NRL Team List
The first major twist of the finals might not have directly involved the Parramatta Eels but it has influenced their immediate future. With the South Sydney Rabbitohs stunning the Penrith Panthers in Week 1 of the finals the makeup of the NRL postseason has already undertaken a seismic shift. Now the mighty Eels square-off with their Western Sydney rivals in a derby match between the two clubs that carries the highest stakes since the year 2000. Yes, it has really been that long since the Eels and Panthers have met in the finals (incidentally the Eels won 28-10) and it now sets the table for a no-holds barred throwdown with a berth against the might of the Melbourne Storm up for grabs.
Brad Arthur has made a single change from the team that fought off the gallant Newcastle Knights. Unfortunately it isn’t the inclusion of Joey Lussick with the Eels’ last specialist dummy-half unable to overcome a tricky calf strain. The dynamic duo of Ray Stone and Will Smith will once again be called upon to juggle the responsibilities around the ruck. No the solitary change this week is the addition of Ryan Matterson claiming the final place on the bench at the expense of Makahesi Makatoa.
Matterson’s inclusion is yet another indication that the Eels will be heavily leveraging the massive motors of forwards like Junior Paulo, Reagan Campbell-Gillard, Nathan Brown and Isaiah Papali’i. This shouldn’t come as a surprise, especially since Makahesi only saw the field for 12-minutes against Newcastle. It does lead to an intriguing proposition as to how the glut of backrowers are deployed against the Panthers though. Bryce Cartwright has already seen significant variance in his playing time over recent weeks and with Matterson now on the bench at surface value there is already little time to share. Perhaps against the Panthers, who themselves have named a number of mobile forwards on the bench, the Eels will switch to a full-on backrow rotation with Cartwright and Matterson getting a significant time-share of play which in turn allows Shaun Lane and Marata Niukore to be redeployed to the middle as required.
Beyond that there really isn’t much to breakdown about this team list. This is the line-up that knocked the Knights out of the finals. Swap Lussick and Makatoa for ‘RCG’ and Matterson and this is in the team that bloodied the Melbourne Storm. The Panthers are a legitimately formidable opponent but the Eels definitely have it within them to overcome their opposition this week.
Obviously there will be far more nuance to the attacking shapes and defensive patterns used on Saturday night but much like our win against Melbourne in Round 24, the crux of this match will come down to which team is hungrier to own the collisions and which team is more desperate to make the clutch cover tackle or dive on the loose ball. The Eels know they are absolutely capable of such an effort, they merely need to find that within themselves once again.
1. Clinton Gutherson ©
2. Haze Dunster
3. Will Penisini
4. Waqa Blake
5. Blake Ferguson
6. Dylan Brown
7. Mitchell Moses
8. Reagan Campbell-Gillard
9. Ray Stone
10. Junior Paulo
11. Shaun Lane
12. Marata Niukore
13. Nathan Brown
14. Will Smith
15. Isaiah Papali’i
16. Bryce Cartwright
17. Ryan Matterson
18. Makahesi Makatoa
19. Oregon Kaufusi
20. Tom Opacic
21. Jakob Arthur
Good side but think should have stuck with one more true middle on bench,
Surely Matterson or Carty starts and Lane goes back to the bench as part of the middle rotation.
I still think Lane shouldn’t be anywhere near the top 21 for an nrl team though.
Much rather he go back to the hotel and stay there and instead bring Oregon or Maka onto the bench.
What’s wrong with lane. Everyone is hammering him. Why.is that is it because jenko is not outside of him anymore. I think his doing ok he didn’t miss a tackle last week had 36 all up.
Great side, the only worry is Ferguson’s fitness. Let’s not take him into the game with an injury concern. Penrith’s wingers will make mince meat of him if he is not 100 percent.
There’s another step up with this 17. Matterson’s composure and professionalism will enable better rotation, Lane should be targeted towards high impact shorter spell. Matterson, Lane and Niukore can all back up RCG, Junior,NBrown but Albert Einstein will be working the rotation spreadsheet. I like the 1-7, but Fergo should ask Kane Evans for a wristband message…’hold your ground’ will do thanks Kane.
Good side but i personally think we are light on the bench. I think lane or niakora will come from the bench n be the 2nd bench prop along side papali’i.
Personally id like to see lane come from the bench.
Something tell’s me we are going to win the game vs Penrith.
We hope for a win against the Riff, wont be an easy task but I believe we can beat them and take another leapt against the opposition.
I hope that Fergs is not favouring his leg/knee in this game and the club/coaches need to ensure he is fit and able to go the distance.
I am quite happy with the team selection, & looking at Carty and Matto, should they come on together they will make for a strong back row, Carty I would like to think has some points to prove against his old club, also provides some nice off loads both on the run and when swamped by the opposition forwards. Matto could also provide the perfect foil for him as well.
Looking forward to this match, only concern perhaps is who has the whistle.
2nd week straight my brother you have said about the whistleblower. Like i said before we play well we take that out of control of the refs
Wayne Bennett’s lead must be followed on the field by running ferociously at every questionable block play to make it more obvious. Once they start to question how they have been coached for most of the year, it will put Cleary, Luai and To,o back into their box. Their attack will become disjointed again.
We did enough to beat the Panthers in the game where we had a first-grade side against them and beat the Storm twice.
I am still predicting a Eels – Sea Eagles Grand Final
Same the nrl captain’s pick tells me that. That’s why gutho n dce are at the front in the picture.
Same the nrl captain’s pick tells me that. That’s why gutho n dce are at the front in the picture.
As already predicted here I would not be surprised to see Lane go back to the bench and Matterson start on the edge.
What I thought worked really well last week was Papali’i coming of the bench for the first middle rotation . Papa played one of his best games of the season.
Makatoa was beginning to show just a little fatigue I thought against the Knights. This is not unexpected given his lack of football this year.
I am looking forward to the game against the Panthers. Not surprisingly though the Eels are again despised outsiders
Eels to win.
Good post John. I also think that Matto will be down a bit after his time out.
Too late in the season to be tinkering too much, good team. Great to see Marata and Jnr cleared with a fine only. Fergo seemed troubled by that knee twist, surprised he is ok to play. Matterson in for Makatoa maybe suggests a tweaking of the tactics to more of a mobile approach. Bring on the Riff.
Great work Forty20,
So relieved we didn’t get any suspensions this week…was it because the media was going soft on the Roosters Verrals? Not sure.
I know we can beat them. I’m glad we rested our guys against them round 25. It just showed how arrogant they are high fiving and celebrating over our young guys. That’s why it’s personal!! I’m sure the other guys saw that behaviour and put it in the memory bank for this week.
Ivan Cleary the biggest manipulator, has tried to manipulate the Final Series by his rant last week. I just hope the officiating isn’t compromised by Cleary whinging so publically.
If we take Natha Cleary’s space away he won’t know what to do. Introducing Ray STONE!!
Ray STONE has solidified our middle. We showed against the Knights how strong we are. The Knights pack is formidable but we held it.
The area of concern is Fergo, hopefully not injured or carrying one. His defence has been a big issue and against Too he’ll need to be on his A-game. It’s a bit worrying when he’s been in the media saying he doesn’t have to achieve anything in NRL because he has done it already…. Basically announced going to Rugby. I hope someone reminds him he can still achieve this year!
Go Eels!!