NRL Team List
Injury was added to insult from Friday nights’ loss to the Sydney Roosters as reports in the Sydney Morning Herald leaked today that the Eels are managing a back injury for Dylan Brown. The standout rookie has been omitted from the clash against the Cronulla Sharks this week with Brad Arthur turning to his new Mr Fix-It, Jaeman Salmon to stem the tide. NRL.com put a 6-8 week timeline on the monitoring period for Brown but keep an eye in the media for concrete details over the coming week.
Brown’s absence will be a huge handicap for the resurgent Eels with the rookie half’s partnership with Mitchell Moses flourishing over the first three weeks of the competition. Moses will more than likely have to shoulder the bulk of the load on Saturday night but this is a huge opportunity for Salmon to impress against his junior club in the Sharks.
Tepai Moeroa is back after pulling up lame in the warm-up on Friday night while Oregon Kaufusi holds his place on the bench after an impressive defensive showing against the Roosters as the Eels rumble with four big men on the timber. New recruit Matt McIlwrick could of course be a game day inclusion given that he features on the shadow bench, where he is joined by Ray Stone and outside backs Josh Hoffman and George Jennings.
The Sharks are without Matt Moylan following a serious hamstring injury but Paul Gallen looks to be ready to battle through a rib-cartilage issue to suit up for Saturday night.
| Parramatta Eels | Cronulla Sharks | ||
| 1 | Clinton Gutherson © | 1 | Josh Dugan |
| 2 | Maika Sivo | 2 | Sosaia Feki |
| 3 | Michael Jennings | 3 | Bronson Xerri |
| 4 | Brad Takairangi | 4 | Josh Morris |
| 5 | Blake Ferguson | 5 | Sione Katoa |
| 6 | Jaeman Salmon | 6 | Shaun Johnson |
| 7 | Mitchell Moses | 7 | Chad Townsend |
| 8 | Daniel Alvaro | 8 | Andrew Fifita |
| 9 | Reed Mahoney | 9 | Jayden Brailey |
| 10 | Junior Paulo | 10 | Matt Prior |
| 11 | Shaun Lane | 11 | Briton Nikora |
| 12 | Marata Niukore | 12 | Kurt Capewell |
| 13 | Tepai Moeroa | 13 | Paul Gallen |
| 14 | Peni Terepo | 14 | Blayke Brailey |
| 15 | Tim Mannah © | 15 | Jason Bukuya |
| 16 | Kane Evans | 16 | Aaron Woods |
| 17 | Oregon Kaufusi | 17 | Jack Williams |
| 18 | Ray Stone | 19 | Scott Sorenson |
| 19 | Matt McIlwrick | 20 | Kyle Flanagan |
| 20 | Josh Hoffman | 21 | Aaron Gray |
| 21 | George Jennings | 22 | Braden Hamlin-Uele |
Injury Report
| Player | Injury | Round Due Back |
| Dylan Brown | Back | Indefinite |
| David Gower | Calf | Round 5 |
| Manu Ma’u | Knee | Round 6 |
| Will Smith | Arm | Round 8 |
| Nathan Brown | Pectoral | Round 14 |
| Stefano Utoikamanu | Knee | Round 9 |
Canterbury Cup Team List
The Magpies narrowly went down to the 21-20 to the North Sydney Bears last week but will be looking to secure their first home victory of the season when the host the Jets on Sunday afternoon. Rip Taylor has tinkered slightly with the team to accommodate for the NRL shadow bench but the Magpies will be looking to string a third competitive performance together as their roster starts to benefit from a degree of consistency.
| Wentworthville Magpies | Newtown Jets | ||
| 1 | Bevan French | 1 | William Kennedy |
| 2 | Damon Goolagong | 2 | Luke Polselli |
| 3 | Josh Minhinnick | 3 | Aaron Gray |
| 4 | Ethan Parry | 4 | Ronaldo Mulitalo |
| 5 | Greg Leleusiuao | 5 | Matt Evans |
| 6 | Brad Keighran | 6 | Braydon Trindall |
| 7 | Rhys Davies | 7 | Kyle Flanagan |
| 8 | Mitch Butfield | 8 | Wesley Lolo |
| 9 | Josh Bermingham | 9 | James Segeyaro |
| 10 | Tekina Vailea | 10 | Ava Seumanufagai |
| 11 | Andrew Davey | 11 | Anthony Moraitis |
| 12 | Salesi Faingaa | 12 | Siosifa Talakai |
| 13 | Haimona Hiroti | 14 | Billy Magoulias |
| 14 | Kieran Hayman | 13 | Greg Eastwood |
| 15 | D’Rhys Miller | 16 | Jaimin Joliffe |
| 16 | Nick Kassis | 17 | Daniel Vasquez |
| 17 | Joel Luani | 20 | Josh Carr |
Jersey Flegg Team List
The baby Eels were once again left to rue what could have been as errors derailed another chance at victory as they fell 20-12 to the Sydney Roosters. While they were an improved outfit they are still a ways off where they need to be as the season starts to get into swing.
Deen Feeney has some reinforcements coming to his aid though with promising winger Haze Dunster finally back from an elbow injury sustained in the NRL trial against the Canberra Raiders. Perhaps most importantly though is the potential return of Joe Taipari, who has secured a place on the extended bench. Taipari, one of the Eels’ most exciting prospects in the halves after Dylan Brown, sustained an ACL injury midway through 2018 and would be a huge boost to a team looking for direction and spark to overcome consistency issues.
| Parramatta Eels | Cronulla Sharks | ||
| 1 | Sione Fonua © | 1 | Jonaiah Lualua |
| 2 | Taufa Afu | 2 | Jonah Ngaronoa |
| 3 | Tuimavave Afualo | 3 | Jenson Taumoepeau |
| 4 | JP Nohra | 4 | Vito Tevaga |
| 5 | Haze Dunster | 5 | Josh Delailoa |
| 6 | Nick Tillburg | 6 | Jayden Millard |
| 7 | Bailey Biondi-Odo | 7 | Angus Ernst |
| 8 | Valance Harris | 8 | Thomas Hazelton |
| 9 | Kyle Schneider | 9 | Isaac Longmuir |
| 10 | Tasi Matautu | 10 | Monty Raper |
| 11 | Charbel Tasipale | 11 | Tom Caughlan |
| 12 | Arron Shelford | 12 | Teig Wilton |
| 13 | Jesse Cronin © | 13 | Fina Kula |
| 14 | Joey Small | 14 | Connor Luhan |
| 15 | Bruce Wakeling | 15 | Franklin Pele |
| 16 | Vea Tapatoutai | 16 | Jackson Stewart |
| 17 | Harry Duggan | 17 | James Russell |
| 18 | Jack Jordan | 19 | Jack Boyling |
| 19 | Joseph Taipari | ||
| 20 | Lachlan Poko |
Sad for Brown but hope he’s on mend soon. Cronulla huge bogey team but our forwards can hold them and dominate- halves need to stand up. Salmon is good back up.
This is a game i penciled in for a loss sharks are always tough to beat.
Brown is a big loss amazing thing to say about a 3 game 18 year old
Alot of pressure on salmon hopefully he can do his job.
I think Ray Stone may get a run with Tepai not playing i feel we are lacking in backrow cover
And just like I predicted in previous blogs…. Dylan’s body won’t stand up to the riggers of first grade (only because of his frame) and may miss the rest of the season.
You’re a legend! Can’t believe you knew it would happen to someone you’ve probably never met and know nothing about, apart from he is an eels player.
Two questions;
1.) What do you mean by only because of his frame? As to me he seems pretty solid for an 18 year old but isn’t top heavy on tiny legs.
2.) What are this weeks lotto numbers as you clearly can see into the future?
What a surprise 4 dislikes lol….
Apparently he has what’s called Hot Spots, it’s an injury common with fast bowlers in cricket, if not treated properly it can lead to stress fractures. He sustained the injury due to the big increase in his workload during the offseason with all the extra weight training and physical contact (westling) with grown men.
40/20 off topic any news on kaysa Pritchard any pending due dates or the club going to medically retire him.
On salmon I think he will fire. He will have a point to prove n I liked him at 5\8 last year. On Dylan brown I don’t think he has done that much. To me looks like Moses is doing 90% of the Work. I just haven’t seen enough of Dylan brown for him to be in 1 st grade.
On our bench I just can’t see Brad Arthur going with a 4 prop rotation. I think mcillwrick will make his Eels debut.
This will be a nockem down drag them out kinda win. Yet again we come up against another bogey team.
My score will be.
Eels 28 Sharks 18
If Mcillwrick comes onto the bench, I hope Terepo starts and Alvaro drops off! Alvaro has been playing poorly the last 2 games.
Terepo won’t start it will be alvaro n junior Paulo. Terepo will be back up to tepia moeroa. Mcillwrick will come on to the bench at the expense of kaufusi.
Kane Evans has been playing well n making good metres of the bench.
Timmy mannah will come on during the game at the 35 minute mark giving junior Paulo a rest. Timmy mannah has a fast Play the Ball for a prop or middle forward. That’s why I think kaufusi will make way for mcillwrick.
Interesting times Forty20. I believe this week is a real test of character for our boys and reminds me of the spirit of unity built in the club during the turmoil of 2016. The team also has a touch of the mercurial magic that permeated our 2017 assault on the premiership. IMO we can bounce back this week to show the league world what we are made of. I believe the whole club, especially our 30 man NRL squad believe it too.
Parra by 7.
There’s certainly some backup spots available across the board, so this week is a very good opportunity for guys like Salmon as well as players in Jersey Flegg pushing for a potential top 30 spot next year. With Brown out for probably a number of weeks at least, this exposes our weakness in the halves. Another injury would probably force a backline reshuffle with Gutherson moving into the halves – hope it doesn’t come to that as Gutho needs to continue to develop in the fullback role.