now, If he thinks that by just doodling around the ground and basically showing 10% of his ability is going to attract any sort of decent contract elsewhere then he is playing in fairyland.
Other clubs and their coaches would be watching and forming their own views on not just his playing abilities but also his general character as a person, not so much the player. The big coin he is on now will be the last one that he gets unless he picks himself up off the deck and starts playing the football that he is capable of week in and out. That way he will attract offers, the way he’s going now who would seriously want him.
If he goes back to ISP, his value straight up will drop, RS did it with Papali and he came back well, to me being dropped in the end is the only thing that might wake him up.
Would he even get a run in SL.
First reaction- must have misread it, he is either 5/8th or dropped. I will admit if late changes are made, i.e Norman dropped altogether I will be pissed as I respect BA’s honesty with fans, especially as he has given interviews about why Norman has been moved today. I get keeping game plans secretive but at this time the Parra fans need some clear and honest responses.
Second reaction- oh brave, very brave BA. Is he feeling okay? He must have confidence in either his job security or Norman to do this. ( possibly both)
Third reaction- You know what this could in fact be very very smart and give some answers about future direction.
Norman: Fullbacks in today’s game organise defence, chime in both sides of the ruck, back up and run, run, run. All effort plays and there is nowhere to hide. You will know unequivocally if Norman wants to be at the club simply by his effort. He needs to be willing to play whatever position the club needs him to, like Morgan at Cowboys or Munster at Storm. if not you can’t build a premiership winning team around a player like that. He might make mistakes but that is okay, however it will be interesting to see how hard he tries. Fullbacks can’t drift out of play or they can but it is absolutely noticeable- re Hayne at Titans. If he tries really hard, then you can rightly think it is confidence and not effort/attitude. To me we then need to persevere with him and help get him back into form at 5/8th. God I really hope he tries, I really like a firing Norman in our team. Our team needs him but only if he wants it as well.
Moses- let him control and run the attack and kicking game. Please no more mid field bombs. Everyone keeps telling me he can run a team. I know he will try really hard but can he be calm enough and not try to make miracles happen? We will see.
I think Gutho is our long term fullback but letting him run rather than chime in and make cut out passes is exactly what he and this team needs at the moment.
If you want answers you need to ask the questions. BA I think is asking Norman and Moses questions this week and those will be answered unequivocally on the field. By the end of the game I think our path forward will be much clearer.
My prediction- This game won’t be close, if we turn up we will win well, if the team is split or some players upset they will get smashed. But at least we will know and can then move forward.
Great post. So much meat.
You’re not allowed to say that about sheilas Mitch you can’t refer to them as meat anymore. Not even our Shelley mate!
Shelley as per usual you provide us with great posts & this all but says it all.
The thing with Norms is that we all know he has the ability to play extremely good football but its no good making all the sounds in the world in interviews which to me just seems to be self promo bandwagon stuff where he says more at those gatherings but has his foot firmly planted in his mouth on the field as he is close to permanently doing the opposite of what he says.
It would seem the only thing stopping him from leaving/asking for a release is the simple aspect that he’s not going to get that amount of money elsewhere.
There is such a small window for the eels to make the finals, but the way Norms is playing these days, we have little hope of it happening. The other aspect is in what you say is that we need him firing, well that’s something that needs to be a very contagious disease and spread to the whole 17 on match day and not just for Norms. In the end when they are playing in a losing streak, theirs no real ammo in the guns only have full blanks.
I thought that we needed a bit more of a change than what is shown in this team, and its going to be a hard night for the eels against the horses.
I am happy to see Gutho in the halves but I an wondering about Norms at fullback, he’s dosey enough at 6 and that’s in the middle of the action, what’s he going to be like at fullback? I tend to think that unless Norms makes a showing from the back he will be told it would be in his best and the clubs best interests if he looked for another club.
As you say Forty he is loathe to play fullback and wants to be in the halves and why he came here, with RS saying he will have the 6 spot
Next week we should also have Hayne and Nathan Brown back which will put pressure in both backs and forwards. I would also like to see Marata play more minutes and really be kept in the top 17.
With Kenny now gone from the club, and with Beau also finished for the year, and likely he wont play again, we now have 3 spots to fill by June 30. If we cannot attract a quality prop before then, time for Salmon, Mahoney and Stone to be brought into the 30, unless Stone is already in that rating, if so would like to see Dane Akafolou also given a lift.
Not only should they be given a lift, but several players who are not likely to be given contract extensions should be put behind these younger players. Certainly I see BA giving a strong message to the playing group that they are treading a fine line over thin ice. Norms I doubt will like the change, and who knows he might be heading north to play under Bellamy next year.
Dane akafalou isnt and never will be nrl quality ,wenty forever !!!
If Normy plays fullback for us like he did for the Broncos in his early career we’ll be in very good hands at the back!
Rowdy, The biggest word in the English Dictionary. IF
Corey should of been droppped weeks ago. No wonder French wants to leave the club give him a go at fullback while Gutho is at 6.
Anyway it’s been a disaster of a season.
Cappy, I’m not sure that Bev’s efforts are screaming out “I demand to be selected at fullback!”
My only positive take is that Normans involvement chiming in from fullback is that he now becomes an option for the halves, rather than him deciding what option he would take.
I find it interesting that with all this talk that Norman may be being shopped around, potentially leaving the club, there is little comment on that itself as an issue. A few are inferring they’d welcome that, most are seemingly indifferent. As I said, interesting.
I must admit I would have felt differently/more optimistic prior to our game vs the Warriors. It was as bad as Mitch Moses was for the Tigers before joining us, almost as bad as Chris Sandow’s last game for us.
Fletch- as much as Parra supporters have enjoyed Corey’s moments of brilliance and inspiration, I dont really feel that he has ever done enough to convince me that he is “a Parra Boy”. I just haven’t felt that he bleeds blue and gold.
Compare that to so many of our other recruits in recent years…Beau Scott, Gutho and even Moses is already displaying that level of passion for the club. Corey, with his off field escapades and “gangster” bad boy image isn’t what Parra has ever been about. Titans, Roosters or Dogs yes, but not Parra.
Maybe I am just talking from my ass, but if Corey left to me it would feel like the end of a relationship that has always been on the edge anyway. When Beau’s career ended the other day, I felt like I had lost something. If Gutho decided to leave us, I think I would consider a long walk of a short plank!
jonboy, I don’t especially go along with the Parra Boy aspect, as I actually wonder just how many of the players over all the grades really can be deemed that way?
For me, every club has some form of culture, much of which players will sense what their team/club is like also those they play as opponents. Culture can under those circumstances be very very shaky over time. If one casts their memories back to last year and the lead up to this season, that culture was working with the whole team, some more so than others but, I doubt it was a lineal line in that regard either.
When you consider even opposition players, coaches and so called experts were calling us as premiership contenders, that was the culture and those playing in the Eels jerseys were expected to hold to, and be the same as they were last year. As such they should have had the Eels blood in them, what’s the position today?
Parra boy, maybe more apt for the real eels supporters who follow the teams and club no matter the circumstances, I would include more of those on this site rather than elsewhere, where most I would suggest a 1cent fans, very cheap and lightweight.
I have said all I would like in regards to Norms, he was inconsistent at the horses especially when he didn’t get his way in team selection, and how is going ATM is the same as he was in his last year the other side of the border. He is sadly not a real team player in my mind.
Jonboy I know what you mean about Corey. I always have thought that he was biding his time at Para. Maybe it was the fact that he never brought a property here just rented whith a former friend from Brisbane.
I don’t know but never seemed committed to being in Sydney
Gutho to 6 is, IMHO the right move. As much as the Moses/Norman pairing worked last year I think Gutho was outstanding in his tenure in the 6 at the start of last season. I suspect that he surprised many with how well he fitted in the role and I actually reckon that he is better suited to the 6 than the 1. Consider the enthusiasm and effort of a Moses/Gutho combination.
The Corey to fullback move worries me but Bevan hasn’t done enough to earn the jersey. With JH still not ready to return and Will Smith not having a particularly good game last time he started there maybe BA has limited other options. I certainly wasn’t convinced with BA’s Q&A with the media about the switch.
My biggest issue with Gutho going to 6 is his kicking skills. Whilst his passing game is OK he will be in a position that will require a better kicking game than he previously showed.
No doubt his best performances for the Eels have come since he moved to FB.
John, we know Norms skills in that area, the problem is he is not using it. I believe that MM can be more than adequate in that area, also I think Gutho had some fair kicks when he was in the halves before.
My personal thoughts though, and after I watched the BA pre donkeys interview earlier I get the impression that if the move does not work and Norms picks up his act, then other options will be looked at.
Can you give me a ring, we have a new phone and I think it cut out part of the message you sent.