NRL Team List

If you told me on Saturday night that Nathan Brown would be named to start for Round 9, I probably would have told you to put down the crack pipe and check into a rehabilitation clinic. Brown’s early departure from the game against Canterbury on the weekend had so many of the hallmarks of a season-ender. The Cyborg was in very obvious agony, clutching at the lower half of his body after going down without any sort of contact. Yet here we are a handful of days later with Brown very much in line to take on the Sydney Roosters as the NRL Physio’s diagnosis of a severe cork looks to be spot on. What a boost for the Eels and what a bullet to dodge for Brown.

Brown’s inclusion on the team-sheet means that Brad Arthur is able to call upon the exact same team for consecutive weeks. There is a very minor cosmetic change for Round 9 with Ryan Matterson officially listed to start after originally been named on the bench last week. Otherwise the Eels are 1-21 with even the shadow bench returning as named from the previous round.

In contrast, the Sydney Roosters have been a model of roster inconsistency and volatility – albeit through no fault of their own. Their brutal injury toll, featuring a shocking number of torn ACLs, would have crippled most clubs but they have been hugely impressive in the face of ridiculous adversity. Their 6-2 record has them positioned fractionally below the Eels and the two games they have dropped were against premiership contenders in the Rabbitohs and Storm.

The rise of Sam Walker has certainly off-set a significant portion of their lost talent. The rookie playmaker has captured the adulation of fans and press alike with his spectacular start to his NRL career. It sets up a cracking duel between he and Mitchell Moses on Friday night with Mitch quietly having a career season amidst all the hype about other outstanding halves in the competition. Walker won’t have to shoulder the load alone this week though with the return of James Tedesco from a concussion. What else really needs to be said about one of the game’s best players? The Eels will certainly be focused heavily on minimising Teddy’s impact but the dynamic fullback will still get his to some extent.

It isn’t all good news for our opponents this week though. The Roosters knew they would be without the services of Brett Morris (ACL) and Lindsay Collins (ACL) but they are also missing their dangerous edge weapon Sitili Tupouniua (suspension) and crafty dummy-half Sam Verrills (detached retina). With that said, I fully expect the Roosters to push Parramatta right through the full 80-minutes on Friday night. They have not taken a single backwards step throughout the prolonged run of injuries to key players and between Walker and Tedesco they have the means to ‘upset’ any team. The expectation will be on the Eels to claim a solid victory here, and I believe they can and will, but the Roosters should not be underestimated by any margin. Either way it should be an absolute corker out at Bankwest!

1. Clinton Gutherson ©
2. Maika Sivo
3. Tom Opacic
4. Marata Niukore
5. Blake Ferguson
6. Dylan Brown
7. Mitchell Moses
8. Reagan Campbell-Gillard
9. Reed Mahoney
10. Junior Paulo
11. Ryan Matterson
12. Isaiah Papali’i
13. Nathan Brown
14. Oregon Kaufusi
15. Shaun Lane
16. Haze Dunster
17. Bryce Cartwright
18. Joey Lussick
19. Keegan Hipgrave
20. Wiremu Greig
21. Jordan Rankin

Injury Report

Waqa Blake – Calf (Rd10)

Will Smith – Thumb (TBA)

NSW Cup Team List

A frankly hideous start against the Mounties cost the Eels a shot at a win on the weekend but the young roster did well to fight back and make a real go it before falling 34-26. Ryan Carr has kept it simple in the wake of that loss by naming Ray Stone to start in his return from injury. Lalotoa Mata’afa is named to start on the wing for the second week in a row and likely gets to actually play as named! Last weekend he made way for Haze Dunster, who backed up after light NRL duties against Canterbury. This week the NSW Cup plays as the curtain raiser to the NRL and unless there is a game-day reshuffle, Lalotoa will hold down the right flank.

The Eels will take on the North Sydney Bears at 5:25PM on Friday night. Stay tuned for a potential sneaky announcement for this fixture…

1. Hayze Perham
2. Lalotoa Mata’afa
3. Will Penisini
4. Michael Oldfield
5. Sean Russell
6. Jordan Rankin
7. Jakob Arthur
8. Makahesi Makatoa
9. Joey Lussick
10. Wiremu Greig
11. Elie El-Zakhem
12. Ray Stone
13. Keegan Hipgrave
14. Nathaniel Roache
15. Kurt Dillon
16. Charbel Tasipale
17. Ky Rodwell
18. Aitasi James

Jersey Flegg Team List

The Parramatta Eels prevailed over the Bulldogs in a decidedly un-Flegg scoreline of 12-8 on the weekend. Tevita Masima made it back-to-back games with long range interception tries to seal the win and keep the Eels in touch with the competition leaders ahead of them. Coach Dean Feeney has tinkered ever so slightly with the bench for Round 9 as one SG Ball prospect in replaced with another. Brock Parker makes a return to the interchange which sees big Larry Muagututia slide back to 18th man.

The Flegg are on their lonesome this week and play at home at Ringrose Park at 5:30PM on Saturday. They too take on the Sydney Roosters who enter this week in 8th place as opposed to Parramatta’s 6th place.

1. Clayton Faulalo
2. Solomone Naiduki
3. Jabriel Kalache
4. Jayden Skinner
5. Freuan Easthope
6. Tevita Masima
7. Kyle Schneider
8. Dave Hollis
9. Ethan Le Blanc
10. Jack Colovatti
11. Oliver Clements
12. Peter Taateo
13. Jayden Yates
14. Caleb Tohi
15. Jontay Betham-Misa
16. Lennox Whittiker
17. Brock Parker
18. Larry Muagututia

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