The annual preseason fixture that pits the Parramatta Eels against the Penrith Panthers has rapidly transformed into a marquee matchup in recent years. While trial form and its impact on the regular season do not always correlate, both the Eels and Panthers have played impressive footy in this clash over the years and turned that into strong results in the premiership race. Penrith of course are now the reigning NRL premiers and the question that is now front and centre is whether Parramatta can make the same jump.
Brad Arthur has picked a starting line-up that essentially perfectly conforms to the restrictions put on him by injury and suspension. Sean Russell gets his name called to replace the incredibly unfortunate Haze Dunster while Ryan Matterson holds down the lock forward role as Nathan Brown races the clock for Round 1. Newly installed co-captain Junior Paulo will lead the team alongside the bastion of consistency that is Clinton Gutherson.
The major revelation to come out of Team List Wednesday is the addition of Jakob Arthur to the interchange bench. It looks like Jakob will get a chance to press his claim to inherit the mantle of bench utility from Will Smith. While TCT’s own Sixties has already raised the idea this preseason it was interesting to hear Greg ‘Brandy’ Alexander offer the same thought during broadcast against the Dragons.
Jakob has been a preseason standout and looks ready to improve significantly on his rookie campaign from last year. Fans will be asking though what sort of flexibility can he offer to the team? Clearly he provides tremendous cover in the halves and that is coverage for the worst kind of doomsday protocols in rugby league which is a plus. However, can he fill in at lock or even edge in a pinch? Can he deployed in an up tempo small ball package? Without a doubt this will be a major storyline to follow on Saturday.
Outside of bench intrigue I am personally massively invested in both our centres this year. Can Waqa Blake build off the backend of 2021 where he sustained a sizzling level of play for over two months? Can Will Penisini continue his meteoric rise in that tricky second year? There has been talk in the media indicating the Eels will pursue a difference maker in the backrow for 2023 but the Blue & Gold need strike power out of these two men right now.
Rugby league feel-good story and breakout player of last year Makahesi Makatoa claims a place on the bench alongside Arthur, Oregon Kaufusi and Ray Stone. The extended bench features plenty of prospects that took on the Dragons last week that will get a limited look at the Panthers this week in the clean-up minutes. Notably talented young outside back Samuel Loizou is back on the park, shoring up the precarious depth the Eels have at the position ever so slightly.
As always there will be opportunities for all and sundry to press their cases this weekend. While the Eels have plenty of positions locked up across the starting team and even the bench, a big showing on Saturday can catapult someone up the depth charts and firmly into the mix in the near future.
Primarily though, the chief goal will be to get through this trial without any further serious injuries. The loss of Haze Dunster last week was a desperately unfair blow to a rising young player and a critical hit to the Eels themselves. Thus, win, lose or draw let’s hope that Parramatta emerge unscathed and ready to roll against the Gold Coast Titans in Round 1.
NRL Team List
1 Clint Gutherson (c)
2 Sean Russell
3 Will Penisini
4 Waqa Blake
5 Bailey Simonsson
6 Dylan Brown
7 Mitch Moses
8 Reagan Campbell-Gillard
9 Reed Mahoney
10 Junior Paulo (c)
11 Shaun Lane
12 Isaiah Papali’i
13 Ryan Matterson
14 Makahesi Makatoa
15 Oregon Kaufusi
16 Ray Stone
17 Jake Arthur
18 Mitch Rein
19 Marata Niukore
20 Ofahiki Ogden
21 Jordan Rankin
22 Brendan Hands
23 Ky Rodwell
24 Bryce Cartwright
25 Hayze Perham
26 Solomone Naiduki
27 Tom Opacic
28 Sam Loizou
Injury Report
| Nathan Brown | Ankle | Round One |
| Wiremu Greig | Calf | Round One |
| Maika Sivo | Knee | TBA |
| Haze Dunster | Knee | 2023 |
Good write up Forty
According to the media the Eels are chasing a replacement for Haze. While I see this as a good plan I am happy to see Sean Russell get a start on the weekend.
I watched the game again yesterday and I thought Sean had a very good game.
This is going to be a very interesting trial against the Panthers
I agree John, if we cannot get anyone of quality i am happy for a youngster to have a go. I don’t see many out there tbh. The ones mentioned from Brisbane have experience but I am not sure about them.
John and Milo, I think that they have to add someone, if for nothing else other than depth. Sean is a talent but is inexperienced. But if he or Simonsson gets injured, we are talking even less experience or players shifting positions.
True Sixties, but it could be hard to move someone here from Brisbane. I heard Isaako is settled up there.
In the event we don’t snare an experienced winger then we have a few fall backs. Wonger to the wing opacic comes in at centre. Marata to play centre, wld be a good way to stack the team with another big body. It’s going to be hard getting game time for all our big men , like marata, wiremu, Brown, carty, and I hope coach Arthur uses a rotation policy in the forwards this year
Good point Matthew. I would be good with that, Opacic has done ok for me and I guess Niukore has done it before but he is good in the middle too. Blake would be good on the wing and also the highball.
Thx Milo
Looking forward to seeing some ‘impressive footy’. The Riff were brutal in their hitout last weekend so it will be a good yardstick.
I didn’t read too much into the bench numbers with Cartwright being #24 likely to be in the 17 – but JA as a utility is an interesting one.
If you were playing Mitch Rein as the 14, probably you are looking at him spending time in the forwards.
Last season Will Smith spent time at lock. Where would you use JA.
DDay and John, I’m sure there is a plan around that.
I think the team is pretty well balanced overall. While the loss of Haze is hard to take, it will give other greenish players a decent go in the backline.
JA can play but is he ready for a long period in the top side ATM? that is a question that he needs to answer but doesn’t have to be immediately either.
Will be watching the game on Saturday and really hope the eels give it to the Rif. BUT! they have to do it for 80minutes not 20.
Whats the long period you speak of , hes of the bench in a trial game but you obviously have more idea than the coaching staff and sixties who attends all sessions !
Colin, it’s interesting from my perspective because I had written a couple of weeks ago that Jake was close to being the star of the preseason. I said he deserved a place based on that but I didn’t think he would get one because of Moses and Brown being a combination where neither warranted losing a first grade spot. What we now have to be waiting to see is how JA is used.
I am very concerned about the hard yards the outside backs to do start the sets. While Gutho has many runs during a game, he is not the most effective at those hard yards. Simonson breaks a lot of tackles, but most of those times he runs sideways. W Blake was actually very good at it towards the end of the year. Penisini is decent. Dunster was actually surprisingly good. I haven’t seen enough of Russel.
EA, what we know about Russell is that he doesn’t shirk the contact. And the trials are an opportunity for him to stake his claim against either an outside purchase or an internal shift of positions.
I would be hoping JA is just a random number as part of an extended bench. Any team that has him as their number 1 utility option isn’t going very far when it matters.
The good teams have a utility who can sustain or increase the tempo when needed and flexibility to cover a few positions . Not a half still learning the ropes.
Well said , I agree it’s prob a random numbering for the bench
James, I guess that’s where we reserve judgement till we see how he’s used and whether it works or not.
I also note that the teams this week only listing 3 man bench which would relegate the 17 position to the same status as the rest of the reserve list , in other words arthur and Mitch equal billing.
Hi everyone – we are obviously hoping that Sean Russell goes well on the wing as it seems to be a problem area for the Eels. With Sivo and Dunster out we are short of wingers. What about playing Waqa Blake on the wing with either Nuikore or Opacic in the centres?
Mark, that has to become an option if we don’t make a signing – the specialist wingers next in line are less experienced than Russell, and even if they were the most exciting prospects in the NRL, if Simonsson was injured, and replaced by either Naiduki or Komolafe, you’d have a backline where 3 players are complete rookies – two wingers and a centre.
Does anyone know if there are nsw cup and Flegg trials also before the main game?
Yes , NSW CUP before the main fame . Can’t wait to watch , hopefully Hands will be able to have a run . Great stats last week 21 tackles in 20 minutes , 17mins from 20mins defending the line
As long as there are no injuries and the players get to blow of the cobwebs I’ll be happy. Reading anymore than that into the result is wasted on a trial.
Yeah, I mostly look for individual form, attitude and some aspects of combinations. Outside of that, unlimited replacements means that the match conditions are very different.
Exactly. Which is why the score can change so easily after players are subbed. That said I would be more than ok with a win.
I talked about it in the podcast. There was a strange feeling walking out of the stadium after such a strong start. The possession rate was absurd given the early dominance.
Haze Perham , looks sharp … wing spot maybe ?
He’d be one of the positional shift considerations if they can’t sign someone.
Bench is not the place for JA come round 1.
Brandy didn’t say he could play bench, he basically said he’d be a waste as you don’t take the halves off, and he can’t play in the forwards. It has to be Rein in the 14 while JA hides his time in reserves, happy for him to come in if Moses or Dyl go down.
The bench makeup will be interesting if Nath Brown is ready for round 1.
I’d go with
14. Rein
15. N Brown
16. Kaufusi
17. Maka/Ogden/Niukore (from rnd2)
It’s a trial game, and I think its about combinations etc.
Brad, the conversation obviously came about because someone was impressed with how he was performing and was looking at a way to include him. Much the same as I examined that in a training post given his outstanding preseason. I found it unfair that I couldn’t find a spot as I believed he deserved it. I’d reserve judgement till we see how it plays out in a trial and whether it works.
The other thing to consider is whether the inclusion has the support of the players, the other coaches and the consultants. If I was impressed with Jake’s preseason from my vantage point, and with only watching the opposed field sessions, then maybe he created a bigger impression with those he was playing with and against, and the others watching not just the live training action but also reviewing the footage from the drone.
Its not round 1 brad its a trial game !!!!!!
What has happened to David hollis any one no
Hope he is not another Sam Hughes…
He will play in the nsw cup trial.
Firstly thanks for coverage from TCT. I have a question concerning Marata Niukore and his suspension. With Latrell Mitchell getting a week off his suspension because of the All Stars game could Marata do the same if the Eels appealed the matter? Surely he would have been in line for a spot. Would like your opinion on the matter. Thanks
AB, I’m not sure that Marata qualifies – he’s Cook Island.
Yes i thought the same, and he should and i always thought he was NZ born..?
Yes, but it’s a Maori team. He qualifies for Kiwis, not Maori.
I liked the look of the big kid from Manly who scored a treble last weekend. Ray (some one)..,..Only young, but solidly built with pace and athletic ability
He was a unit! Originally with the Warriors wasn’t he?
https://www.nrl.com/news/2022/02/19/ray-vaega-lights-up-leichhardt-oval/
Thanks Forty 20, great write up.
Because it’s a trial. IMHO BA doesn’t want to risk the halves (i.e. Dunster’s injury) for the entire game. That’s why JA is named on the bench. From all reports he’s coming on well and still young. I think it’s sensible to have JA on the bench to rest the halves.
Pete, it will be interesting to watch how he is used.
What position is Sam Loizou being seen as?
He’s trained as a centre
Hey lads, was thinking of dropping in to watch the captains run today – any rough idea of what times they start and finish? I’m guessing a mid – morning session so they don’t finish too late into the day…
Sorry Anon, this was a bit late notice to ask, but regardless I didn’t have any times this week, I was guessing them.
As it turned out, it was an early start and I was watching the NSW Cup captains run when you posted this. NRL came out as the NSW cup was finishing up