After the appetiser on Thursday last week we finally get our first real of the preseason as the Parramatta Eels host the Canberra Raiders in a NRL trial at St Marys Leagues. Brad Arthur has named a strong team featuring both new recruits and boom rookies so there is plenty at stake tonight for a team and club looking to bounce back from a horror 2018.

We are currently missing an official teamlist with kickoff barely 15min away but we do have the full talent list available tonight:

Parramatta Eels squad (alphabetical order)
Daniel Alvaro
Dylan Brown
Rhys Davies
Haze Dunster
David Gower
Clint Gutherson
Josh Hoffman
George Jennings
Michael Jennings
Oregon Kaufusi
Shaun Lane
Reed Mahoney
Tim Mannah
Tepai Moeroa
Mitch Moses
Marata Niukore
Ethan Parry
Junior Paulo
Jaeman Salmon
Peni Terepo
Stefano Utoikamanu

 

Speculative Team List (Jerseys Number Subject To Change)

1. Clinton Gutherson

2. George Jennings

3. Michael Jennings

4. Josh Hoffman

5. Ethan Parry

6. Dylan Brown

7. Mitchell Moses

8. Junior Paulo

9. Reed Mahoney

10. Daniel Alvaro

11. Marata Niukore

12. Shaun Lane

13. Tepai Moeroa

 

Extended Bench

 

Ethan Parry

Jaeman Salmon

Rhys Davies

David Gower

Oregon Kaufusi

Tim Mannah

Peni Terepo

Stefano Utoikamanu

 

First Half

 

The Eels are kicking off. Gutherson the man with the honours to start this game with his boot. Dylan Brown on the left edge as he makes his ‘debut’ for the Eels.

Canberra work it out 35m off their line before the first penalty of the game comes. Parra will have to dig in early here as the Raiders gain ascendancy in field position.

Defensive line looks solid in the early exchanges but the raiders nearly catch the Eels short with a blocker down attacking Parra’s left edge. The runner is brought down but the Eels commit a penalty slowing the ruck down. Huge set now.

Good defensive shift by our right edge to account for the numbers and they turn Brad Abbey back. Errant pass from the Raiders sees them lose a chunk of territory and on the last they lose the ball forwards in-goals in the contest for a bomb.

A surging carry from Paulo takes the Eels over halfway. Oh wow, sensational catch behind the body from Parry as he somehow gogo-gadgets hands a ball behind him on a short side play by Gutho before earning a penalty.

The Eels work to their left with Mahoney taking control but it looks like Daniel Alvaro has lost the ball in a tackle.

Canberra break to their left from the scrum win and continue to work that way as they drive over halfway. They will kick from 10m inside Parra’s territory and bomb Gutherson who takes it comfortably. Geroge Jennings takes the first ruck run of the set but is called back for going too far off the mark. Parry and Moeroa follow before Dylan gets his first touch and puts Shaun Lane into a half gap. Nice first touch.

He follows it up superbly! Deft kick into the corner that earns the Eels a scrum as the kick chase from Michael Jennings drives the fullback into touch.

Sloppy scrum win the eventually gets to Junior. Alvaro is up next as the Eels set up to the left. Bit of a mess in front of the posts as Moses is eaten up. Moeroa takes the settler before Dylan has a cheeky dart at the line. We run down our right on the last and look to have numbers but Hoffman can’t find Parry. He desperately offloads and it hits the dirt as Gutherson stubs it with his foot and the turnover eventually happens a metre off Canberra’s line.

Very ordinary reply from the Raiders as they kick early looking to flip the field but Parry is perfectly positioned to take it and get the Eels on the front foot. A good run and offload from Junior sets Moses up for a right edge raid but the Raiders defend it nicely. Moses backs up for an attacking bomb that nets a line drop out as the visitors jump from the field of play to defuse the kick.

Polar winds up from the restart and takes it to 28m out from the try line. The Eels immediately shift right after another quality offload from Junior but Hoffman can’t release Parry once more – he does however earn a penalty for an obvious flop.

A sloppy left edge shift ends up with Gutherson getting wrapped up before Brown and M.Jennings link up for a run down the left. Now to the right once more and this time it all comes together! Gutherson sweeps out the back and holds up long enough to attract the defence before cutting out Hoffman to find Parry. The towering rookie winger beats the cover defence to dive over in the corner for first points.

 

Try scored by Ethan Parry. Conversion unsuccessful by Mitchell Moses.

Eels lead 4-0

15min gone

 

Another beastly carry from Junior as he continues to really impress in his return home. The forwards grind the ball to halfway before Moses uses Niukore down the right. The #7 then drives a ball in behind, neat kick and a much improved option than the midfield bombs that proliferated 2018!

Some punishing defence from George Jennings forces an error in the next set!

Now Junior is playing 5/8 from the scrum win! He links up to his outside men and eventually Hoffman takes the run. Show and go from Dylan a couple of tackles later and he nearly slices through! So, so close.

Lightning shift to the right as Moses looks to create numbers. He can’t find Parry with the pass so he rolls the ball on the felt. Parry recovers in-goals but puts a foot out before he can plant the ball. Damn close again!

We recover the ball quickly as we force another error in defence and then earn a penalty.

Paulo and Alvaro cart it up early in the set. Right now as Moses finds Gutherson who is buried by a heavy shot but the talismanic fullback bounces right up. Early kick from Moses here as he grubbers ahead and a great chase from Hoffman forces a line drop out. That will take us to quarter time.

 

First Quarter

Parramatta Eels 4 lead the Canberra Raiders 0

 

Second Quarter

 

Alas, the quality finish to the quarter is negated by the fact that we are kicking off in each quarter. The Eels will however receiver the ball. Mannah is on for Paulo and Salmon is in for Hoffman it looks like.

Brown fields the kickoff and directs Mannah into the enclosing green wall. Nice dart from Reed Mahoney down the left opens up a charge for Terepo on the next tackle and an early kick from Brown traps the Raiders 1m off their line. Superb start to the set.

The Raiders counterpunch with a strong dummy half run of their own but the Eels barely contain the potential line break. Gutherson cleans up the clearing kick as Salmon and G.Jennings come in field for the settlers.

Mannah over runs Mahoney but the young rake pulls the ball in, preventing the forward pass.

THERE WE GO! Mitchell Moses explodes into the game as he slices through the left edge. He glides to the fullback and shows tremendous vision to kick crossfield to a wide open Ethan Parry! Champagne rugby league right there!

 

Try scored by Ethan Parry. Conversion unsuccessful by Mitchell Moses

Eels lead 8-0

25min gone

 

Mannah with the kickoff charge. Moeroa and Terepo are up next before the Eels work right to Marata who gains some handy metres cutting back in-field.

Hah, a huge slice of fortune for the Eels leads to their third try of the day!

Moses steps out of dummy half and drills a poor kick right into a defender. He quickly redeems himself as he scoops up the loose pass and kicks ahead. It might as well have been delivered by one Shane K. Warne as it takes a wicked leg breaks and forces an error from the fullback. Moses leads the chase and recovers before flicking a ridiculous offload to Jaeman Salmon who steps passed a cover defender and scores!

 

Try scored by Jaeman Salmon. Conversion successful by Mitchell Moses.

Eels lead 14-0

28min gone.

 

The Eels pick up a clearing penalty on the back of a bullish charge from Moeroa. Alas, Shaun Lane loses the ball immediately after so the Raiders will work it out of their red zone.

Some good defence up the middle by Mannah mid-count and on the next tackle plays is called back as the Raiders offload simultaneously with the held call. The heave the ball downfield towards G.Jennings but immediately concede a penalty in the tackle. Parra doing it easy in the field position stakes at the moment.

Strong run from Niukore to start the set. Draws applause from the stands. The Eels start to work left as Brown dummies to Lane and breaks a tackle – great strength from the rookie playmaker.Great vision and execution from Gutherson on the next tackle as he flies down the left edge short side and diagnoses that there is no fullback at home. He slips a cheeky grubber in behind and Michael Jennings flies through to plant the ball down.

 

Try scored by Michael Jennings. Conversion successful by Mitchell Moses.

Eels lead 20-0

34min gone

 

Oregon Kaufusi on now as the Eels start to work through their extended bench. Solid set after points, nothing major to report of but the Eels complete their set by finding the turf inside Canberra’s red zone.

The Raiders are hard pressed to work it out to halfway in reply but a well struck clearing kick turns Gutherson around, netting them their best end to a set in some considerable time.

Salmon provides a handy carry to take the Eels over halfway and Brown closes the books on the set with a towering bomb that nearly draws an error out of the opposing fullback.

A clever kick from the Raiders early in the set nearly results in a 40/20 but Gutherson gets some assistance from the bounce and tidies it up. Canberra release the pressure valve on the next tackle as they concede a ruck penalty.

Salmon taps and finds Moses on the first but it looks like the halfback has lost the ball in the tackle. Loose error in the shadow of half time.

The Eels will be looking for a clean sheet at oranges but they concede a penalty early in the tackle count. Mannah unleashes a punishing shot from the quick tap and go. Lots of ooooohhhs from the crowd there.

A second penalty follows a couple of tackles later and the Raiders are just throwing bodies at the line now. Bah, they repel a crash ball under the uprights but get caught out at marker on the next play and the dummy half dives over with under a minute on the clock. Looks like the upright impeded our markers there but still a frustrating concession by our defence after a brilliant opening half.

 

Try scored by the Canberra Raiders. Conversion successful.

 

Half Time

Parramatta Eels 20 lead the Canberra Raiders 6

 

Second Half / Third Quarter

 

I am informed that we likely only have one more quarter of play featuring our top personnel. I will 100% be providing updates through that period but I might clock off in the fourth quarter to hunt for some food and drinks.

The Eels will be kicking off in the third quarter. Starting bookends are back on for the Eels. Haze Dunster has spelled Ethan Parry.

Tidy opening set from the Raiders. Gutherson cleans up the kick on the bounce to get the Eels underway. Dunster and .Jennings take the early runs. Paulo has the next carry and gets ANOTHER offload away. Big charge from Gower in the wake of that second phase play and the Eels send the ball skyward from the boot. Big bomb but the fullback is equal to the task as he produces a flying take.

First penalty of the half to the Eels as Dunster is taken out by a kick chaser.

Moeroa has the first run, followed by Alvaro.

Oh dear we butcher a certain try after some brilliant lead up play. Junior plays halfback as he spreads the ball out wide, great angled run and offload by Lane release M.Jennings and the flying centre positions everything perfectly up until the final pass to his brother. The ball is a shocker and ends up batted forwards by a desperate George Jennings.

The Raiders work downfield in what is their best possession for some time and once again they found a way to crack the defence of the Eels under the uprights. Something of a question mark about whether the ball was grounded to be fair but to excuse the referee (if he did get it wrong) it is the preseason.

 

Try scored by the Canberra Raiders. Conversion successful.

Raiders trail 12-20

 

The gap has closed to 8pts following tries either side of half time. Parramatta need to rally now and put the game beyond reach in this quarter.

Oooph, poor error from Havili it looks like. The Raiders rake jumps out of dummy half looking to catch Gutherson out but he drills the ball out on the full. Chance for the Eels to settle now.

Parra work to their right with Gower before swinging back left to Brown who uses Junior Paulo. Another offload for the big prop forward! Long right-edge shift to Salmon but it is all sideways footy and the defence contain him easily.

Back to the posts with Alvaro before Brown tries to lace a grubber in behind. It is trapped by a defender in the front line and Brown quickly makes the tackle.

Another good set for the Raiders as they pin the Eels 10m off their goal line. Some tough work to do now. A neat dart from Mahoney relieves some of the pressure and eventually draws a penalty on the penultimate tackle! Big play right there.

Some errant play from the Eels as Dunster does well to stay in the field of play. He ends up in the same situation a couple of tackles later but can’t avoid getting bundled into touch the second time around. Execution by Moses off in both scenarios.

It takes a long time to set the scrum but eventually Canberra win the loose head. An early raid down their right edge is snuffed out by Junior Paulo of all people as he executes a textbook driving tackle!

The Raiders end up getting a fresh set as the Eels lose the ball forwards competing for the bomb. It looks like the Eels are starting to pull key players with the likes of Gutherson and Moeroa hitting the showers.

We survive the back-to-back sets though as the Raiders produce their own error shortly after.

Stefano Utoikamanu charges on the ball for his first carry but he is met by some stiff defence and ends up on his back. The clearing kick from the Eels finds the Canberra custodian on the full and the visitors will push forwards with momentum here.

A nice take from Hoffman (filling in at fullback) brings an end to the Raiders’, um, raid but in the following set our loose kick chase is punished by the Canberra fullback as he splits the line and makes an easy 30m or so.

We rally quickly and reset our defensive line but the third quarter has been nothing short of sloppy for the Eels.

The set ends with a mad dash in the in-goals for a grubber kick but the Raiders knock on in the competition for the ball. Bullet dodged there.

Much better from Parra this time around. Brown nearly creates a linebreak as he sweeps down the left and then he traps the Raiders just off their line with a precision bomb. Alas the Eels are too eager getting off the line on the next tackle and are pinged for jumping offside but that will do us for the third quarter of play.

 

Third Quarter

Parramatta Eels 20 lead the Canberra Raiders 12

 

My plans to scavenge some food and drink might have been waylaid. It looks like the Eels will keep enough intriguing talent on the field to warrant updates. Moses, Gutherson and some other premier players have been iced though.

The Raiders will kickoff in the final quarter.

Terepo it looks like takes the opening charge. It seems like Dylan Izzard might be taking over at dummy half, indeed some Wenty talent has filtered into the game across the park.

Looking at the team as they finish off their opening set, there is actually a good chunk of Wenty talent out there so I might steal a march on the concession stands and grab a feed. My apologies for taking the early mark but feel free to keep commenting on the game in this blog!

Look out for my post-match blog as we dive into the good and bad from the first hit out for the Eels in 2019.