NRL Team List
We are taking a deep dive into my childhood for this week’s Team List Tuesday as the Eels host one of the closet things the NRL has to super-villains in the Sydney Roosters, or to keep in theme with this week’s TLT, the Roo-stars. Naturally, the protagonist of the moment is none other than Michael ‘MJ’ Jordan as he returns from suspension to face his old club. Jennings might not quite have the hops of ‘His Airness’ but the explosive centre started the season in top form against the Panthers and now has a fascinating showdown looming on Friday night as he looks to outpoint young excitement machines in Latrell Mitchell and Joseph Manu.
There are minimal changes to the Eels otherwise, as you would imagine after a 2-0 start. In fact, the only other new face this week joins the team by way of the shadow bench. Peni Terepo returns to action this week after serving his suspension for his misdeeds on an Air New Zealand flight. He is joined there by Oregon Kaufusi, Josh Hoffman and George Jennings.
Round 3 shapes up as a big individual game for a couple of Eels outside of ‘MJ’ with Blake Ferguson and Kane Evans also likely to be pumped up to face their previous employers. The Roosters will be almost at full strength as they welcome back superstar halfback Cooper Cronk, although they are without the services of Brett Morris.
The Looney Tunes needed the ‘Secret Stuff’ (Space Jam spoilers – it was water) to keep pace with the Mon-stars in Space Jam but the Eels will want to test their mettle against the best without the need for any mental-tricks. Make no doubt, Friday will be a huge game for the Eels.
| Parramatta Eels | Sydney Roosters | ||
| 1 | Clinton Gutherson © | 1 | James Tedesco |
| 2 | Maika Sivo | 2 | Daniel Tupou |
| 3 | Michael Jennings | 3 | Latrell Mitchell |
| 4 | Brad Takairangi | 4 | Joseph Manu |
| 5 | Blake Ferguson | 5 | Matt Ikuvalu |
| 6 | Dylan Brown | 6 | Luke Keary |
| 7 | Mitchell Moses | 7 | Cooper Cronk |
| 8 | Daniel Alvaro | 8 | Jared Waerea-Hargreaves |
| 9 | Reed Mahoney | 9 | Jake Friend (c) |
| 10 | Junior Paulo | 10 | Siosiua Taukeiaho |
| 11 | Shaun Lane | 11 | Boyd Cordner (c) |
| 12 | Marata Niukore | 12 | Mitchell Aubusson |
| 13 | Tepai Moeroa | 13 | Victor Radley |
| 14 | Jaeman Salmon | 14 | Isaac Lui |
| 15 | Tim Mannah © | 15 | Zane Tetevano |
| 16 | Kane Evans | 16 | Lindsay Collins |
| 17 | David Gower | 17 | Angus Crichton |
| 18 | Oregon Kaufusi | 19 | Brock Lamb |
| 19 | Peni Terepo | 20 | Asu Kepaoa |
| 20 | Josh Hoffman | 21 | Nat Butcher |
| 21 | George Jennings | 22 | Lachlan Lam |
Injury & Suspension Report
| Nathan Brown | Pectoral | Round 14 |
| Will Smith | Arm | Round 8 |
| Manu Ma’u | Knee | Round 6 |
| Stefano Utoikamanu | Ankle | Round 9 |
Canterbury Cup Team List
The Magpies bounced back from a lacklustre showing in Round 1 with a solid all-round team effort to knock off the Bulldogs 24-22. The unexpected victory over the reigning premiers hopefully will serve as the catalyst to kick-start Wenty’s season. They welcome back Rhys Davies at halfback while Brad Keighran officially makes his transition to the halves (he played there in Round 2) as Matt McIlwrick takes over the dummy-half duties.
For the first time this year, Wenty might be able to gain full access to the four NRL shadow bench players seeing as their game falls on the Sunday and the Eels play on Friday night. That means all four of Oregon Kaufusi, Peni Terepo, Josh Hoffman and George Jennings are in the frame to boost Wenty’s chances of victory.
| Wentworthville Magpies | North Sydney Bears | ||
| 1 | Bevan French | 1 | Kieren Moss |
| 2 | Damon Goolagong | 2 | Asu Kepaoa |
| 3 | Josh Minhinnick | 3 | Ed Murphy |
| 4 | Ethan Parry | 4 | James Tuitahi |
| 5 | Greg Leleusiuao | 5 | Bernard Lewis |
| 6 | Brad Keighran | 6 | Lachlan Lam |
| 7 | Rhys Davies | 7 | Brock Lamb |
| 8 | Mitch Butfield | 8 | John Tuivaiti |
| 9 | Matt McIlwricck | 9 | Bradley Deitz |
| 10 | Tekina Vailea | 10 | Max Brailey |
| 11 | Andrew Davey | 11 | Sitili Tupouniua |
| 12 | Salesi Faingaa | 12 | Joshua Curran |
| 13 | Ray Stone | 13 | Nat Butcher |
| 14 | Dylan Izzard | 14 | Sam Verrills |
| 15 | Haimona Hiroti | 15 | Drew Hutchison |
| 16 | D’Rhys Miller | 16 | Fletcher Baker |
| 17 | Jacob Esau | 17
.18 |
Stefano Hala
Tom Freebairn |
Jersey Flegg Team List
The Eels started off just about as poorly as you could have possibly conceived in your worst thoughts as they completely capitulated to the Bulldogs on the back of a horror 53% completion rate. They have no other option but to improve this week following that. Dean Feeney has chosen to stick firm with his young troops, with the only changes to the official team coming by way of injury.
Michael Cheer was already a late inclusion in Round 1 but Tasi Matautu replaces James Porter in the front row. Porter was injured in a sickening high shot that left him motionless for over 10min before he was medicabbed off the field. It goes without saying that my best wishes go out to James in his recovery.
The other noteworthy addition to the team is that of SG Ball forward David Hollis to the extended bench. Hollis may not end up featuring this week but he is a near certainty to become an important player to the Flegg later in the season.
| Parramatta Eels | Sydney Roosters | ||
| 1 | Sione Fonua © | 1 | McKenzie Baker |
| 2 | Taufa Afu | 2 | Cameron Hall |
| 3 | Tuimavave Afualo | 3 | Christian Tuipulotu |
| 4 | JP Nohra | 4 | Ethan O’Neill |
| 5 | Michael Cheer | 5 | Tyrell Neiufi |
| 6 | Nick Tillburg | 6 | Harrison Edwards |
| 7 | Bailey Biondi-Odo | 7 | Zane Harris |
| 8 | Valance Harris | 8 | Daniel Fifita |
| 9 | Kyle Schneider | 9 | Freddy Lussick |
| 10 | Tasi Matautu | 10 | Tagiolupe Tivalu |
| 11 | Charbel Tasipale | 11 | Egan Butcher |
| 12 | Arron Shelford | 12 | Luca Moretti |
| 13 | Jesse Cronin © | 13 | Elih Jackson |
| 14 | Joey Small | 14 | Jake Kambos |
| 15 | Bruce Wakeling | 15 | Stanley Malae |
| 16 | Vea Tapatoutai | 16 | Geordie Brand |
| 17 | Harry Duggan | 20 | Malachi Retchford |
| 18 | Jack Jordan | 17 | Jake O’Meley |
| 19 | David Hollis | ||
Interesting selections and welcome back Peni, will he play or not, if he does who makes way?
A question. I gather while under suspension that he would not have been part of the training squad??? so he needs to make up for that this week, so a tuff few days to come!!
I would like to see the Maggies game as I was impressed by each of Stone, Goolagong, GL had a good game also I liked the look of Keighran as well, his goal kicks were impressive.
There is some talent in the squad which for me augers well for the future, a few others also impressed but they had luck on their side for the win against the dogs.
Col I thought Faingaa had a good game, got through a lot of work. Agree with Stone.
Peni will be interesting, I think he may come into the 17. If Gennings is fit will he take a spot on the wing?
John, I had mixed thoughts with Faingaa, he did some good things but also seemed out of it at other times. Hard to really keep watch on them all, especially when numbers and players positions change, took a while to realise that the 9 was playing in the halves and the Hagis was the hooker/dummy half, only his ginger hair gave me the clue to who it was, our new signing.
Like the comments Col and John. I am not sure if Peni will play…something tells me he needs to play a game in Wenty BUT I am probably wrong. He would be good to replace Evans or Gower who both did well last week imo.
Parra have to play with the intensity and minimal errors otherwise easts can put them away early on.
East definitely beatable. Hustle their halves with the ball; keep the play simple as we’ve done and then hit an edge Cronk/ Keary. Sounds simple.
Not sure whether Peni will be in the 17 or not, Evans I thought was ok but still I have questions on him as he does not use his size to abilities. If Peni was to come into the 17 then it will be harder to pick who drops off the bench, we need a utility and after last weeks game Salmon gets the nod, Evans could be a great selection if he tears into his old teammates. but will he? Mannah & Gower wont let the side down so if Peni comes in it would be at the expense of Evans or if someone needs a spell with an injury niggle,
Agree with hustle their halves but they also need to watch Mitchel, hopefully Fergo will be given that task.
I think you may be correct about Evans. If Peni was to be elevated it would be either Evans or Gower and I think that Gower has the edge at the moment. Not much in it.
I watched the Eels v Dragons game from August 2018. That was a game we dominated from start to finish. If you look at Evans that night and he plays like that week in week out he would be in the 17 every week.
The sorrow of it John is that Evans has the body size and could be anything, I wonder why he hasn’t progressed in that way. We had players similar in the past Dallas Weston is one that comes to mind, big forward with talent to burn, but he seemed to have burnt it out by running onto the field on many occasions, There are others that come to mind as well in that position,
If he plays and Peni comes back via Wenty at least he gets game time and can start his redemption at that spot, its then up to those who run on the paddock on Friday night to show they deserve their spots and Peni should know he is auditioning not for Wenty but for the eels and his future.
John and Col, it will be interesting either way who comes in or who stays. Let’s hope the competition for spots makes them all stick to easts…..
Milo, what are the going to stick to them, should we have voodoo dolls and pins?
I hope they do stick it to the chicakadees though.
I’m quite pumped for this game. Logic says a victory is unlikely, but there is a little voice in my head telling me to believe and have faith in my team.
I’d be happy to see Peni get his shot at redemption at the expense of Kane, who hasn’t been bad, but just doesn’t have the ability to bend the line as much as Peni and I rate them both as risky as each other with ball in (or out) of hand.
If we are to have a chance, I think we are going to need to run the big boys directly at Keary and Cronk all night to try and zap some of their energy in attack. Also kick away from Tupuo and let Fergo go to work on their fill in for Morris, just as I’m sure Sivo is going to be in for a busy night, or will we see Gennings slot in last minute?
Come on boy’s….lessgo Parra.
I am an unabashed fan of PT. After the last few weeks, I am wondering if he fits into the team any longer. We all make poor decisions and deserved a second chance. But, the balance of the team and the harmony we currently have may be spoilt by having PT back in there. I am happy to be proven wrong as I am a fan, but am I right or wrong?
While I understand what you are saying, I see this being something that the playing group will take on board and do their best to help rather than cause issues with them. All of the players are tight and it would have hurt them to see what happened, they know they have their own jobs to do, and that being dropped is always an option along with being shown the door by the club, which he’s been part of for a few years.
40\20 what do you think the chances are of peni playing 1st grade or do you think BA will give him time in wenty for match fitness ?
I think we are a good chance of beating the chooks. All I’m reading everywhere is do you think we can best the chooks to me some ppl are already admitting defeat but saying that. What do you think ?