Venue – Panthers Stadium

Date – Saturday, 1st September

Kick Off – 11am

It’s a case of deja vu as last round opponents, the Bulldogs and the Eels, clash again in this Jersey Flegg elimination final. The Dogs emerged victorious last Sunday to the tune of 30 to 18, but Parra certainly took plenty from a game in which they gave their opposition a 20 point half time lead.

Like most lower grade teams, the Eels have been subjected to player elevation causing instability in their line-up, literally on a weekly basis. Throw in significant injuries, and the team was missing 14 players in last week’s match.

The two teams have only met once this year, but there will be some feeling in it following last week’s match. Throw in some ex-Eels in Seve, Doorey and Dias and there’s sure to be some extra niggle in the tackles.

Here’s how the two teams line up.

Parramatta Eels 
1. Ethan Parry 2. Haze Dunster 3. Tuimavave Afualo 4. Nick Okladnikov
5. Taufa Afu 6. Todd Sapienza 7. Sione Fonua 8. Stefano Utoikamanu
9. Vea Tapaatoutai 10. Sean Keppie 11. Charbel Tasipale 12. Salesi Faingaa
13. Steve Dresler

Interchange 14. Michael Tupou 15. Tyrone Faulkner 16. Mitch Butfield
17. Jesse Cronin 18. Tyler Tuigamala 19. John Paul Nohra 20. Sam McGregor
21. Dylan Clifford 22. David Hollis 23. Samuel Hughes 24. William Kei

Bulldogs
1. Blake Clayton 2. Frank Kuresa 3. Isaiah Tass 4. Jake Averillo 5. Tui Katoa 6. Alex Seve 7. Brandon Wakeham 8. Elie El-Zakham 9. Zac Hetherington 10. Kayne Kalache 11. Javvier Pitavao 12. Dalton Smith 13. Sam Radovu

Interchange: 14. Ryan Gray 15. Sua Aiiloilo 16. Peni Teaupa 17. Matt Doorey 18. Austin Dias

Eels Team Profile

Make no mistake, this is an Eels team fairly oozing with power and talent. The query will surround whether the team can find its cohesion with the injection of players returning from ISP duties.

On that list of returning players we find Stefano Utoikamanu, Steve Dresler, Salesi Fainga’a, Haze Dunster and Ethan Parry. Fortunately for the Bulldogs, star halfback Dylan Brown won’t be returning after he sustained a broken finger in the opening minutes of last week’s ISP match. For those who follow Brown, the tough as nails number 7 hopes to be back by the grand final should the Eels progress.

Utoikamanu on the burst, with Dunster in support.

The Eels forwards are an impressive group and coach Dean Feeney has a genuine embarrassment of riches at his disposal. The starting middle forwards are imposing units who can lay the platform for victory during the opening exchanges. Sean Keppie, who would have also been elevated to ISP were he not departing to Manly, is a mobile prop capable of playing 70 minutes. Stefano Utoikamanu dominates the middle third and would be pushing for an NRL spot were he eligible. Steve Dresler is a genuine old school forward who plays with smarts, hits hard and carries the ball fearlessly.

Charbel Tasipale caught me by surprise in his debut match. He appears to be significantly bigger since finishing SG Ball a few months back, and created a line break with his first touch in Flegg. His back row partner, Salesi Fainga’a has already played international football, having represented Fiji in last year’s World Cup. He’s played more of a running forward role in ISP, but his ball skills add to his case for an NRL rookie contract in 2019.

Hooker Vae Tapaatoutai helped to lay on an impressive blind side try against the Dogs last week, and his options from dummy half are crucial to the team’s success. He could be expected to play long minutes, depending on what role Jesse Cronin plays off the bench. Jesse is a workaholic middle forward, whose size and mobility is also suited to a part-time number 9 role.

Coach Dean Feeney

Feeney has some interesting choices to make off the bench. Tyler Tuigamala, JP Nohra and William Kei offer backline options, whilst Sam McGregor is a utility who can cover back row or centre. However, the toughest challenge centres around his forwards.

If you have a middle forward such as Michael Tupou starting off the bench, life is pretty sweet. Tupou could just as easily start the match, but he brings both power and energy off the bench. Mitch Butfield was greatly missed during his recent injury and like Tupou, would not disappoint in a starting role.

Tyrone Faulkner was one who caught my eye with an aggressive performance last week. The big fella ripped in with every carry and his offloads sparked some enterprising play from a very young team last Sunday. Dylan Clifford is close to returning early from injury, and should he be fit, his inclusion would be a real bonus as he was in fine form earlier this season.

S G Ball players David Hollis and Sam Hughes have recently debuted in this grade. These young blokes have a massive future in the game and didn’t look out of place when they stepped up into Flegg. Like the other SG Ball players who’ve moved this year, they’ve provided Feeney and his assistant, Scott Jones, every reason to feel confident that they can get the job done if needed.

The forwards are obviously a strength in the Flegg team, but that would be a massive undersell of the backs. Given that the two KT Medal winners this year are backs, there’s plenty of strike power to be found in the faster blokes.

Converted half, Sione Fonua, has proven to be incredibly versatile following the shortage of halves this season. Normally a fullback/winger, the elevation of Brown and Salmon, along with the injury to Joe Taipari has seen the power running Fonua step up to fill the hole in recent weeks. The 2018 Coach’s Award is a recognition of his contribution this season. His halves partner, Todd Sapienza, has arguably been the Flegg break out player, after being identified by Anthony Field playing Sydney Shield. His accurate goal kicking has also been a critical addition to the team.

Flegg player of the year, Tui Afualo

Tackle busting centre, Tui Afualo was awarded the 2018 Flegg Player of the Year. After an injury disrupted 2017, Tui is back to his blockbusting best and impossible for defenders to stop one-on-one. He’s also proven his versatility in filling in at five-eighth this year. On the other side, that theme of versatility continues with Nick Okladnikov. The bearded centre has been a key member of the squad, playing both back row and centre and making a fist of both.

Classy finisher Taufa Afu occupies one wing, with Haze Dunster returning from ISP on the other. The work from the inside men usually receives full value with these players on the outside. Fullback, Ethan Parry, completes the multi-skilled team. He returns from playing centre at ISP level and has played on the wing for Parra and in junior representative footy. He’s an aggressive footballer and will bark at his defensive line all match.

How the Match Will Unfold

This will commence as an old fashioned finals match. There will be plenty of forward collisions given the strength of both packs. The Dogs turned up with full of fire and enthusiasm last week, and got the better of the battle in an impressive first stanza.

The Canterbury defence was close to impeccable during that first half last Sunday, and they were at their best late in each half despite being down to 12 men via two sin bin penalties. They also took advantage of their line breaks, with the Eels defence struggling to catch their fleet-footed backs.

However, this week’s it’s impossible to ignore the class and power that’s returned to the side. Even without their star halfback, Dylan Brown, the Eels pack will more than match their opponents. Though the Dogs boast a strong pack, I just can’t see them matching the Eels through the middle.

I’ll be looking for them to keep it basic in the early exchanges with drop offs and inside balls turning the ball back through the middle to tire the Dogs defence, before they start to hit the edges. Watch for the second phase play to disrupt the Canterbury line with Fonua and Parry lurking in support. If the Eels outside backs get early ball, they’ll be difficult to contain.

Prediction: Eels by 16

Eels forever!

Sixties

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