NRL Team List
Opening day is almost here and as it turns out, the team that handily accounted for the Penrith Panthers in the final preseason trial was the template for who earned selection this week. Brad Arthur has handed Sean Russell the start on the left wing and it is now on the young man to put his place in the team above any and all reproach as he partners a fit and firing Waqa Blake. As expected, Bailey Simonsson will hold down the right flank as the Eels complete an overhaul on both wings from last season.
Ryan Matterson will indeed start the season at lock forward as the club eases Nathan Brown back towards full fitness. Matterson made a strong impression when used in this role against the Penrith Panthers in both the recent preseason trial and the sudden death final last year. If he can maintain that form and produce a hot start to the 2022 season will cause his coach the right kind of problems moving forwards.
The interchange bench sees Makahesi Makatoa complete his ascension to NRL regular as he heads the rotation forwards. Oregon Kaufusi and Ray Stone join there with the former shoring up the prop rotations and the later giving ‘BA’ cover across the entire backrow and dummy half at a pinch.
With Nathan Brown making a slow burn return to the NRL and Marata Niukore suspended for a round, Jake Arthur has claimed the final place on the bench. Per the preseason reports from Sixties, Arthur has been a standout across the entire squad and he carried that form into the trials where he spearheaded a strong opening stanza against the Dragons and backed that into an opportunistic performance against the Panthers.
If anything, I expect Arthur to see highly limited minutes against the Gold Coast Titans but he does give the Eels coverage in the halves and the ability to reshuffle the backline if there is any injury out wide. Hopefully the young half can seize whatever chances come his way before the returns of Brown and Niukore push him back to the NSW Cup.
Clinton Gutherson and Junior Paulo will lead the Eels as co-captains onto the hallowed field of CommBank Stadium on Sunday afternoon on a day hopefully bereft of any rainfall. The Bureau Of Meteorology has the day pegged for some light showers at this stage and you know what? I will take that deal right here and right now.
1. Clinton Gutherson (c)
2. Sean Russell
3. Will Penisini
4. Waqa Blake
5. Bailey Simonsson
6. Dylan Brown
7. Mitchell 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. Nathan Brown
19. Bryce Cartwright
20. Mitch Rein
21. Tom Opacic
22. Hayze Perham
23. Wiremu Greig
24. Ky Rodwell
NRLW Team List
The Eels suffered their first ever loss in the NRLW in damn near torrential conditions on the weekend. Ultimately, a consistent string of mistakes hamstrung their ability to get out of their own half and let the Dragons dominate possession and territory. Important lessons will certainly come out of that game for Dean Widders and his charges as they now turn their attention to the Gold Coast Titans on Sunday afternoon.
Widders has named both Rikeya Horne and Jocephy Daniels but both are racing the clock to be fit for this game as Horne (foot) and Daniels (sternum) battle niggles. Christian Pio and Jamie-Anne Wright form a new-look edge pairing in the backrow as Widders shakes things up in the starting forward pack.
Who exactly is in the mix to replace either Horne or Daniels is the big question ahead of this Sunday though. Abbi Church could slide onto the left wing, leaving a bench spot open but I am not certain who holds down Daniel’s spot if she is not good to go.
The NRLW kick off at 1:45PM on Sunday as part of a historic double header with the NRL at CommBank Stadium.
1. Botille Vette-Welsh
2. Taina Naividi
3. Tiana Penitani
4. Jocephy Daniels
5. Rikeya Horne
6. Sereana Naitokatoka
7. Maddie Studdon
8. Kennedy Cherrington
9. Nita Maynard
10. Tommaya Kelly-Sines
11. Christian Pio
12. Jamie-Anne Wright
13. Simaima Taufa ©
14. Shirley Mailangi
15. Abbi Church
16. Filomina Hanisi
20. Ellie Johnstone
18. Jade Etherden
21. Christine Pauli
22. Tess Staines
23. Mareva Swann
24. Therese Aiton
24. Emily Curtain
24. Katrina Phippen
NSW Cup Team List
The Parramatta Eels will look to build on a hugely promising 2021 campaign in the NSW Cup this year. Ryan Carr has plenty of returning troops to do just that and has augmented his squad with some astute pickups. Jordan Rankin, Tom Opacic, Mitch Rein, Bryce Cartwright and Nathan Brown give the squad oodles of NRL experience. Off-setting the seasoned campaigners are the young prospects like Sam Loizou, Solomone Naiduki, Ky Rodell and Brendan Hands – all of whom can enhance their prospects of a call-up to the NRL with a strong showing against the Dragons in Round 1.
The Eels take on the Dragons on Saturday at 1:00PM this weekend. This game (along with the Jersey Flegg) was originally scheduled to take place in Wollongong but I believe it has been moved to Kellyville Park.
1. Hayze Perham
2. Solomone Naiduki
3. Tom Opacic
4. Sam Loizou
5. Max Lehmann
6. Jordan Rankin
7. Jack Williams
8. Ofahiki Ogden
9. Mitch Rein
10. Ky Rodwell
11. Elie El-Zakhem
12. Bryce Cartwright
13. Nathan Brown
14. Brendan Hands
15. Wiremu Greig
16. Luca Moretti
17. Dan Keir
Jersey Flegg Team List
It is very much a new look list for the Parramatta Eels in the Jersey Flegg for Round 1. With seven (and potentially nine depending on the TBAs) new faces taking the field on Saturday there is plenty to find out about this team through the early rounds. Two of those newcomes impressed heavily in the preseason trials in Corey Fenning and Dantoray Lui and I will be looking for them to lead the way against the Dragons on Saturday.
1. Corey Fenning (c)
2. Turoa Williams
3. Josh Tuipulotu
4. Lachlan Blackburn
5. Matthew Komolafe
6. Dantoray Lui
7. TBA
8. Peter Taateo
9. Kruz Niutili-Schmidt
10. David Hollis
11. Nikau Wrathall
12. TBA
13. David Tui
14. Brock Parker
15. Ryan Jones
16. Tevita Taumoepenu
17. Jayden Skinner
18. Jack Colovatti
Couple of unfamiliar names in the NSW Cup list.
Looking forward to hear how Max Lehmann performs in the NSW Cup team. A pick up from Manly and a noted tryscorer…Had big wraps on him at MW..
Did some good things in the trial after finding his groove. Not sure that he had too many sessions with the team before the trial.
Is David Hollis injured? Bloke never seems to be playing any footy yet consistently gets raps from fans as an emerging young prop
He’s named in the flegg team
Wiremu Grieg did not make the run on side
What do we know about Jack Williams listed as 7 for NSW Cup?
I think its jack a williams related to reg gasnier , grandson i think , released by stg .
I believe so. He’s a half/hooker.
I know we have been over this but Jake on the bench, really?
I have nothing against the kid but it just doesn’t make sense. When was the last time we carried a specialist half on the bench just in case?
Cartwright, Ogden or Rodwell all offer more impact and in the case of Bryce he offers a lot more versatility.
We have been over it before Clive. It worked during the trial. He’s been an absolute star of the preseason. Will it continue beyond this week when Marata and Nathan Brown return? I’m not sure but I’m confident that it will work as it did in the trial. Though I’m not expecting a half time change.
Sixties…. That does not make sense…. Why would JA make way for a middle forward? If he is on the bench as a half that would infer we want a half on the bench not a middle. Planning for injuries to the back line is important….. But I would rather a more versatile player.
I think he would make way because BA wouldn’t want to restrict him to limited bench minutes for long stretches of matches. However, getting experience with this configuration provides future selection options
Agree wholeheartedly, what role can he possibly play unless BA knows a half will be injured in this match? Hope the same crystal ball shows we win the comp this year! I too believe Bryce should be in the team instead of JA.
Ham Sammich told me JA is there to make up for Dylan’s lack of attacking ability. Not a bad move really.
I agree with Cartwright.
But, I think we can see it as a reward for his preseason effort. He did look really good in the trials. And the Titans are not a top four team by any stretch.
Go with the flow and enjoy what should be a comfortable win.
Agreed Zero. I just don’t get the negativity about something that worked well in a trial.
The two benchmark teams of the past decade both have a half on their bench (Roosters – Hutchison, Storm – Nikorima). Don’t hear to many people complaining about that. It worked well in the trial, so how about we see how they go before we start criticising.
Well said Eltrixo
We’re not in the coaches box selecting and strategizing but a few reasons JA makes sense:
– get some NRL time into him in case we lose a half
– insurance to move DB because we have two rookies on the wing
– without JA our bench doesn’t readily cover for a HIA injury to a back until Matata is back
– put some not so subtle pressure on DB to step up
– we’re not playing a top 4 team and can continue to experiment – it a long season
– being seen to reward JA’s 1st class training effort over the preseason…
I don’t see what you guys are banging on about, BA made the call knowing more than us and equally Marata and NBrown are likely to be back next week and the bench changes but still there’ll
be no room for Cartwright.
My hope is BA makes more use of the bench this year to share the workload & avoid fatigue, last year we played many games with the #14 getting less than 10mins.
Well noted DDay.
Just read a fox article on ja by his peers, think i will listen to them. Proves you have no idea but i like reading your comments – they keep me amused!
Where,is jontay bethem-misa is he injured, quite a few new faces in lower grades ,does not look like many local junior players..in flegg team
Yes, injured during NRL preseason.
Hey sixties what’s happened to Toni Matale??cheers
Injured during NRL preseason.
Is Jayden Yates still at the club?
I believe so.
Thanks Forties
Selections are consistent with the options TCT have been flagging. Pleased to see Russell given a chance to prove himself. Giving Matterson another run at 13 with NBrown coming back through reggies makes sense, provides another option and it’s a long season. Similar with JA getting some more NRL time and always pleased to see Ray Stone in.
Keen to see if the Eels can continue the attacking style and defensive work we saw last week.
NSW squad is a smart blend of experience and rookies.
Looking forward to Sunday.
I really like the depth DDay. It’s never perfect. The cap stops teams from having two teams of first graders, so there will always be a depth hole in any team’s roster, but the squad appears strong.
Anyone know if NSW Cup game will be streamed anywhere?
I’m not aware that it will be Murph.
Late news – NSWRL will evidently stream it now.
I think Brown will join the bench with Jake dropping back. Next week when Nuikori returns, Matterson will retain the 13 with Brown coming off the bench, I think it will stay that way for quite a few games.
You are probably right Mick. The thing with Jake is that his spot on the bench does cover a couple of other options. In the past, when Gutho has gone off, Moses has shifted to fullback. Dylan Brown has covered for dummy half. BA has now flagged how he would cover the loss of a winger or centre via Brown. It seems like Brown is potentially our most valuable utility but he’s too good to lose his starting spot.
It is interesting that according to Mitch Clark, I have since checked this fact, the new Bunnies half Ilias who will be replacing Adam Reynolds on Thursday night is older than Dylan Brown.
What is the relevance of this throw away fact. There has been a lot of criticism of Dylan recently but I think that most people forget how young he is. He is learning quick but he will be far better as his football maturity increases.
Just hope he is still with us at that time.
Yes JE. Keary, Wighton, Luai. The No 6’s of Origin choice, I can make a case for DBrown against all of them. Keary and Luai can put defenders in 2 minds with their speed and pace of execution, but I reckon with Moses now really hitting his straps, DBrown’s game will only become stronger and more rounded.
Hmmm so the start of a new season and the two best trainers preseason have earned a spot on the bench Stone & Jake. BA probably said something first day back like “if you want to play NRL give me a reason not to ignore you by showing it on the training paddock.” They went out and did that. Well done boys I probably would have picked a different bench but it doesnt matter what I think, I’ll just be happy with a first up win.
This comes from the bloke that also watched all of the preseason. It’s fact that both of those blokes were two of the best performers in preseason.
We need back 5 cover – so without Nuikore we need Cartwright or JA to create an additional centre and allow a shuffle. I Like Cartwright but dont like to see him come on with 10 min to go – making his game worse. Prefer Cartwright to start in Reggies and if he is needed in 1st grade get some decent minutes. Don’t think JA is ready for NRL as a playmaker – team does not seem to do as well. He needs to earn his stripes first in reserve grade. He doesn’t look out of place but we dont have the same zing as when it is Moses and Dylan. Dylan needs to step up but prefer him at 5/8 to JA
I get we need back 5 cover with rookie wingers but the Titans pack seems huge – maybe another forward would have been better
Bryce terepo !!
Wile, I’d suggest that JA is more of a playmaker than Moses and Brown. I’m not saying he is a better NRL half than them as yet, but he is a pure playmaker. Moses is an all rounder as a half, Dylan is a ball running half with freakish defensive skills.
Agree and JA looks much quicker than last year. However
1. I still see no evidence he is good enough yet to be any more than a backup that can work for an odd game but will not allow us win most games.
2. If he wants to lead as a playmaker then he needs to earn respect by succeeding in reserves.
I also think Dylan needs one last chance to get his head in the game and see if he can provide a consistent second point of attack. He has the passing and kicking skills, but seems to wait for opportunities rather than creating them. I think Dylan could be the best half we have had for a long while if he applies himself – better than JA or Moses ceiling. He is strong quick and competitive and always seems to win the one on one contests. I agree he has provided nothing in attack but believe he could.
Time will tell what team runs out and how we go. I haven’t seen them train and am happy to see how is pans out.
I too am not sure about the bench but think JA as cover for backs makes some sense as this leaves Stone to be a bench forward as needed.
We will see and hope we come through and do well. Go Parra
Milo, following the switch that took place with JA coming on in the trial game against the Rif, which had Waqa go to wing and Dylan to Centre, and it worked quite well.
My thinking of the reason was that a jnr winger was given a rest with Waqa taking his place and DB going into the centres. Worked very well. I would suggest that perhaps JA may become something of backs utility, he has the size as well as seems to be reading the game fairly well, especially for a 19 year old with limited NRL game time ATM.
Colin, to be honest, JA has advanced quicker than I expected and I’ve watched a lot of his play over the years. I always believed he’d play first grade but I never thought he’d be ready so quickly. He will continue to prove anyone who underestimates him very wrong.
I agree about letting the match play out. I originally expected criticism of any JA selection, but thought that would have been quelled by the trial form.
Any insight on how young Dantoray Liu is progressing. Good to see him getting a start in Flagg this weekend?
I’ve only seen the one trial with him in it. Though they lost I thought he had a very solid game.
Great write up.
Really looking forward to the start of this as season.
Im confident we are getting the right balance in the squad and really think we have learned the lessons of past seasons.
Go Eels!!
Balance and depth Pete. That’s the key.