The Cumberland Throw

Team List Tuesday – Cash Mahoney Edition

NRL Team List

 

When are you stuck in that special place below rock bottom you quickly appreciate every little positive that comes your way. It has been a particularly awful season for all the stakeholders of our mighty club but we have taken some solace in the debut of Marata Niukore in Round 11. The young forward is gradually working his way into a larger time-share in the backrow but this week we get to provisionally celebrate the debut of a second rookie as Reed Mahoney answers Brad Arthur’s call.

The livewire dummy-half is packing his bags on the plane to Darwin as Will Smith (hamstring, Round 16) joins Kaysa Pritchard (groin, Round 15) on the sidelines. The window of opportunity is minuscule for Reed given that Pritchard is due back next week but for perhaps one game he will get the opportunity to try and spark the Eels to life through the middle as he deputises Cameron King. With that said I expect Arthur to deploy his young charge conservatively from the bench and lean heavily on King for more minutes in the Darwin heat.

The injury wash-up from the loss to the Knights on Saturday ended up relatively benign for the Eels given that Mitchell Moses was seemingly staring down the barrel of a season-ending knee injury. As it stands he will miss two games alongside Smith while Tepai Moeroa will be watching from the crowd for a further week after accepting a three game suspension for his ugly, and frankly stupid, shoulder charge on Chris Heighington. Bevan French looks to have passed through concussion protocol following his nasty head knock with Kayln Ponga.

As has been the case in recent weeks, the Eels get a few reinforcements back after offering fresh sacrifices to the injury gods. For Round 14 BA welcomes back Corey Norman, Jarryd Hayne and Tim Mannah after leaving Moses and Smith on the bloody altar. Hayne arrives just in time to aid a reshuffled backline at centre as Brad Takairangi switches from the backs to the forwards to cover for the loss of Moeroa. Mannah will boost the improving forward pack from the bench as the Eels start arguably their strongest three-man middle rotation in Daniel Alvaro, Peni Terepo and Nathan Brown.

Moses was barely given 25-minutes to see how he could handle the responsibilities as the lone play-maker before injury struck on Saturday so hopefully Norman fares somewhat better in that regard this week.

The Cowboys are expecting their Origin trio of Michael Morgan, Gavin Cooper and Coen Hess to back-up from the series opener on Wednesday night so a tough ‘road’ home game gets that much harder. The North Queensland franchise has struggled every bit as much as the Eels this year despite their superstar roster but enter this game as comfortable favourites given the respective last starts of the two teams.

 

Parramatta Eels side
1. Bevan French
2. Josh Hoffman
3. Michael Jennings
4. Jarryd Hayne
5. George Jennings
6. Clint Gutherson (c)
7. Corey Norman
8. Daniel Alvaro
9. Cameron King
10. Peni Terepo
11. Manu Ma’u
12. Brad Takairangi
13. Nathan Brown
Interchange
14. Reed Mahoney
15. Tim Mannah (c)
16. David Gower
17. Marata Niukore
18. Siosaia Vave
19. Suaia Matagi
20. Jaeman Salmon
21. Ray Stone

 

Intrust Super Premiership Team List

 

The Magpies will have to dust themselves off in some sort of manner this week if they are to bounce back from the 36-6 thrashing handed to them by the New Zealand Warriors in Round 13. Hosting the 4th placed St George Illawarra Dragons is far from the ideal tonic, especially given that Wenty’s stretched resources are tested even further this week, but here we are!

I am not sure where to even begin with this monstrosity this week but the legend of Piki Rogers grows as the prop-forward-come-backrower-come-half adds a new chapter to his story as he dons the #9. Just don’t ask him to kick.

In a potentially huge blow for the Magpies, there is a chance they could be without NRL reinforcements from the shadow bench given the club’s duties in the Top End throughout the week. Even in the event they are aided by the likes of Siosaia Vave, Suaia Matagi, Jaeman Salmon and Ray Stone, the gap between them and the Dragons might just be a bit too far.

 

Wentworthville Magpies side
1. Nathan Davis
2. Eddie Aiono
3. Kirisome Auva’a
4. Dane Aukafolau
5. Nathan Milone
6. Rhys Davies
7. Arana Taumata
8. Kane Evans
9. Piki Rogers
10. Oregon Kaufusi
11. Matt Woods
12. Yileen Gordon
13. Haimona Hiroti
Interchange
14. Dylan Izzard
15. Daniel Dole
16. Jack Morris
17. Kurt De Luis
18. Abbas Miski

 

Jersey Flegg Team List

 

If the NRL team is battling a crisis at dummy-half, the Flegg team is at DEFCON1 for its halves. Without the services of Joe Taipari, Dylan Brown, Jaeman Salmon this week while Jaydn Field drops back to the extended bench. They have turned to hard-working backrower Nick Okladnikov to provide a human body in the #6 jersey this week. It is probably fair to suggest that Todd Sapienza will be doing most of the play-making!

Two weeks after Steve Dresler made his long awaited return from injury, a second junior Eel is ready to pull on the jersey after an extended layoff as Vea Tapaatoutai cracks the top seventeen. Vea will rotate at hooker with Ayden Carling and likely bring a physical edge to the ruck for the Eels.

Stefano Utoikamanu is expected to back up from playing for NSW in the Under 18s State of Origin while Dylan Clifford returns to the starting backrow after missing Round 13.

Parramatta have a tough task ahead of them this weekend as they host the top seeded Cronulla Sharks at Ringrose Park. A win keeps the Eels right in the hunt for the Top 4 while a loss could see them slide to the bottom of the Top 8. They will need to improve their late-game focus and discipline if they are to triumph after letting a 16-10 lead over the New Zealand Warriors slip to a 32-16 loss last week.

 

Parramatta Eels Jersey Flegg side
1. John Fonua
2. Haze Dunster
3. Tuimavave Afualo
4. Noel Aukafolau
5. Taufa Afu
6. Nick Okladnikov
7. Todd Sapienza
8. Michael Tupou
9. Ayden Carling
10. Sean Keppie
11. Dylan Clifford
12. Salesi Faingaa
13. Jesse Cronin
Interchange
14. Vea Tapaatoutai
15. Steve Dresler
16. Stefano Utoikamanu
17. PJ Vaigalu
18. Tyrone Faulkner
19. Bruce Ward
20. Valance Harris
21. Jaydn Field
22. Sam McGregor

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14 thoughts on “Team List Tuesday – Cash Mahoney Edition

  1. Milo

    Not sure what to think of the team this week; i cannot believe we would play Taka at centre. I was quietly hoping Jenko as much as i love him had a spell for his discipline as he has cost us recently. He is not the only one though. Surely the Taka 2nd row has to be canned…..also Hayne at centre?

  2. Colin Hussey

    Its a very interesting weekend of football for the 3 grades, especially as they each come off bit losses each.

    For the NRL squad its going to be a big game against the cows but with them having 3 backing up from SOO, they could be a bit tired, especially in the heat of Darwin, although they would be a bit more used to playing in those conditions than the eels

    I am really pleased to see the 3 new faces in the team, even though two are on the extended bench, I wonder which of the 4 extended bench players will drop out first?? It would be beneficial for Stone and Salmon to be the first to go, as they would be needed at Wenty, but if I had a say I would keep them in Darwin and let the 2 props head to Wenty instead.

    My reasoning is that by keeping them as part of the squad, it gives them a feel for the team and could give them a confidence boost for the future. Little things like that could be VG for them even if they do not get a run on option.

    It will be good to see how Mahoney goes from the bench, my hope is that he will be given a reasonable amount of time on the paddock rather than a 10 minute stint towards the end of the game, rather see him get say 10 minutes before half time and then another 15 in the second half.

    I see his selection as a real pointer in regards to Cameron KIng and his position in the team, after his efforts last year when he really put on a good show when he was replacement for Pritchard, he has pretty well failed to carry that forward to this year. Next week Kaysa is listed to return, and if Cameron does not take this weekends game as his ticket to hold his spot, then I see Kaysa coming back in the 9 spot and the likely retention of Mahoney as 14 as the backup. Kaysa will be a bit short of a run for that game but with Jaryd, and Tim also in that boat this weekend they will be eased back in the game as well.

    If the Pritchard and Mahoney combo works which I believe it will then we could have a real pointer to the future, certainly we miss Kaysa’s enthusiasm and never say die attitude on the field and he was the 9 in our only two wins so far.

    Eels by a couple.

    1. The rev aka Snedden

      Brother hussey I’m happy to see KP n king go. It’s time we started playing these young kids. It work for smithy I can’t see why it won’t work for brad. What ppl forget is that the avg age for our team back in 2001 was 21yrs old. These days it’s like a retirement house with oldies in it. Lol

    2. Milo

      Col, i can never fault KP effort and intensity; it is a shame that he misses so many games in the NRL and he has not been consistent imo; we need to look at some youth as mentioned and maybe someone outside.

      1. Colin Hussey

        Milo and Rev. Kaysa sadly has had a heck of a lot of misfortune with injuries, the one last year was the result of a tackle by an opposing player that has also put other players out of the game for extended lengths of time. The primary point I am making is that he was the 9 when we had our 2 wins this year as against the amount of game time that King has had, Smith also has not shown the same as he did earlier that got him the extra contract.

        I stand by what I have said in regard to him, I believe out of the 2 main candidates and bench play in Smith Kaysa is by far the better option, he actually showed a lot more in his 3 games this year than King has shown.

        Mahoney is still green especially for the NRL, I sincerely hope he shows up when he comes on in Darwin and he gets enough game time to show what he has, I think I said 15 in the first half and the same in the second.

        What we need though is to sign a recofnised hooker for the rest of the season, & I consider Farah as the ideal and he can also help the likes of Kaysa and Salmon in the vital area of the 9’s role. If not I would be looking at getting Ennis in as an off field coach for them.
        As for age, Kaysa is still only 24 and Mahoney is 20, King 27 in September, at his age King should have consolidated his ability by now, he has been as injury prone as Kaysa has been and so far this year has showed nothing of what he did last year, .

  3. The rev aka Snedden

    Good to see brad starting to give the young boys ago. I just wish he gave them more game time. If there good enough to get picked then there good enough to play long minutes.
    On the line up who comes in if bevan fails his HIA. I just think its time gutherson goes back to fullback n French on the wing. I think salmon should be making his debut also.

    My line up would be.
    1. Gutherson
    2. French
    3. Hayne
    4. M Jennings
    5. G Jennings
    6. Salmon
    7. Norman
    8. Alvaro
    9. King
    10. Peni
    11. Mua
    12. takarangi
    13. Brown

    14. Mahoney
    15. Gower
    16. Mannah
    17. Marata.

    But with that said I don’t think it will happen. If the club does part ways with Norman n we sign Brock lamb I will be happy but ill be just as happy with a Moses / salmon combonation. N if Mahoney does well I can really see him playing 80 minutes in years to come.
    Our future spine will be.

    1. Gutherson
    6. Salmon
    7. Moses
    9. Mahoney

    Our future spine could be
    1. Gutherson
    6. lamb
    7. Moses
    9. Mahoney

    With the players slowly coming back things can only be looking up from here on in.

    #Eels4life#

    1. Colin Hussey

      Rev. I think the addition of Tim will be a benefit, even though he has his detractors and haters he still adds some strength in his runs and generally doesn’t let the team down in his defence either.
      I am not sure that Hayne should be in the centres would rather see him come back as a winger.

      I do not know much, or really anything about Lamb, except he’s at the knights and 21 years old, why are we looking at a player of that age from elsewhere when we already have Salmon brought in?

    2. Milo

      Rev i would prefer Marata as second row and Taka to centre. He has shown early in season he is not suited to second row; it is time to move on imo.
      I am not sure about who plays in the spine and would be concerned about Salmon being in there so young but if good enough then he deserves a shot. Hayne on wing for me.

      1. Ray

        I sort of agree with you Milo, though Taka might come good in 2nd row. He does have a reasonable offload, something most of our forwards seem to lack at the moment. But Yes I would like to see Taka stay as centre, Hayne on wing,Hoffman on bench, Marata starting 2nd row. Will be interesting how Mahoney goes. As to Salmon, haven’t seen him play but he sounds promising.

        1. The rev aka Snedden

          Ray I just don’t think taka is a centre these days even he had a chat to brad about playing in the back row. So to me if brad n brad think his not a centre then his not a centre. Look I think avau’a is more centre then wing the same with Hoffman. As for French his more a wing man not a full back

          1. Ray

            Agree Rev, Taka’s probably reached that stage where he’s a handy forward/bench that can cover as a centre a la Ma’u. I’ll leave it to the Brads to sort it out they know far more than me.👍

          2. Anonymous

            Good as it is to see the young ones get a go I would of liked to see more now as I would of went 1 Giutherson 2 Hayne 3 M. Jennings 4 Takairangi 5 G.Jennings 6 Salmon 7 Norman 8 Alvaro 9 Mahoney 10 Terepo 11 Mau 12 Niukore 13 Brown 14 King 15 Mannah 16 Gower 17 Stone

          3. sixties

            Fair call anonymous, though it’s a big ask for someone like Reed to start.
            BA is obviously conservative in the minutes that Marata plays, but I was in complete agreement with his limited minutes in the first two weeks. Against the Knights, I would have liked to see him get his game time either side of half time.

  4. Offside

    Im excited to see Reed there a good young man not sure if its been reported but this fella and Ray stone spent ladt year working a school for kids with disabilities that a kind of culture id like to foster wither it makes them good players is to be seen but definitely a good sign of character.

    Don’t think the young fella will play more than 20mins unless king goes down but good to see him get his shot

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