NRL Team List
Just about the only thing that could make an upset Easter Monday loss sting more would be another injury to add to the mountain of already unavailable players for the Parramatta Eels. Thus it brings me greatest displeasure to announce that Marata Niukore has been sidelined just one week back from his long awaited return after he injured his hamstring in Round 6. It is just pure pain at this point for fans and the club alike. An almost impossibly unfair run of injuries that is saddling the Eels with an incredible handicap through the first half of the regulation season.
Niukore’s absence results in the fourth officially reshuffled backline for a Team List Tuesday and that is ignoring the preseason where Haze Dunster was still healthy. This week sees Will Penisini return to his specialist role in the centres. Replacing him on the accursed left wing is Hayze Perham who jumps from the bench to make his second ever start for the club in his third cap. Perham has primarily played fullback in his time at the Eels but also spent a considerable portion of his career at the Warriors in the centres. He has been in outstanding touch at fullback in the NSW Cup and certainly warrants the chance to try and make that burdensome position his own – at least until reinforcements are due back.
Junior Paulo is back from his suspension and reunites with Reagan Campbell-Gillard in the front row. With that said, ‘RCG’ was in visible discomfort in the second half against the Tigers and there is the chance he could be carrying an injury of his own and will be a potential out ahead of Sunday’s match with the Newcastle Knights. As it stands though Oregon Kaufusi returns to the bench where he is joined by Makahesi Makatoa, Ryan Matterson and Jakob Arthur. Should Campbell-Gillard succumb to a possible injury I imagine Bryce Cartwright, Wiremu Greig or perhaps even Ky Rodwell come into contention for a bench spot with Kaufusi promoted to starting prop.
The Knights are coming off a tough loss to the St George Illawarra Dragons last week but there is no doubt in my mind that most of the focus this week will be on themselves. The review and breakdown from Parramatta’s loss against the Tigers will be ugly stuff given the lack of attention to detail and subpar execution in broad facets of the game. Still, for all the frustrations given life yesterday the team still sits fourth on the ladder at 4-2 with plenty of reasons to have faith they will get right.
It all starts with a trip to McDonald Jones Stadium this weekend where we will hopefully not only win but maybe, just maybe avoid yet another injury. Kickoff is at 2:00PM on Sunday.
1. Clinton Gutherson (c)
2. Hayze Perham
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. Jakob Arthur
18. Bryce Cartwright
19. Mitch Rein
20. Wiremu Greig
21. Ky Rodwell
22. Samuel Loizou
23. Elie El-Zakhem
24. Zac Cini
Injury Report
| Player | Injury | Return |
| Haze Dunster | Knee | 2023 |
| Ray Stone | Knee | 2023 |
| Sean Russell | Ribs/Lung | Round 8-10 |
| Solomone Naiduki | Hamstring | Round 8-9 |
| Maika Sivo | Knee | TBA |
| Waqa Blake | Knee | TBA |
| Marata Niukore | Hamstring | TBA |
.
NSW Cup Team List
If the NRL team struggled on Easter Monday, the NSW Cup squad went on an absolute tear. Ryan Carr’s men were far too good for the winless Magpies under the scorching sun as they ran their opponents off the park to the tune of 40-10. Plenty of players starred from Jakob Arthur, hat-trick hero Matthew Komolafe and dynamic dummy half Brendan Hands. Indeed, pretty much the entire team could have been listed as the Eels climbed back into the Top 4 on the back of the result.
Attention now turns to eighth placed Newcastle Knights who are coming off a victory against the Canterbury Bulldogs. Unfortunately we are still waiting to see how coach Carr has modified his lineup this week to account for the NRL changes. As soon as it is made official I will update this blog!
So we changes this week as new recruit Moala Graham-Taufa gets his first taste of senior footy as an Eel. He takes position on the right wing this week. Brendan Hands shows his utility value as he slides into the halves to replace Jakob Arthur while Mitch Rein drops back to play dummy half.
1. Jordan Rankin (c)
2. Matthew Komolafe
3. Zac Cini
4. Samuel Loizou
5. Moala Graham-Taufa
6. Brendan Hands
7. Jack A Williams
8. Ky Rodwell
9. Mitch Rein
10. Wiremu Greig
11. Elie El-Zakhem
12. Dan Keir
13. Bryce Cartwright
14. Jayden Yates
15. Tevita Taumoepenu
16. Luca Moretti
17. Ryan Jones
Jersey Flegg Team List
The Eels bounced back from a rough loss to the Sydney Roosters by storming back against the Wests Tigers in Round 6. The 30-28 comeback victory was a big shot in the arm for the team and it came as a flurry of reinforcements boosted their stocks. Dantoray Lui, Ethan Sanders, Corey Fenning and Peter Taateo among others were massive ins for Simon Woolford and helped guide the Eels to an improbable win against the odds.
Like their senior cohorts they too travel North to take on the Knights this week but their clash falls on Saturday at 1:30PM in Cessnock. It will be a great test to see how the club has rebounded from that earlier loss to the ladder leading Roosters given that Newcastle sit in third and Parramatta now have a number of key players back.
As with the NSW Cup, we are still awaiting coach Woolford’s official list and I will update the blog when it drops.
1. Corey Fenning (c)
2. Josh Tuipulotu
3. Lachlan Blackburn
4. Jabriel Kalache
5. Turoa Williams
6. Dantoray Lui
7. Ethan Sanders
8. Jack Colovatti
9. David Tui
10. David Hollis
11. Felix Niutili-Schmidt
12. Peter Taateo
13. Brock Parker
14. Nicholas Lenaz
15. Nikau Wrathall
16. Taylor Mauala
17. Larry Muagututia
I guess we might as well have a halfback on the bench getting no game time instead of a fullback. Honestly for a first grade coach BA has no idea how to choose a bench.
How about you give us your (no-doubt-fabulous) better options, instead of just bitching?
Well William for a start I’d replace Jake Arthur with Cartwright. He can play anywhere from Backrow to Centre which makes him perfect for a bench spot.
Secondly I would swap Lane and Matterson. Lane isn’t an 80min player and the amount of times we have seen him arm grabbing in desperation as the opposition runs past is enough to give any fan nightmares.
The reality is Jake offers nothing on the bench unless a half gets injured so if your willing to waste a bench spot on the slight chance of Mitch or Dylan getting injured I’m glad your not coaching. Although with some of Brad’s selections maybe we might be better off.
Let’s hear your views on our bench rotation Willy.
I didn’t say I agreed with the bench. I just pointed out that your comment wasn’t useful, as it was simply a blanket statement. The second one is useful, and offers points for actual discussion.
Unfortunately you had to ruin it by playing the man and not the ball by childishly making fun of my name. So I’m not interested in engaging in discussion with a bully.
Don’t pretend you weren’t having a dig. You put the (no-doubt-fabulous) in to be a smarty so don’t try to wind it back now.
I put forward my view and the reasons so let’s hear yours.
More than half the teams playing this weekend have a half on the bench. I guess none of them have any idea.
The point you two are missing is that he is a specialist and not a generalist. Will be interesting to see what the game plan is. Looks like we are planning there will be an injury in the backline.
Well this will be a real test of character for Parra. In years gone by a bad loss like that will set the scene for a long stretch in the doldrums of NRL. If Parra truly do believe they have what it takes to win a premiership (and they should), then this week needs to have everything come together. Anything other than total domination will be completely unacceptable.
Not how footy works mate , let’s get the two points and move on.
Mate that’s how sport works. If you want to be the best in your field you need to believe that and show it week to week. Your looking to improve each week, not just going through the motions and getting the win.
U might be right long fin but total domination against the two safitis and klemmer , ponga gagai Bradman best is a tall order.
Great to see the total domination. Well done boys!
If blooding is the agenda for Jakob Arthur, the same opportunity is available for Greig and Rodwell. We’ve seen enough of Kaufusi and Makatoa to know what they bring.
Definitely seen enough of Kaufusi. Think he needs an extended spell in reserve grade. Makatoa always seems to start well but is less effective with each game he plays. I think he needs a game in reserves after every 2-3 in firsts, to get some game time, confidence and hunger to get stuck back in when he gets his next opportunity.
Yes I reckon makatoa has come off the boil, but I reckon oregon did a fair job running into the teeth of the tiges , I thought marata was an absolute beast especially for first game back from injury. He is not far off David fifita in many ways , he’s going to b an x factor if he can stay on the field.
This is a much better looking side to the one that was chosen last week.
It seems a better balance with Will back in the centre and Hayze on the wing.
We were ambushed on Monday. We should have been more patient. We lost by 1 point only and Tigers clearly wanted it more. We had our opportunities but butchered them…
I like JA on the bench. Hopefully he will get some game time and show his talent.
Im hoping for a bounce back.
Go Eels!!
Pete who do you take off to give him a run for 10 min.He looked slow and out of condition apart from a nice cut out ball and kick for a try.I think Carty offers more has size and skill and can create something out of nothing.What other impact player is on our bench.
Mate, not sure. I’m not the coach so I cannot give insight into the bench rotation. I can guess though. Carty had a great flick pass last game he played but I’m not the coach and have not seen what BA has seen. Is Carty following team directions is he fulfilling his role? Not sure? Is he putting the shoulder to the wheel when it’s needed?
JA is a big body and is definitely on the up. Anything the team invests in him now will pay dividends in time and hopefully come semis he’s had enough runs under his belt…
I’m not saying it’s perfect by any means…but it is a work in progress.
Go Eels!!
Damn young Jakob Arthur must absolutely shine at training ! He may get to the standard of an NRL player but I
just can’t see it. I’m very happy to be proved incorrect but how can a player this slow and disjointed continually get a bench spot ?
Surely Carty is a better utility ??
But then following BAs lead, if Gutho went down, he would probably put Junior Paulo back there !
And Paulo wld handle that . I agree I can’t see how arthur can displace Cartwright from the team. If Moses or Dylan go down for more than one game then yes pick him , either pick Mitch rein or hope reed can go the 80. I reckon carty could fill in at dummy half at a pinch. In saying that I like Arthur’s determination , he can tackle the big guys and set up trys it’s just he looks like a string bean and I keep thinking he’s going to snap.
Still can’t understand Jakob being on the bench as he provides no utility value unless one of the halves is carry an injury. Would be better off learning his trade in reserve grade rather than probably playing a 10 min cameo.
BA is trying to turn young Jake into a utility instead of a specialist half and unfortunately it absolutely screams nepotism which is a shame for Jake. It just doesn’t pass the ‘pub test’. Perhaps the arena to make those experiments is in reserve grade ? Pick him in the centres or at fullback there and see how he goes. At the moment Carty has much more upside and runs on the board as a utility than Jake has. You want potential ? Well what about young Brendan Hands who can play anywhere except front row – now there’s a utility.
I’ve suggested often to give the promising players a go early in the season to see how they handle top grade. It happens rarely under BA. He sticks with duds like Lane.
Unfortunately Jake doesn’t have the speed or agility to play in the outside backs so if BA wants to bring some versatility into his game he should be looking at a Ball playing lock forward role.
The pub test might also consider that Arthur hasn’t shirked his duty when given a chance in the nrl. But I’m inclined to agree with u in regards to carty party.
Nothing against young Jake. When he’s selected he gives it a real go but …
Any intel on Moala Graham-Taufa?
Jacob Arthur is going to cause division in the team which is what happened with Jarryd Hayne in 2018.
Should be looking at giving Rodwell a shot as well Oregon is leaving blood some of our young forwards now so we get to see where best to purchase moving forward.
Parra is at a stage now where we have to deliver a premiership this year and all other considerations for next year are secondary. As Brett kenny said in the interview with this site the players need to take stock and realise they need to find a way to win it whatever that takes.
Looking at the bench, if there are no injuries in the halves, I can’t see the strategy for JA and how he will add to the 17. It reminds me of when DCE was picked for 1 or 2 tests for Australia and didn’t play because he was really only a one position player. That 4th bench spot I think needs to be a Mr Versatile – eg – Manly have Dylan Walker, Panthers have Jaemon Salmon, Sharks have Braydon Trindall – players who can do a good enough job in at least 4-5 positions.
The biggest concern is if he doesn’t play, we again play as a 16 man team and the forwards churn out big minutes
my mail is Opacic out D Brown to centre and JA to 6
I can see why JA is on the bench if Opacic withdraws. With Nuikori out we don’t have a replacement that you could rely on to mark up against Gagai or Best. The safest, and probably best option would be Dylan to centre. I think Perham is more of a problem to the team than JA.