NRL Team List
If you close your eyes and focus as hard as you can on the distant noises in your proximity you can almost make out the sound of the opening whistle of Round 1 of the 2020 NRL season. We are that close now. Amid mock controversies over anthems and ads and with the hysteria of the (media driven) spectre of the COVID-19 looming over everything, the Eels are still on track to launch the 2020 season in spectacular fashion in front of a sellout crowd at Bankwest Stadium on Thursday night.
In a huge boost for Brad Arthur, the Eels emerged from their preseason activities unscathed and will mark the opening Team List Tuesday of 2020 with all their prospects available for selection. Parramatta’s 22-all draw with the Penrith Panthers in Bega two weekends ago should place them in good stead for this clash against another traditional rival in the Canterbury Bulldogs – bearing in mind that the Dogs have a knack for dragging teams down into a slug-fest with their gritty brand of footy.
I am never one to read too much into the tea leaves based on a Round 1 performance but Thursday represents a terrific chance for Parramatta to make a bright start to a campaign levied with equal parts hype and expectation. The many lessons of 2019 have hopefully precipitated a transformative growth our young roster. That, alongside a retooled forward pack spearheaded by Reagan Campbell-Gillard and Ryan Matterson and the return of an exciting play-making cadre that spent the preseason under the tutelage of Andrew Johns, will hopefully have the Eels in good stead come the opening whistle in two days.
In the selection stakes the Eels will field a settled starting roster with new recruits Matterson and ‘RCG’ claiming starting berths in an otherwise unchanged First XIII for Arthur. Throughout the preseason the bench has always been the only real point of selection contention and while Marata Niukore and Kane Evans were never in any real doubt over their places there, the remaining two spots were absolutely up for grabs.
If early reports from the media are to be believed it looks like ‘BA’ is falling on the side of experience to fill the last remaining spots on his bench for Round 1. Brad Takairangi was always the favourite over Raymond Stone and Jaeman Salmon to win the battle for the utility role but neither Stone nor Salmon did themselves a disservice with their efforts in the preseason and should both be under close consideration for a call-up in the near future.
The prospective pick that will draw ire – and understandably so – will be the inclusion of Peni Terepo, who has emerged from the clouds to beat out Oregon Kaufusi and Daniel Alvaro to the fourth prop-forward position. Terepo was less than impressive in his stint against the Panthers whereas Kaufusi featured strongly on both sides of the ball throughout the second half – including the game levelling defensive play. With that said, Kaufusi’s outstanding final hit out came on the back of quiet preseason showings at the Perth 9s and against the South Sydney Rabbitohs so perhaps that counted against him.
If the media reports are confirmed in the coming hour or so I will be disappointed that ‘The Gun’ missed out but it is hard to be too upset over one selection when the rest of the seventeen looks so damn good.
UPDATE
The official team lists are in and the projected roster looks to be bang on with Takairangi and Terepo winning places on the interchange bench. The shadow bench features Will Smith and George Jennings in place of Alvaro and Salmon.
There is massive news out of the Canterbury camp however with star forward Corey Harawira-Naera and young back Jayden Okunbor stood down on the eve of this grudge match as both face the NRL Integrity Unit for an undisclosed matter. Christian Chricton will come onto the wing to replace Okunbor while new recruit Joe Stimson makes his club debut in the starting backrow to cover for Harawira-Naera.
Round 1 Team Lists
|
Parramatta Eels |
Canterbury Bulldogs |
||
| 1 | Clinton Gutherson | 1 | Dallin Watene-Zelezniak |
| 2 | Maika Sivo | 2 | Nick Meaney |
| 3 | Michael Jennings | 3 | Reimis Smith |
| 4 | Waqa Blake | 4 | Will Hopoate |
| 5 | Blake Ferguson | 5 | Christian Chricton |
| 6 | Dylan Brown | 6 | Brandon Wakeham |
| 7 | Mitchell Moses | 7 | Lachlan Lewis |
| 8 | Reagan Campbell-Gillard | 8 | Aiden Tolman |
| 9 | Reed Mahoney | 9 | Jeremy Marshall-King |
| 10 | Junior Paulo | 10 | Dylan Napa |
| 11 | Shaun Lane | 11 | Josh Jackson |
| 12 | Ryan Matterson | 12 | Joe Stimson |
| 13 | Nathan Brown | 13 | Adam Elliot |
| 14 | Brad Takairangi | 14 | Dean Britt |
| 15 | Marata Niukore | 15 | Renouf To’omaga |
| 16 | Kane Evans | 16 | Raymond Faitala-Mariner |
| 17 | Peni Terepo | 17 | Kerrod Holland |
| 18 | Will Smith | 19 | Ofahiki Ogden |
| 19 | Ray Stone | 20 | Jake Averillo |
| 20 | Oregon Kaufusi | 21 | Sione Katoa |
| 21 | George Jennings | 22 | Jack Cogger |
Canterbury Cup Team List
Ryan Carr, as expected, has named a handy team to take on the Bulldogs on Sunday at Campbelltown Stadium. There is plenty of NRL experience across the park for Carr to call upon while newcomers Levi Dodd, Jai Field, Eli Levido and Elie El-Zakhem have won starting roles in the revamped Canterbury Cup roster. Makahesi Makatoa is the other new face in the line-up but he will play from the bench in Round 1.
Haze Dunster cemented his place in the starting backline following a terrific preseason showing a but fellow preseason standout in John Fonua is nowhere to be seen. Whether that is due to injury or simply missing selection remains to be seen.
Oregon Kaufusi, Daniel Alvaro and Ray Stone will all have plenty to prove this weekend as they go about compiling unshakeable evidence as to why each of them deserve a first-grade call up while the evergreen David Gower will always be there abouts.
The Canterbury Bulldogs have been something of a powerhouse in this grade in recent seasons while the Eels, in their re-inception, will be looking to build off a heart-breaking grand final loss in 2019. This has all the hallmarks of a cracking reserve grade game to start the year.
Parramatta Eels Canterbury Cup side
1. Will Smith
2. Haze Dunster
3. Levi Dodd
4. Jaeman Salmon
5. George Jennings
6. Jai Field
7. Eli Levido
8. Daniel Alvaro
9. Rhys Davies
10. Oregon Kaufusi
11. Ray Stone
12. Elie El-Zakhem
13. David Gower
Interchange
14. Stefano Utoikamanu
15. Brad Keighran
16. Andrew Davey
17. Makahesi Makatoa
Jersey Flegg Team List
The Jersey Flegg will be joining their Canterbury Cup brethren at Campbelltown Stadium on Sunday where they to will take on the Bulldogs. Dean Feeney has rewarded a number of SG Ball eligible talents for their strong showings in the preseason with starting berths in his line-up, naming Sean Russell (fullback), Jakob Arthur (halfback) and Sam Loizou (wing) in the Round 1 team.
Parramatta’s blue-chip front-row will likely command plenty of attention from the Bulldogs with David Hollis and Sam Hughes bookending Kyle Schneider at hooker. Charbel Tasipale and Aisatai James were both productive throughout the preseason trials while there is plenty of beef on the bench with Mark Tepu-Smith (back from a stint with Manly) and Albert Etuati-Faavae deputsing Hollis and Hughes. Oliver Clements, a new recruit in the backrow by way of the Central Coast, has won one of the remaining spots on the bench while Jayden Yates will cover the utility role.
Parramatta Eels Jersey Flegg squad
1. Sean Russell
2. Solomone Naiduki
3. Emanuel Tuimavae-Gerrard
4. JP Nohra
5. Sam Loizou
6. Clayton Faulalo
7. Jakob Arthur
8. David Hollis
9. Kyle Schneider
10. Sam Hughes
11. Peni Tohi
12. Charbel Tasipale
13. Aisatasi James
Interchange
14. Jayden Yates
15. Mark Tepu-Smith
16. Oliver Clements
17. Albert Etuati-Faavae
18. Charlie Murray
19. Jack Covalatti
20. Christian Savaiinaea
21. Jayden Skinner
The selected team is a bit different and for me I don’t understand it one bit.
No surprises there col
Anon, nice little dig, and expected. & its not just about one player either. With a tonne or ten of luck dropsy hands should put on a show.
Hope not but obviously you hope so
depends on which way you are looking at it.
Col, spotted your name on the website of a company I do business with.
You still in the tourism game?
Hi Colin, I believe that Terepo’s selection is a lifeline of sorts and an attempt
by the club to get a return on Peni because they have invested in him right back to when he was a young club member. I hope for his and the Teams sake he justifies Brads selection.
Taka and Terepo on bench? Hmm not sure about this. I would prefer Stone (versatile) and Kaufusi.
They were my preferred choices as well but Stone was always facing an uphill battle to unseat Takairangi, in my opinion. To his credit he made it a heck of a contest and I think he is right in the mix for selection moving forwards.
The Terepo pick is the one that should warrant some criticism for mine. We have the ideal situation to let Oregon tear into opposition packs in controlled bursts with three senior props working alongside him. I think he will get his shot in the near future but it sucks it won’t be on opening night.
Thanks Forty, I guess for me Taka does not offer as much as a backrower, and Peni has had his chances, and as you said Forty he could tear into them. Anyway we may see some changes tomorrow…or maybe not.
I would have given Oregon the chance and i also think Stone defensively is sound.
The choice of Taka in some ways is understandable, as he’s selected to primarily cover Blake I would suggest, if Blake cannot play then Taka comes in and at that point its possible for Stone or even Oregon to take that spot.
Peni to me is very much pot luck, sure the club and in that aspect the coach has invested time into him over the years despite his issues both on & off the field, much akin to Kenny Edwards. Peni has talent and abilities but, how consistent is he and his poor hands and other areas are a big concern, a dropped ball at his first touch in Bega with a perfectly position pass and the opposition defence shot was not good, if he repeats that form against the dogs, then he might as well stay on the bench.
I sincerely hope that if he is left as a replacement and fixes his problems he could be a big plus, but the other areas are my concerns, surely for a player who has played 7 years at the eels and in 117 appearances with the eels he should be showing more than what he is renowned for.
Consistency would help oregan i think mate , weve yet to see it but i thought alvaro would have been my pick
Forty, hopefully before Thursday night there might be a miracle type of legal hand sticking cream for Pene, will need a fair amount of it methinks.
Won’t comment about my thoughts on a couple of others though.
Which ones col , cant call them out after game .
Well they don’t play in the forwards, and one has an aversion to the sidelines and stays well away from them.
Forty, just noticed and thanks for posting the two lower grade teams. Two players of note not mentioned Parry and Fonua, anything on them, injured? Big drop down for Stefano though
I think Ethan got jumped in the pecking order by a couple of blokes over the course of the preseason, Dunster and Fonua included. Dunster’s selection in the starting team reflects that but I am really surprised that Fonua missed out – unless injury is at play.
Stefano didn’t exactly put together a brilliant package of play in the preseason trials so it shouldn’t be a shock that he defaults to the bench in the Canterbury Cup. If he deserves a call up I reckon he will get it mind you but he is behind Oregon and Polar (and probably Gower) at the moment.
But isnt Stefano part of Fittlers SOO plan?
Seriously though I’m very dissapointed OK isnt in the 17. Does not make much sense to my way of thinking.
BA will always select Taka. That was always going to happen. Personally Id prefer Salmon or Stone. We were lucky last season that Mahoney held up in his first full season with little relief. I’d hate to think that is again our plan. We are bound to burn the kid out if thats the case. Do we have a plan B? 2 pre seasons and it appears not.
W Smith is our next reserve back? Lord help us.
I wonder what Alvaro has done wrong.
The aspect that Mahoney was able to play big minutes last season in his first season in the NRL speaks volumes for his abilities that includes being able to play long minutes, having now had a full off season in the top team in training is a big plus for him. I would pick Stone over Salmon to be the utility on the bench to cover Mahoney if he is needed for a break. I could not see Salmon in the forwards at least at this point of time.
Parrys best hope for nrl might be his height, given the new rules.
100% right 40/20, and if it backfires we can always tell BA ”we told you so.”
Really. Stone! The guy has too many clangers in his game. Worse than Peni . His is not up to NRL standard
We definitely differ in our opinions there 10 year, but at the moment he’s not in first grade, so you have every right to be nodding about his non-selection.
Thanks mate for the last month i couldn’t settle on the bench spots but i’m going with the coaches picks and i’ll be there on Thursday god willing and the creaks don’t rise
Thanks for the write-up Forty20. Brad’s choice of Terepo is, in my view, recognition of his
long-standing contribution to the Eels but also a final chance to redeem some of the investment the club has put into him. The younger boys will get their chances. I am tipping Peni will make the most of this opportunity.
Tend to agree but must be on thin ice
As much as I don’t agree with his selection, I agree about his likely response.i expect a strong performance. But he can’t afford to drop his form.
indeed
The selection of Peni Terepo has surprised me. Having watched training, I obviously knew it was likely, but that doesn’t stop my surprise. I know what Peni will deliver, and his exposed form and history made him a known quantity off the bench. In pushing Oregon out of the middle rotation spot, it seems likely that Peni gained ground in trial form. Having spoken to big Oggy after the Wenty trial, he was unhappy with his own form. That said, he bounced back strongly at Bega, and if he keeps that up, a first grade berth awaits.
I have felt over the last few days that Takairangi was likely to push Stone out. My thoughts were that with the uncertainty around Waqa Blake that Taka would be there for insurance. Stone was always my first pick but was always a long shot.
However the selection of Peni blew me out of the water. I did not see that coming and that was before his shocker in the Bega trial. But I will defer to BA as he has more knowledge and intel than I
I will take my seat with my football friend Denis and together we will cheer every run that Peni makes off the back fence
Eels to win comfortably
Cheers John. You can tell from my training reports that Peni has made a very late surge to gain selection. He literally didn’t feature in my posts. But as I’ve said elsewhere, BA knows what he will get from Peni. Peni should repay that faith.
How many instalments will he get or should get to pay off the faith debt shown to him?
The bench selections for me are surprising but I can see what BA is doing. Taka does cover the backs and with Blake coming back from injury he can literally cover 2-6 in a game.
Terepo, for me he is rocks or diamonds, and last year he was rocks to many times. I guess BA wants to ensure go forward when our starting props go off, as the dogs only threaten us if they can match or play over our forwards. If Peni drops the ball early or gives away an early stupid ruck penalty, like he often does, I will be filthy.
BA knows best and I will give terepo a chance (again) but he must become more reliable otherwise Oregon should be given a chance to develop his game.
No matter what team is selected, we will debate it in our house and then we will be there at Bankwest cheering, even risking being exposed to that deadly disease (lol)
I like the selected team and bench. It shows what BA thinks of both Peni and Taka, they experienced hard heads who will take it to the Doggies and not give an inch when called on from the bench. While everyone else on this site was signing the praises of Oregan and Stone who are both very good footballers, I thought Peni played as Peni plays. With grit in defence and fearless charges into the ruck, no opposition team wants to be confronted by his zeal and courageous running. With all due respect to the two young blokes, they ain’t Peni in that regard. Kane Evans and Marata Niukore pick themselves with their hard running fearless charges up the middle which keep the momentum going off the bench. Marata also gives us more flexibility there as he can cover an edge too as does Taka while covering for Waqa and any other position in the backline.
It makes sense to me to pick the more experienced blokes ahead of the young fellas as long as they are playing well, it will give them more incentive to go to the next level to break into the NRL side. In a winning Reggies team full of NRL experience and those pushing for a start every player can perform to their potential.
I’ve been thinking about this for some time and i’m coming around to your way of thinking Rowdy. Game 1 is a special game where experience can’t be ignored. Poor Peni will have a lot on his mind which isn’t ideal for a prop. Hopefully he can do 2 things at once.
I’ve got to give your concluding remark a serious nod and a 😉 Trouser.
It is ironic that Peni finds himself confronting the same dilemma he has previously overcome back in 2017, and that is ball security which in Peni case (I can hardly use the full grammatical “Penis” with an apostrophe eh?) is surely just a psychological issue brought about by an almost uncontrollable desire to make massive physical contact with an opponent the imperative; above carrying the football beyond the collision. Personally I have enjoyed that part of his makeup for too long to be too critical.
Trouser, I can’t ignore Rowdy’s logic.
Rowdy, you’re thinking like a coach here!