NRL Team List
Prime time Friday night at Bankwest Stadium could not be a more fitting time and place to host the flawless 4-0 Parramatta Eels and the undefeated 3-0-1 Penrith Panthers. Brad Arthur’s Eels sit alone at the top of the competition table after prevailing over the Sea Eagles while Ivan Cleary kept Penrith within striking distance of the Eels as the Panthers piled on 26 unanswered points against the Warriors.
Both of the Western Sydney franchises welcome back serious fire power in Round 5 with the Panthers boosted by Nathan Cleary’s return from suspension for flaunting COVID regulations while the Eels reload their forward pack with Nathan Brown (Suspension, Round 2) and Ray Stone (Illness, Round 4) claiming a spot in the starting pack and bench a piece. Brad Takairangi and Oregon Kaufusi find themselves surplus to requirements this week as a result as the incredibly fierce battle for a spot in Parramatta’s gameday roster continues.
On that note, as you may have noticed, Team List Tuesdays have become a highly streamlined affair in 2020. The Eels boast an ironclad starting line-up and a bench that has done little, if anything, wrong through four fixtures. The humdrum of success is truly a tortuous mantle to don but I, for one, will humbly accept this burden even if it means TLT are a homogenous affair from week to week.
On a more serious note, while the Roosters and Raiders may loom large on the horizon Penrith present a serious challenge for Parramatta this week. Viliame Kikau is a dangerous player at the best of times and the Eels’ right-edge will need to be on alert after a number of lapses against Manly.
The Eels have been able to control the ruck through the first four rounds on the back of disciplined efforts with and without the ball but Penrith could ask some difficult questions if they are able to generate second phase play and free up channels for Api Koroisau to gouge Parramatta in behind the ruck.
Parramatta played one of their worst games of the 2019 season against the Panthers in what would ultimately become their first loss at their formidable home fortress. You would feel pretty confident betting betting on the fact that the entire team from the coaches down to the players would be looking to for redemption for that loss.
Likewise, look for the extra feeling between the Panthers and the now blue & gold duo of Reagan Campbell-Gillard and Waqa Blake. Campbell-Gillard’s preseason comments about the move to the Eels stoked the fires of the Battle For Bega on Penrith’s side but conversely he and Blake will have the extra bit of motivation on Friday night as they face the club that cut them loose.
| Parramatta Eels | Penrith Panthers | ||
| 1 | Clinton Gutherson | 1 | Caleb Aekin |
| 2 | Maika Sivo | 2 | Josh Mansour |
| 3 | Michael Jennings | 3 | Dean Whare |
| 4 | Waqa Blake | 4 | Stephen Crichton |
| 5 | Blake Ferguson | 5 | Brian To’o |
| 6 | Dylan Brown | 6 | Jarome Luai |
| 7 | Mitchell Moses | 7 | Nathan Cleary |
| 8 | Reagan Campbell-Gillard | 8 | James Tamou |
| 9 | Reed Mahoney | 9 | Api Koroisau |
| 10 | Junior Paulo | 10 | James Fisher-Harris |
| 11 | Shaun Lane | 11 | Viliame Kikau |
| 12 | Ryan Matterson | 12 | Kurt Capewell |
| 13 | Nathan Brown | 13 | Isaah Yeo |
| 14 | Ray Stone | 14 | Matt Burton |
| 15 | Marata Niukore | 15 | Zane Tetevano |
| 16 | Kane Evans | 16 | Moses Leota |
| 17 | Peni Terepo | 17 | Liam Martin |
| 18 | Brad Takairangi | 18 | Mitch Kenny |
| 19 | Oregon Kaufusi | 19 | Billy Burns |
| 20 | George Jennings | 20 | Jack Hetherington |
| 21 | Will Smith | 21 | Dylan Edwards |
As you suggest it is a little bit anti cliff however it is good to see Ray Stone back on the bench.
Is there merit in playing a speedy type like Field to inject late in the game. Thinking create a bit of energy against a tiring defence?
Field is a tantalising prospect, John. He does fit the mould of a Damien Cook in many ways. His play also reminds me of one of my favourite non-Parra players of the 1980s in Mal Cochrane. Both Cook and Cochrane spent a good deal of time in the lower grades at fullback and half before transitioning into very classy (and very fast) first grade hookers.
Above should have read “anticlimax”
John, Field might come into calculations in the longer term, not so sure about this year.
John I like your way of thinking but in saying that you also want a good defence n if he was to be a back-up hooker to Reedy his speed would be great but how good is his (D) ?
I think that is the sole purpose of ray stone being on the Bench instead of takarangi.
I would not be dropping Ray Stone
Didn’t say I’d drop Ray stone
Interesting team but moreso the reserves, up to this point of time Taka has been on the bench pretty much as reserve for the backs, fair nuff as the eels webb site has him listed as a centre. But with Stone back for the bench spot, puts a twist on the other replacements though.
With NB back at lock, Marata is back on the bench, and we now have 4 complete forwards, hopefully that may include Peni, but the reserves really is a strange one with Oregon the only forward on the list, the other 3 are backs, I would have thought though there would be better players than the last two though.
We have two forwards capable of playing in the backs should the situation arise – Matto and Marata.
Would make for a hard nosed backline, would be nice to see them in those spots in the run on 13.
Name them .
Forty agree BA isn’t giving you much for Team List Tuesday – he picks the same team each week and no injuries to date.
This week the team list is interesting because it seems to suggest tactics.
Firstly welcoming NBrown back. NB plays a good link role, maybe only 3-4 times per game but often some good metres come from 2nd phase play out of those involvements. Also NB is the team enforcer and leads the defensive line which has been fantastic in 2020, so expect little time for Api, Cleary, JFH & Tamou.
The other change is the inclusion of Stone who when combined with Evans, Marata and Peni mean we have a high impact bench. I like Stone, potentially a Victor Radley type. This bench is better balanced and suggests the Eels are going to play a high tempo, hard hitting game – looking forward to it!!
It should be a ripper DDay.
Good team for me. I like the bench too. Penrith will be hard to beat and no doubt look to some edge play. There is a lot of pressure on their coach too – who is on big $$$ as coach.
Pennies always give us some food for thought and this weekend will be no different. But we will survive as long as we play for the 80.
It’s a big couple of weeks ahead Milo. Riff will be a good lead in.
We need to make chocolate soldiers out of them…
Ahh love it mate; they were the days. Looks like a Jail Break…..good history back then and i recall a few games lost at Penny park
I think taka is a better all round player than waqa blake.blakes tackling style is a serious concern. Your thoughts?
I’m hoping it’s a small adjustment for Waqa, Luke. He goes for the big hit too often. Getting that side better will be a goal for sure.
Agree 100%. Liked his involvement last week, the best probably since he has been at the club, but a few times he missed his mark with over exuberance. Less haste, and this time more concentration, especially at helping with stopping a try being scored. Would hope BA uses this week to correct this.
He’ll definitely address it.
Waqa was one of my favourite players outside the eels because he was an absolute freak and would pull something out of nothing. One game he pretty much single handedly destroyed us. So much natural ability with his running game.
Since signing him he has been a little disappointing, though I believe he has had some injuries?
At his best I believe he is a much more dangerous centre than taka has been or will be, just gotta he patient because that talent will come through.
I have no concerns about his value. Yes, be patient.
Brad Arthur doesn’t Think so mind you Waqa can only play wing n centre. As far as I know.
It’s a strong team from fullback to number 16.
I like peni terepo but I’d like to bring in Oregon kaufusi instead. Younger n will Only get better with more Game time.
On our ex Panthers RCG n Waqa n Jenko they Will love nothing more then to beat their former team mate’s. I’m expecting big Games from these 3 Guys.
Will be good to see N.brown see how he goes after coming back from his 10 week’s off.
Should be a great Game.
I’m tipping a 18 point win to Parra . My score is Parra 30/12
You can add Maika Sivo to that list of ex Panthers
Thanks forgot about him. But in saying that did he ever play in the NRL side for them or just wenty
I believe that he made his NRL debut with the Eels
Will Smith too! He’s another Poached Panther Revaka.
Yes but he hasn’t been playing NRL since last year we have performed better when his not in the team.
true
Already mentioned, this game last year caused hair loss and baldness for coach and fans. The game down at Bega also saw us off stride for first 20 minutes as Penrith hit the fast button via Korosau’s smart play. But we hung in which is starting to become a habit, although the Roosters are playing manically fast and will be the real test.
Too many freebies will see us in trouble, an equal share the Panthers will struggle, their strike doesn’t seem fluent if Kikau not firing.
BDon you can’t compare that trial Game to tomorrow night’s Game. Why you ask well that Game was played in 20 minute block’s n they didn’t have the 6 again call. N also 1 ref plus it was the 1 Game of the season.
Fair call Rev. A smart dummy half is a threat in old and new world. The Riff have one. In all our blowout losses last year, except Storm final, fast play through the middle nailed us. We are looking much less vulnerable this year.
The only problem Parra will have is if they treat Penrith as the little brother.
Penrith clearly resent this and over the past few years they have played the Eels as if they were the worst enemy ever. They beat Parra last year and went on a winning streak.
It is a high motivating game for the Panthers and they will really want to win.
What has Parra got to do – treat them the same way as Manly. Give them nothing.
Will Parra win I think so! This is their best team for many years and winning breeds confidence. What we don’t want is over confidence. Take the points on offer – hold your line and push through on the edges.
The men to watch is their front rowers who are making big meters.
Parra by ten.
It is still early in the Manly Broncos game but with the Broncos leading 18 nil you would have to think that they will go on and win this game.
Assuming the Broncos win the records will show that every team beaten by the Eels go on and get beaten again the next week
It’s called the “backing up from a bludgeoning” syndrome. Keep your eye out for it to become a regular occurrence John. I was so confident in the prospect of a Broncos win……..I deliberately DIDN’T back them so as not to fall foul of that other old saying…I didn’t want to put the mocka on them. hehehe
Parra definitely deliver a physical assault.
How did the Broncos loose that?
Do you think that maybe the referees are reacting to Dessi’s outburst from last week.
It was not a good game.