NRL Team List
However the remainder of this crazy, unprecedented year plays out, the Parramatta Eels will lay claim to a unique slice of history on Thursday night when they open the NRL for the second time in the same calendar season. The Eels entered the COVID-19 inflicted hiatus on top of the competition ladder after accounting for the Canterbury Bulldogs and the Gold Coast Titans and while Brad Arthur would have been left ruing the loss of momentum over the break the lengthy break of play has proven to be a huge boon to the recovery from a broken foot of gun rake Reed Mahoney.
Mahoney’s inclusion is massive boost for the blue & gold with the precipitous fall-off of positional talent available given that the Eels do not currently have a second specialist dummy-half in their Top 30. Ray Stone, the man that was scheduled to deputise Reed Mahoney before the world shut down hasn’t been forgotten by ‘BA’ with the utility backrower called on the bench as cover given that Reed (and indeed the entire team) will likely be underdone as the season restarts.
Parramatta aren’t quite at full-strength as they travel to Brisbane to take on Anthony Seibold’s Broncos with Nathan Brown serving the first leg of a 2-week suspension for a late contest on a Dale Copley try in Round 2. Marata Niukore slides smoothly into the starting lock role in his absence with ‘BA’ opting for two utilities on the bench in Stone and Brad Takairangi as he covers all bases in the season opener 2.0.
Just as the Eels are missing a key backrower, so too are the home team at a disadvantage here with David Fifita failing to recover from a knee injury sustained in the opening rounds while Tevita Pangai Junior is serving a 3-week suspension (what a shock). Brisbane could potentially receive game-day reinforcements with Matthew Lodge expected to be given every chance to prove his fitness before kick-off.
With two undefeated teams pitted against each other in the season relaunch, there was already plenty of exciting narratives woven in the lead-up. Perhaps the most significant story however is the last meeting these two teams had in 2019 when the Eels posted a record 58-0 shellacking in the opening week of the finals. I dare say the Broncos will be chomping at the bit to go any way towards purging that dark memory while Parramatta will be looking to push their psychological advantage and keep their perfect start to the season alive.
| Parramatta Eels | Brisbane Broncos | ||
| 1 | Clinton Gutherson | 1 | Jamayne Isaako |
| 2 | Maika Sivo | 2 | Corey Oates |
| 3 | Michael Jennings | 3 | Kotoni Staggs |
| 4 | Waqa Blake | 4 | Darius Boyd |
| 5 | Blake Ferguson | 5 | Jesse Arthurs |
| 6 | Dylan Brown | 6 | Anthony Milford |
| 7 | Mitchell Moses | 7 | Brodie Croft |
| 8 | Reagan Campbell-Gillard | 8 | Thomas Flegler |
| 9 | Reed Mahoney | 9 | Jake Turpin |
| 10 | Junior Paulo | 10 | Payne Haas |
| 11 | Shaun Lane | 11 | Alex Glenn |
| 12 | Ryan Matterson | 12 | Jamil Hopoate |
| 13 | Marata Niukore | 13 | Patrick Carrigan |
| 14 | Brad Takairangi | 14 | Herbie Farnworth |
| 15 | Ray Stone | 15 | Joe Ofahengaue |
| 16 | Kane Evans | 16 | Rhys Kennedy |
| 17 | Peni Terepo | 17 | Ethan Bullemor |
| 18 | Oregon Kaufusi | 18 | Tesi Niu |
| 19 | George Jennings | 19 | Xavier Coates |
| 20 | Jaeman Salmon | 20 | Tom Dearden |
| 21 | David Gower | 21 | Matthew Lodge |
I like this team. I think we can get the biscuits here. Love the damage that Nikoure can do through the middle and our edge backrowers getting arms free setting up the outside boys. Have to play fast, physical and through middle early. See a high scoring game.
Anthony Siebold’s Broncos….no longer Wayne’s… lol
Brain has gone to rot over the break obviously!
Pete, it’s my fault. With all of these nostalgia team lists lately, it’s little wonder that Forty got trapped in a time warp.
Wayne Bennetts broncos?
It’s just a jump to the left…
An unsurprising team really, & I like the inclusion of Ray Stone as a back up for Reed, but I hope he gets some decent game time.
I can only recognise 10 of the mules team whereas the eels have a team that has a bit more overall experience, and while they should win, I would suggest the mules would be champing at the bit after the last match against the eels, would think they should not be taken lightly.
I never take the Broncos easy Colin, especially on night time TV, at Suncorp Stadium.
there used to be a time when we owned the bronco’s in brisbane n they would win more games at parra then we did weird right sixties ?
We all need a fix, this will be a good one. The thing I noticed about the Broncs was Brodie Croft, they just looked a better team with his game. As long as we respect possession, we should steal an away win without the Brisbane crowd providing any lift for the locals.
I’ll tip a win too BDon, but also just happy to have the footy back.
Great to see the season back and back to business for team list Tuesday. But I will say that i will miss the random ones over the last few months. Great job keeping us entertained
Thanks Greg. It was a bit of fun compiling them, but damn, it involved some research time. Compiling game numbers and or trying to find photos. Anyway, it brought back good memories, and from the responses, people who read the posts enjoyed the nostalgia.
Good 13 for me for Parra; our defence needs to be spot on and even more so around the ruck. Brisbane will be up for this as they should be and if we win we would have deserved it. For me i would have been happy to have Oregon on the bench for some starch.
I can’t complain about the bench – based on the first two rounds they earned their place, as did Stone based on his pre-season and 2019. You’d have to look at that list and say Oregon is very close to getting a jersey this year.
I hope so mate, i think he could be v good off the bench, and have no issue with Stone being there too….the other two..?
I’d say they justified their selection in the first two rounds.
With all due respect Milo, I completely disagree. Evans and Penni are hardened first grade front rowers. Taka is Taka, a hardened, skilful, firstgrade international. All three are playing some of their best footy over the last 12 months and clearly training the house down during the off season and the lockdown. Oggy is not! He has a giant opportunity to earn a place in this side by going to the next level at training. It’s up to him. If we get anymore middle forward losses through injury or suspension he will probably get a shot. Good luck, patience and resolve to hard work.
Good Eels team, Nuikore will do a job and a better balanced bench with Stones inclusion. The Broncos forwards will be a good challenge for the Eels, it will provide an insight as to how we measure up. The Eels backline is superior to the Broncos, Isaako & Milford can expect plenty of defensive work. I would imagine Oates slow turning will be also be targeted. Looking forward to he restart.
I agree about the edge out wide DDay. As always, we need to win the middle.
RCG to have a big game.
Gerard Sutton to ref.
Thought we mite of got Henry Peranara or Grant Atkins.
Been having nightmares Rocket?
I reckon Gerry might feel an obligation to be as fair as can possibly be for the debut of the new rule while executing it’s substantive intention with resolve that will need to be seen to be fair. A little bit like justice. Although at times “not fair” it must be seen to be fair.
I believe the team with the best understanding of the new rule and the players with the initiative to take advantage will prevail. We have our whole spine with that proven skill-set.
Plenty to consider here Forty. Thanks for the entree, I reckon we should have them covered for enthusiasm and I believe enthusiasm will be a major, rather than a moderate element for success in this match.
Looking at the two teams I can see the Parra team has developed into that rare animal over the past 3 years building towards what is known as in general consensus. “I believe Parra are ready to contest for the title”! this is their year. Whereas the Broncs are in the same position we were at in 2017. A very good young side, but not ready to compete for the title just yet. Parra to match them, then dominate up the middle, scramble like they did late in the game against the Titans and Doggies. Parra 13+. I better put that bet on, I’ve just talked myself into it!