The Cumberland Throw

Team List Tuesday – Swimming Upstream Edition

NRL Team List

 

The Eels were extraordinary valiant, almost painfully so in the face of adversity, on Saturday night but their cumulative efforts only amounted to the 15th loss of their season as the South Sydney Rabbitohs ran them down in the second half.

As we have become conditioned to in this dreadful year, the Eels did not escape unscathed from the heart-breaking defeat as Kaysa Pritchard (Shoulder/Season) and Daniel Alvaro (Knee/Round 24) joined the burgeoning injury ward in the heart of Western Sydney.

There is a genuine silver lining this week though – with the Eels rapidly running out of troops to call upon an opportunity has come the way of boom youngster Jaeman Salmon to debut in first grade this week. Despite possessing another year of Flegg eligibility (i.e. graduating from the Under 20s at the end of 2019), Salmon has spent the majority of the season in the Intrust Super Premiership where he has toiled relentlessly to steer around an understrength Wenty Magpies outfit.

Just how Brad Arthur and the Eels will look to deploy Salmon remains shrouded in mystery. By trade Jaeman has traditionally played in the halves (specifically as a 5/8) and this has been the case for 2018 to date but the multi-talented youngster can also cover the backrow and centres.

With the Eels fielding a full-strength 1-7 along with a fairly well set backrow rotation I am genuinely intrigued as to what role (however limited) he will play this week!

The other important story line of the week is the fact that Reed Mahoney looks set to control the team from the ruck for 80 minutes. Will Smith is part of the 21-man team list this week but he has been named to the shadow bench as he continues to recover from a hamstring injury. Mahoney has easily been one of the most exciting parts of this year with his crisp service and energetic defence setting him apart from Cameron King and Kaysa Pritchard in recent weeks.

Mahoney is still growing into his own mind in first grade but he is gradually becoming more confident in his own skills – as we witnessed on Saturday with his improved running game from dummy half.

George Jennings returns to the starting line up this week after overcoming a groin injury while Kane Evans, one of Wenty’s best in recent weeks, earns a recall to the bench following Daniel Alvaro’s knee injury.

 

Parramatta Eels side
1. Clint Gutherson (c)
2. Bevan French
3. Michael Jennings
4. Jarryd Hayne
5. George Jennings
6. Corey Norman
7. Mitch Moses
8. Siosaia Vave
9. Reed Mahoney
10. Tim Mannah (c)
11. Marata Niukore
12. Tepai Moeroa
13. Nathan Brown
Interchange
14. Jaeman Salmon
15. Kane Evans
16. Peni Terepo
17. Brad Takairangi
18. Will Smith
19. David Gower
20. Greg Leleisiuao
21. Ray Stone

 

Intrust Super Premiership Team List

 

BYE

 

Jersey Flegg Team List

 

With a bye in the Intrust Super Premiership for the Magpies this week, the Eels are set to field their most fearsome Flegg line up in some considerable time. Dylan Brown, Oregon Kausfusi and Haze Dunster drop back to the junior grade to take their respective places in the starting line up while Salesi Faingaa finally returns from injury to join the extended bench. Curiously Dunster, a specialist on the wing, is scheduled to line up in the centres this week.

Missing a raft of their best players in recent weeks, the Eels have finally fallen out of the hunt for a Top 4 finish as they now sit 3 wins adrift of the 4th placed Mounties. Still, a Top 8 finish beckons for Parramatta and should they arrive in the post season they will be fearsome contenders from the bottom half of the bracket.

 

Parramatta Eels Jersey Flegg side
1. John Fonua
2. Ethan Parry
3. Tuimavave Afualo
4. Haze Dunster
5. Taufa Afu
6. Todd Sapienza
7. Dylan Brown
8. Stefano Utoikamanu
9. Ayden Carling
10. Sean Keppie
11. Oregon Kaufusi
12. Dylan Clifford
13. Steve Dresler
Interchange
14. Jesse Cronin
15. Tyrone Faulkner
16. Michael Tupou
17. Mitch Butfield
18. Salesi Faingaa
19. Nick Okladnikov
20. Vea Tappatoutai
21. Charbel Tasipale
22. Jaydn Field

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13 thoughts on “Team List Tuesday – Swimming Upstream Edition

  1. Milo

    Yes Salmons inclusion means he may be a dummy half? Surely not? Or will there be a late change to the first 13?

    1. mitch

      I’m no Forty20 but I think he’ll be used sparingly off the bench. Also unless injury strikes Reed I don’t imagine it’ll be at rake.

      1. Salty Pete

        Hmm. Interesting. It well maybe insurance against Reed playing the full 80 mins. Maybe Gutho, or Cory will go to hooker to give Reed a break, and Salmon slots in at 5/8?? As Forty20 says, Salmon has toiled without complaint in a much less fancied Wenty outfit. It will be good to see him get a run.

      2. John Eel

        BA’s history is that all players making their debut get limited minutes initially. Think back to Alvaro’s debut, it was painful

  2. John Eel

    The highlight for me this weekend will be the debut of Jaeman Salmon and also how the improved version of Kane Evans goes about his work now he is back in NRL.

    Disappointed for Daniel again this year one of our best.

  3. Rowdy

    Well presented Forty, I look forward to seeing another debutante emerge from the ashes of a truly annus horribilis. I must admit it was not my preferred option earlier in the year to see the likes of Money and now Big Sal get their opportunity but as fate would have it and injury has contributed? They may well be other shinning lights as Niukore has been.

    Well may it be said, or prayed “God bless the Mighty Parramatta Eels” But hopefully, nothing will save the Gold Coast Titans!

  4. Longfin Eel

    Forty, how many more of these Flegg players could we see in the top grade next year? By reports, it certainly sounds like there are some quality players in that team. Just hope the club continues to develop them into great NRL players.

  5. John Eel

    Based on today’s DT it would seem that Bevan has run out of patience and is looking to move on.

    I do not see that his problem is size so much that it is technique. You look at players like Slater and Dufty both similar in stature to Bevan and both successful at FB

    In regard to Jaeman Salmon you have to keep reminding yourself that he still has a year to run in his Flegg career

    1. Colin Hussey

      If Bev plays thinks his performances this year will get him a guaranteed 1 spot he needs to do a heck of a lot of looking at his games this year. While he has been injured and I wonder if that has not affected his game still, he does need to look at his involvement in games and then compare with how he was going last year.

      In some ways I compare him with Corey Oates who wants big money to play in the 2nd row, he also needs to earn that right but when a club like Brisbane has the amount of 2nd rowers on the books they have its gunna be a hard task, the dogs are said to be prepared to off him a forwards spot, same as the eels, but who does he replace, especially with what he’s asking.

      1. John Eel

        Colin would the Eels be seriously looking at him as a second rower. Or do you think that it is more paper talk

        1. Rowdy

          I agree John, why would we be looking at a gun winger ( a position which we need depth in) then look to play him somewhere else that he isn’t proven and pay him big bucks to be as disgruntled here as he apparently is at the Broncos?

        2. Colin Hussey

          Mate, have no idea. Oates has class as a winger, but can be a defensive problem at times, but I would not see him putting out some of our 2nd rowers, All I think is that he is trying to push himself for a price rise compared to the wing, but that is a key position.

          Its more media talk that I read that has him linked to several clubs, such as cows, dogs, another club and us. As he plays primarily left wing he could be a good fit for that spot.

          1. John Eel

            Agree Colin I think it is a beat up by his manager looking for a salary hike.

            I think that George Jennings has been good for us this season. He has done a good job, I think he is our top try scorer.

            Why would you look at an expensive replacement who as Rowdy says does not want to play on the wing.

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