NRL Team List
Given everything we have witnessed so far this year I am pretty certain that the Parramatta Eels probably broke a few rules over the weekend. I was halfway convinced it was illegal to post a comprehensive victory and emerge from the game unscathed. Yet here we are, two days removed from a 48-14 whalloping of the St George Illawarra Dragons with no new additions to the injury report but the likelihood of reinforcements on the horizon!
Let’s take a quick look at the NRL team named to take on the Gold Coast Titans first, with one prominent change named. Mitch Rein has been in outstanding touch in the NSW Cup this year so it isn’t a surprise that he has earned a call up to the NRL this week. Indeed, both myself and Sixties speculated this would be a logical move for Brad Arthur given that he has essentially had a free man on his bench in the opening weeks. Rein allows ‘BA’ to spell Reed Mahoney and still maintain a breakneck pace in both and defence through the middle.
Shaun Lane, a late scratch in Round 4, is back and reclaims his place in the starting line up. That in turn pushes Ryan Matterson back to the bench. With the addition of Rein and the return of Lane, the unlucky men to make way in this reshuffle are big Wiremu Greig and the Harlem Globetrotter himself. Bryce Cartwright is one of the the victims of Parramatta’s fiercely competitive forward pack this week and while he may count himself unlucky it will be that much harder to crack the NRL with the return of Marata Niukore on the horizon. Niukore’s presence on the extended roster (and absence from the injury report) is a telling sign that the gun backrower is close to a return in a huge boost for the club.
The Gold Coast Titans are coming off one of the more improbable victories you will see this year in their last gasp 8-6 win over the Wests Tigers. They are fielding a team mostly similar to the roster that went down 32-28 to the Eels in Round 1 but with a notable exception or two. AJ Brimson will play this in a big boost to their spine while Jayden Campbell is out with Jamayne Isaako playing fullback in his absence. Brian Kelly is also out in a blow for their backline.
The Eels take on the Titans at 7:35PM on Saturday night at CBUS Super Stadium.
1. Clinton Gutherson (c)
2. Waqa Blake
3. Will Penisini
4. Tom Opacic
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. Nathan Brown
14. Makahesi Makatoa
15. Ryan Matterson
16. Oregon Kaufusi
17. Mitch Rein
18. Bryce Cartwright
19. Wiremu Greig
20. Hayze Perham
21. Samuel Loizou
22. Jake Arthur
23. Marata Niukore
24. Solomone Naiduki
Injury Report
| Player | Injury | Return |
| Sean Russell | Ribs/Lung | TBC |
| Maika Sivo | Knee | TBC |
| Haze Dunster | ACL, PCL, MCL | 2023 |
| Ray Stone | ACL | 2023 |
NSW Cup Team List
In a game that proved to be a near prophetic prelude to the NRL fixture that followed it, Ryan Carr’s men dismantled the Dragons to the tune of 44-12. The victory is made all the more impressive when you consider the changes across the backline and forward pack enforced by injury and NRL selections but it is a calling card of Carr’s tenure as NSW Cup coach – no excuses.
With Mitch Rein promoted to the NRL this week and Ofahiki Ogden sustaining a shoulder injury on Sunday, it doesn’t get any easier for Carr as he prepares to take on the North Sydney Bears on Saturday. Ky Rodwell shifts from lock to prop in a largely cosmetic change for the tireless middle forward where he will partner Wiremu Greig. Peter Taateo takes over at lock after impressing against the Dragons. Brendan Hands will start at dummy half with Jayden Yates working as his deputy this week.
It is still a formidable line up even when considering who could be playing which is a credit to the depth the club has amassed this year.
The Eels clash with the Bears at 5:00PM at North Sydney Oval on Saturday.
1. Hayze Perham
2. Matthew Komolafe
3. Zac Cini
4. Samuel Loizou
5. Max Lehmann
6. Jordan Rankin
7. Jack A Williams
8. Ky Rodwell
9. Brendan Hands
10. Wiremu Greig
11. Elie El-Zakhem
12. Dan Keir
13. Peter Taateo
14. Luca Moretti
15. Keaton Walkington-Meads
16. Jayden Yates
17. Tevita Taumoepenu
Jersey Flegg Team List
The Eels fell painfully short of victory on the weekend in an 18-16 defeat at the hands of the Dragons. The Blue & Gold were left to rue a string of costly errors that gifted field position and territory to the Red V. They will be without the services of their captain Corey Fenning this week, presumably due to injury or suspension. Thankfully though, they do receive a boost to the backline with the return of Jabriel Kalache in the centres.
New recruit Moala Graham-Taufa holds down one sideline with Turoa Williams on the other. Otherwise the Eels shape up the same as they did on the weekend. Parramatta take on the ladder leading Roosters at 1:00PM at Morry Breen Oval on Saturday.
1. Josh Tuipulotu
2. Moala Graham-Taufa
3. Jabriel Kalache
4. Lachlan Blackburn
5. Turoa Williams
6. Dantoray Lui
7. Josh Chappell
8. Jack Colovatti
9. David Tui
10. David Hollis
11. Nikau Wrathall
12. Felix Niutili-Schmidt
13. Ryan Jones
14. Nicholas Lenaz
15. Jayden Skinner
16. Larry Muagututia
17. Brock Parker
Tks Forty. The Titans will miss Brian Kelly, he’s really strong defensively, but you can expect them to try the quick counter punch strategy again, hopefully we don’t gift them the launching pad via field position this time around. Tariq Sims showed why it’s prudent to play Mitch Rein and cover Mahoney’s work load.
Brian Kelly I might be wrong but I think he has an incredible try scoring record against us so I’m happy he’s out.
Hopefully we have learnt from our poor 1st round
Great stuff mate. Do they charge to get into the reserve grade game?
I can’t be certain because there are many venues that can’t charge. But based on past experience I’d suggest it would be no more than $10.
I like the addition of Rein, Mahoney needs a spell if he’s to last the season – assuming he is used. Tough on Cartwright, he must be confused about his prospects given the magic he delivered last week.
Looking forward to seeing marata back.
Let’s hope the Titans don’t tempt the Eels into another game of touch football again…
I reckon the team will be made well aware that the Titans aren’t fond of the physicality of a grinding game.
Jayden Yates where do I recognise that name from?
Selection of Rein is interesting he doesn’t add much utility value very much a specialist but also has earned his shot.
I suspect Lane will be ruled out with matto to start and carty on the bench
Preseason training reports? Jersey Flegg the last couple of years? SG Ball before that?
The reggies have used both Hands and Rein on the field at the same time.
Yeah that’s in a level below a player with 200 plus games should be able to handle another position at that level in 1st grade he is a hooker I’m happy for him to play some minutes cause if the Weed goes down or gets a origin call up any time spent with our best spine players will be beneficial for Rein and us long-term.
Plus with Hodgsons knee recovery Rein may end up starting hooker next year
Thx Forty. In your opinion is brads nod to Mitch rein more out of the time honoured tendency coach’s have in promoting a player so he can face up to his former club or purely recognition of outstanding efforts in the lower grade or purely strategic, perhaps some or all of the above. I thought simmonson had his best game for us last week. So far the team has not needed him to be a world beater . Surely a fit sivo in his place raises our stocks even in the unfamiliar right hand side. I personally wld leave wonger exactly where he is . Tom and will are getting the job done.
Down the road a bit as we get a few of the backs out of the casualty ward there is going to be some interesting selections.
I agree with MS I thought Simmonson had his best game in the Blue and Gold. Not only did he have a good game but he really looked part of the team.
Watching the replay tonight Penisini had a better game than I gave him credit for on Sunday.
However that last try had no bearing on the outcome of the game but it was a thing of beauty. I have to say it is getting harder and harder to leave Cartwright out of the seventeen.
Well said mate.
John, it’s a measure of Will’s maturity for such a young player that he hasn’t tried to overplay his hand in any game.
I agree about Simonsson. It’s funny, I advocated Waqa to the wing this time last year but his form at centre was terrific in the back half of the year and he had a great preseason. I have a dilemma about where I think he is best suited now. Hmmm – I’ll let BA decide 😁
I think whoever comes back 1st, Sivo or Russell, will be on the wing with Waqa back to centre.
I think its a well balanced team and maybe we need better defenders across the park 1-17? Titans throw it around so maybe we need Rein there to help Reed in case he needs a break? Not sure about Cartwright but he does seem to have some defence lapses as times, so who knows here.
I do know the Titans will be hard to beat this week and be up for this one, so we need to be strong again and consistent.
Milo, your are right about the Titans being ready for this. I never take any game for granted, especially away trips.
Will Penisini cut down Suli 3 or 4 times with classic ankle tackles. He’s a good one. Dylan’s cover tackle on Ravalara was as good as you will see.
The media ‘Shock” around Cartwright’s non selection highlights how poor NRL media is and the lack of true game analysis we are provided week to week. Yes, he threw a miracle pass that will be replayed for years but before that he threw a very poor flick pass that conceded possession and then he missed a relatively simple one on one tackle on our goal line to concede a try. You don’t win premierships conceding tries like that, I’m guessing BA showed him those two examples as aspects of his game he needs to work on to win a consistent spot on the bench.
It was great to see us back up a strong game against the Storm with an emphatic win, backing up strong wins has been an issue in recent seasons.
How is Perham going in the Reggie’s?
Noticed .David Hollis, still in Jersey fleeg and taumoepenu ,in nsw cup are they taken him slow or is he come back in pecking oder , cheers forty great reading ,
Hollis is a bit of a victim of covid cancellation in the last 2 years his lack of footy has set him back but the potential is there
That’s a fair call. What Dave did really well during Covid was to finish his trade qualifications. Clever lad!
Great read Forty20.
I like the look of Rein as Mahoney has the odd error possibly because of fatigue and I’m sure that hamstring of The Lane train might just need another week to recover. It’s great to see Matata on the extended squad list meaning he can’t be too far away…
I really hope it’s not a home town stitch up after all the publicity about Titans not getting the 5/50 calls. Holbrook was very particular about that in his press conference after our last meeting. We need to remember what they did to Russell and it’s payback time!!
If we play as well as we did last week will put 50 on…
Go Eels!!