The Cumberland Throw

Team List Tuesday – How Can I Hold All These Rookies Edition

NRL Team List

 

 

In some parallel universe where the NRL Player Stock Exchange exists, brokers are currently running around like headless chooks throwing piles of paper into the air and screaming ‘BUY PARRA ROOKIES, BUY PARRA ROOKIES!’. 

Indeed, the market for rookies at the Eels is soaring in 2018. Admittedly it all began somewhat tepidly with the debut of backrower Marata Niukore in Round 11 but it exploded more recently with the additions of dummy-half Reed Mahoney (controversially recently dubbed the Rookie Of The [Quarter] Year by yours truly) in Round 14 and five-eighth Jaeman Salmon in Round 21.

Oregon Kaufusi, a promising prop forward, is set to enter the fray this week as they rookie tally clicks over to four for Brad Arthur. Kaufusi makes his NRL debut in arguably the most testing of conditions as the Eels travel to Melbourne looking to spoil the Storm’s Top 4 aspirations. Like fellow rookie Salmon, Kaufusi has another year of eligibility left in the Jersey Flegg so his debut speaks greatly towards the regard in which he is held – especially given the burdens placed on young props in the NRL.

The young bull has earned his shot mind you. He has ground out 12 gutsy caps in the Intrust Super Premiership for the Wentworthville Magpies where he also notched 2 tries. Oregon’s debut comes at the expense of the resurgent Kane Evans though as the towering bookend is sidelined by a calf injury until next week. Will Smith joins Evans in the injury ward as well as his troublesome hamstrings shut him down for two weeks.

Surprisingly, Tim Mannah is named to return from a broken hand and will bookend Reed Mahoney with the in-form Peni TerepoSiosaia Vave drops back to the bench after recording his best game of the season but should Mannah fail to overcome his hand injury I expect Vave to push into the starting team with Cameron King taking his place on the bench.

David Gower and Peni both chalk up their 100th NRL caps this week in a nice personal milestone for both men. For Gower especially this is a tremendous mark after overcoming a journeyman tag to pull on his 80th jersey for the Parramatta Eels.

 

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

 

Intrust Super Premiership Team List

 

The Magpies truly played out a game of two halves on Sunday as they saw out the North Sydney Bears in a thrilling 36-30 shootout. After dominating the Bears in the first half to the tune of a 24-6, they were nearly run down in the second half amidst a tide of possession for the Bears.

Yet another second half fade is a concerning sign for Wenty but any win is a good win in a season like theirs. As with most recent team lists, there is a strong youth presence this week as the same core pieces for the future of the Eels get more big time experience in the ISP.

Haze Dunster, Dylan Brown and Salesi Faingaa are joined in the starting team by Stefano Utoikamanu this week as the mountainous young prop looks set to make his starting debut in just his second ISP game. Across the rest of the line-up it is the same familiar faces that we have seen for most of the season as Wenty and Nathan Cayless draw heavily on the depth of the joint-venture.

The Magpies have a seemingly tough assignment this week as they host the 4th placed Mounties but if truth be told, only three wins separate the two clubs. This should be a competitive encounter given Wenty’s recent turn of form and the injection that the likes of Josh Hoffman, Bevan French and Ray Stone will give them.

 

Wentworthville Magpies side
1. Abbas Miski
2. Haze Dunster
3. Nathan Davis
4. Dane Aukafolau
5. Greg Leleisiuao
6. Arana Taumata
7. Dylan Brown
8. Magnus Stromquist
9. Rhys Davies
10. Stefano Utoikamanu
11. Salesi Faingaa
12. Haimona Hiroti
13. Daniel Dole
Interchange
14. Eddie Aiono
15. Matt Woods
16. Piki Rogers
17. Yileen Gordon

 

Jersey Flegg Team List

 

BYE

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15 thoughts on “Team List Tuesday – How Can I Hold All These Rookies Edition

  1. Anonymous

    Interesting team this week; its great to see another debutant. It is a shame about Evans as he was playing v well.
    I have no doubt Kaufusi will need to be skilled in holding the ball and of course ‘being wrestled’ by the best in the business. Melb will be under pressure and no doubt come out v strong; as will the refs.
    Will Parra get the same advantages as last week? Nope; nor will the refs be as kind…..let us see how this game is played out and I would love someone to compare the ruck speed with last weeks against Saints.
    We can win this if we complete well tackle and play for 80 min( and get the same treatment off the refs).

    1. Forty20 Post author

      The treatment we received by the officials was a stunning breath of fresh air I must admit!

      We have definitely been trending upwards over the last ~2 months but this will let us know if the team is truly back. Our last two trips to the Bleak City have resulted in pretty strong showings with our boys knocking off the Storm around Origin 3 last year and then barely losing in controversial circumstances in the first week of the finals.

      I will say this though, regardless of the result this week it certainly feels like we are on the of the few (only?) bottom 8 rosters that is putting itself on the front foot for 2019. I know there is a review undergoing that will lead to some change in the footy department but we are blooding key pieces across the team and ironing out some frustrating kinks that have held us back this year.

      It makes for small solace given everyone’s expectations coming into 2018 but we have taken our medicine and just maybe there is good reason for hope moving forwards.

  2. Luke

    hi guys, love the rundowns. I would have thought Ray Stone would have gotten a go in NRL by now as he was one of the best of the next generation, but Kaufusi has jumped ahead of him – is that due to needing a middle forward for size? interested on your thoughts. Cheers, LA

    1. Forty20 Post author

      Stone has been a consistent standout for Wenty this season despite their struggles but he was bogged down by injury recently. I expect him to come into calculations in 2019, Luke.

      1. Offside

        I spoke with someone about Ray recently if it wasn’t for the injuries this season he would of got a shot been a tough year for him with injury

  3. The rev aka Snedden.

    40/20 kaufusi any relation to the storms kaufusi boys.

    I like the influx of jrs coming thru the future looks bright. I think ray stone is next on the production line to come into grade.

    I hope BA retains Norman but only if he plays fullback. I think salmon will be our long term 5/8 he really did enough to show he can only get better.

    Reedy will be our 80 minute DH next year. Reedy is like a pimple his grown on me he looks the goods nice sharp passing n news when to run.

    Marata his growing into a big plus on the edges him n moeroa are a good back row pairing.

    Next years
    NRL eels side.

    1. Norman.if he stays if not (gutherson)
    2. G.Jennings
    3. Gutherson (c) ferguson if Norman’s goes
    4. M. Jennings
    5. Hayne.
    6. Salmon
    7. Moses
    8. Paulo
    9. Reedy
    10. Mannah
    11. Moeroa
    12. Marata
    13. Brown

    Bench.
    14. Peni
    15. Kaufusi
    16. Takarangi
    17. Vave.

    18th man
    Manu mua.

    I really don’t think Manu mua will make the side n with the influx of jrs coming thru I think BA is looking to the future.

    Can I get a contract update on these 4 maybe 5 jrs coming thru 5th being stone.

    # Eels4life#

    1. Kaul Pent

      I think manu has to be in the side, constant threat as is crunch. I personally would push someone of the bench and put Moeroa there to play as a middle forward. Maybe push brown to front when a piggie comes off the run him at 13.

      1. The rev aka Snedden.

        Forgot alvaro. He can be 18th man manu mua can play at Wenty. But look I have left out lane also n his manly a leading try scorer with 8. So who drops out

  4. John Eel

    I have watched a lot of media since the victory over the Dragons. Let me say that the message coming out of the experts is that the Dragons lost because they played so poorly and the Storm will beat the Eels because they never lose 3 in a row. To me this is lazy analysis by the commentators.

    Firstly you do not win an NRL game 40-4 unless you do a lot of things right. That game on Sat night was an exhibition of strong defence and great attack. To say that the Storm do not lose 3 games in a row ignores the Eels current good form, recent record against the Storm and the fact that the Storm are not the team that they used to be. Ageing spine, unable to find a replacement for Cronk and the referees losing patience with them.

    Or do I need to simply take off my blue and Gold glasses and have a reality check because I think the Eels have an opportunity tomorrow night to pull the Storms pants down.

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