The Cumberland Throw

Team List Tuesday – Backline Bless Up Edition

NRL Team List

Friday 5:55PM, Industree Group Stadium, Gosford

 

Big inclusions but also big abesentees punctuate the team sheet for Parramatta’s final preseason hitout against the Newcastle Knights. Clint Gutherson, Will Penisini, Dylan Brown, Mitch Moses, Reagan Campbell-Gillard, Junior Paulo, J’Maine Hopgood and Jack Murchie will all turn out against the Novocastrians as the heavy hitters get ready for Round 1.

Even so the eyes are immediately drawn to the backline where the omissions of Maika Sivo and Waqa Blake stand out noticeably while Haze Dunster also misses a final chance to impress ahead of the season proper. Waqa (arm) is expected to be ready to take on the Melbourne Storm but Sivo’s absence (as far as I know) hasn’t been covered in the media and hopefully will have no bearing on his availability for Round 1. Haze’s absence (knee) all but seals the deal for Sean Russell in terms of a starting berth against Melbourne but it feels like the Eels are perilously close to a similar situation to where they found themselves at the start of last season. Bless up the backline indeed!

Of course, as I am wont to say, injury breeds opportunity and for Isaac Lumelume and Zac Cini they get a chance to impress surrounded in the trappings of a grand final calibre roster. Cini was one of the few Eels to enhance their stocks last week against Penrith while Lumelume – and Matt Komolafe – were not far behind. For Cini in particular, this could be a huge opportunity. I spoke last week about seizing a chance to become the spiritual successor to Tom Opacic and the chances don’t get much better than playing outside Brown and Lane on the left edge against the Knights.

We get out first look at J’Maine Hopgood as an Eel this week. He looked in great touch in the All-Stars clash and his combinations with both fellow forwards and playmakers will be one of the most important aspects of this trial to key on to. How he controls the ruck in conjunction with Josh Hodgson, Junior and ‘Reg’ will very much set the tone in this contest.

Matt Doorey looks to won the starting right-edge spot – and decisively as well. He had nice moments running off Jake Arthur last week and that should translate well to pairing up with Mitch Moses. Jirah Momoisea on the other hand looks like he has some work to do following an unhappy game against Penrith. The big utility forward will don the #20  this week having been jumped by not only Doorey but also Makahesi Makatoa and Wiremu Greig. It certainly isn’t all  doom and gloom for him though as a strong performance against Newcastle can shake things up ahead of Round 1.

Jack Murchie and Jake Arthur share the bench with Makatoa and Greig. How Brad Arthur uses Murchie will be interesting. Does he spell Hopgood or Doorey? Jake is obviously occupying the utility slot on the interchange but given the plan was seemingly to give him an extended run in the NSW Cup this year where he could better develop we can only wait and see as whether that remains the play. There is a lot in play this Friday for the bench in general because honestly Murchie looks to be the only player you can go close to locking in at this stage.

Mixed fortunes mark the remainder of the extended roster. Ofahiki Ogden and Ky Rodwell will both be seeking redemptive efforts after playing well below their best last week. Conversely, Toni Mataele, Jayden Yates and Matthew Komolafe enter his trial with the wind in their sails and looking to prove definitively that the future is now.

 

1. Clint Gutherson
2. Isaac Lumelume
3. Will Penisini
4. Zac Cini
5. Sean Russell
6. Dylan Brown
7. Mitch Moses
8. Reagan Campbell-Gillard
9. Josh Hodgson
10. Junior Paulo
11. Shaun Lane
12. Matt Doorey
13. J’Maine Hopgood
14. Jake Arthur
15. Jack Murchie
16. Makahesi Makatoa
17. Wiremu Greig
18. Jordan Rankin
19. Ofahiki Ogden
20. Jirah Momoisea
21. Ky Rodwell
22. Toni Mataele
23. Matthew Komolafe
24. Jayden Yates
25. Ryan Matterson
26. Luca Moretti

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73 thoughts on “Team List Tuesday – Backline Bless Up Edition

    1. sixties

      It’s not unusual to get minor niggles and injuries in the preseason. It’s pointless risking them in a trial.

  1. Shaun

    Repeat after me. It is just a trial and the result has no bearing on the season. I will not over react to the result win or lose.

    Of course, I’d like to see Parra put in a good performance but I expect BA’s game plan will be so simple it will make a classic BA game plan seem a work of intricate league genius. Maybe the odd trick shot if Mitch and Dylan get excited.

    I’m looking forward to see how the fringe players and up and comers go with the established players. Should be a fun game and hopefully no injuries.

      1. HINDY111

        I was hoping Bryce got the utility gig on the bench. I honestly don’t feel JA is up to it and 80mins a week in NSW CUP would be better for his development.

        1. Anonymous

          I believe Carty is injured. Hence why he has not been named the past 2 weeks.

          I do prefer Asi as the utility ( also injured) over JA. I like JA though. More time in cup is paramount.

          Another I’d love to see development into our bench utility is Yates. Love his attitude and his work out of dummy half looked very serviceable. Much better than Stone. Hopefully after round 10 he could be tested in 1s.

        2. Mick

          You have to realise Hindy there are no NSW cup trials, like last week, it is a club trial with unlimited interchange. JA needs development, he won’t get it sitting on the bench for 1sts, BA said as much.

      2. Matt Sweeney

        my call for the year is that matt komo will be an x factor 4 us , he’s got smarts and runs like a gazelle

        1. sixties

          Haze was a late developer compared to some of his cohorts. Komolafe was in the same age teams as Will, Jake and Sean. They are all 21 this year

    1. Anonymous

      Cini is outside the 30 which is a major injustice. Centre looks to be decided by whoever is fit by the time we hit round one.

  2. Noel Beddoe

    To me, the main impact of the trial was how dreadful the halves were. They played just we’ll enough to get us beaten. This year, if Moses or Brown is injured we’re in desperate strife. I also hope that Brad is not too conservative on selections. I think Makatoa is naturally a second row and I’d start him tjete; Doorey, I think, is a centre.
    Noel Beddoe.

    1. Anonymous

      I understand what you are saying but I hate this argument. If you take 1 or both of the halves out of any team for an extended period they are going to struggle.

      I doubt you can name any other clubs 3rd and 4th string halves.

        1. Poppa

          Notwithstanding Jack Cogger would a perfect choice to play for us……..he has the spark and quality to keep us winning over a decent period, unfortunately we don’t have that sort of quality back up. Penrith have again shown how clever they are by getting O’Sullivan last year who actually led the side in Cleary’s absence (around the park) and now in grabbing someone like Cogger who potentially could do the same.
          I could not imagine us beating any of the stronger sides if Jake was playing in the halves. I say that with respect, its too early for him yet and his slowness will stifle our backline.
          This has been a major recruitment mistake and JA should be running around with his own age group being allowed to develop……I would be surprised if Cogger is on any more than say 250k.

          1. Anonymous

            Jack Cogger is a journeyman of the highest order. Interesting that the Panthers only scored twice in our red zone and I don’t believe he had any hand in the tries. 2 trys against the run of play.

            I bet if the game was reversed JA would be copping a hammering for that. Everyone would say we only scored 2 legitimate trys, JA was saved by bad Penrith attack.

        2. Anonymous

          Name all these wonderful backup halves out there that we should have instead?
          You have to factor in age, potential and amount of money spent as well.

          There obviously would be a couple but the majority are just as average. I mean Manly just signed Cooper Johns.

          We also have Asi injured who I am guessing would be part of the back up halves.

          1. Spark

            Id have Cooper Johns in my team before Jake every day of the week and twice on Sundays. I remember BA When he was a punchy second rower trying to play for a woeful Eels team. He went to Penrith to break into the big time but thank goodness Royce gave him some home truths. Damn , Jake desperately needs a Royce Simmons and not a father who thinks Jake is some sort of Greg Alexander ! ( for
            you kids, brandy was a great half but also a great utility in rep teams)
            I’m informed that Jake is doing his coaching courses and from what I’ve seen, he understands and reads the game very well. He will make a great coach.
            The apple doesn’t fall far from the tree.

          2. Brett Allen

            Yeah I don’t think BA is that blinded, and let’s remember that Mark O’Neill is just as, if not more guilty in the rapid promotion of Jake. BA didn’t do it on his own.

          3. Spark

            Hmmm I think he is mate. Every dad thinks his kids a star. No doubt young Matthew is being groomed as Hodgos understudy. I don’t think anyone at the club has the stones to disagree with Brad, certainly not Mark O’Neill. I feel massively sorry for Jake and for young Matthew coming through.

          4. Milo

            You’re kidding if you think every dad thinks that; some yes but my old man called a spade a shovel etc. let’s all just relax and focus on the nrl squad and how they go. Not time for pulling hair out again..,lots of assumptions here.

          5. Brett Allen

            I agree there aren’t many, which is why we should have kept Will Smith. JA is fine as a project, but he’s not good enough as a prime backup. What’s done is done, but our attack falls off a cliff when he plays in either position.

          6. Spark

            Agree 100% and we should continue to express our displeasure at the way he is being held back in his development.

      1. sixties

        Agree about halves depth in clubs. Decent half backs get great coin and are in huge demand. Moses could be close to the top paid half when his contract is sorted

    2. sixties

      Noel, our middles didn’t start the game well either. It was a stinker of a day but the coaches would really only want the players to run hard, tackle harder and fill their position assignments. Some didn’t.
      I can’t agree about Maka. He’s an out and out middle. Backrowers need almost as much mobility as a centre and it’s much different defending on an edge than the middle.

  3. Spark

    So we are led to believe that BA has stated empathetically that JA will spend all 2023 in Cup and won’t be used as a utility for the NRL. (Which a lot of people, including myself call absolute bulldust because BA has consistently used Jake as a utility on the bench) and what does he do for this full strength trial – picks Jake at 14 !!!
    Let’s just call it as it is – BA sees Jake as a utility and he WILL be on the bench in round 1.

      1. Spark

        That makes no sense.
        Our progression to the GF was reliant on others too.
        How about this ?
        ‘We lost the GF with JA being on the bench’
        Both comments have the same worth.

      2. Marty

        You can’t say it like that 0YM, we carried him on the bench as the other 16 players paved the way. JA was a passenger and when he got on the field he took us backwards. It is plain to see.

        1. !0 Year Member

          Sometimes a players mere presence can lift a team. After not being in a GF since 2009. I will take JA being on the bench last year.

          1. Marty

            Sixties it is def true. Can you honestly say in all the games he played that he enhanced our play / team. If so we would not be discussing his selection at length mate

          2. sixties

            If you are suggesting he wasn’t Moses or Brown then that can’t be argued. If you are saying he let the team down for the role he was asked to play then I strongly disagree with you.
            After the season concluded I was able to go on record clarifying that there were extended periods late in the season where either Moses or Brown were rested from training due to injury. Jake actually trained in their positions for nearly all of that time. He was an essential bench inclusion, regardless of minimal game time.

          3. Marty

            Sixties we can go back and forth all day if you wish, I certainly don’t want to but with all your experience in Parra and Footy, you surely must agree he should not be in First Grade. Forget the Trials.
            This isa terrible situation where Daddy has promoted his son at the behest of others or even signing a 7 . had ALL last year to sign a new player or promote and put Son back to Reggies.
            Simply the kids not up to par and it shows.
            Essential bench inclusion, please, only cause Dad made it so with no one else coming on during the year.
            It’s disgraceful to JA and the CLUB
            Given time in unders he could develop

          4. sixties

            No, I don’t wish to go on Marty because we completely disagree so let’s leave it there.

          5. Spark

            I’m just worried about the massive hole in the roster if either Moses or Dyl get injured! It’s a long way from them to Ethan Sanders with only Jake to fill the shoes. Perhaps we need to keep a top 30 position open in case that happens and we need to scout a lower grade half or a ESL player.

    1. Mick

      Can’t you wait ’til round one before crucifying the coach over a CLUB TRIAL.
      JA has as much right to play in this game as anyone else, I just can’t believe so many don’t want JA in any trial game, and they call themselves Parra supporters. Just for your information, I don’t think JA is up to 1st grade standard, I don’t want him in 1sts this year and from what BA said, neither does he.

      1. Spark

        Oh no ! Not the “call yourself Parra supporters” chant whenever there is a contrary view ….
        BA doesn’t want him in 1st this year eh ?
        What a load of unmitigated horse manure.

      2. sixties

        Mick I appreciate your honesty about your opinion as well as your stance against the reaction to a trial team. It’s balanced.

    2. Longfin Eel

      I’m not expecting Moses to play very much of this game. Why would you risk injury to your most important player? It then become natural that Jake gets the call up as the backup half to play the rest of the game.

      1. Spark

        Actually you make some good points and to tell you the truth after posting my rant above, I attempted to change certain parts but the program wouldn’t let me so I had to stay with my original missive.
        I should have waited until the line up is announced against the Storm when Jake is wearing the 14 😂😂
        It’s good he’s playing the trial.

        1. John Eel

          This is what is being missed here and other social media sites.

          JA is being picked as the replacement for the halves when they are predictably taken off to preserve them for Rd 1.

          He is not being picked as a 14. Is it so hard to understand.

          1. Poppa

            I agree on that JE, he would be coming on if wearing 14 or 28….my main thrust was that our back up halves are not of a quality to sustain the dominance of any momentum we can initially obtain.
            I suspect that BA will be true to his word and play BA as a developing project in Cup and Asni will be the 14, although I have a particlar liking for Yates as I think he could play as a middle as well as a dummy half, notwithstanding his size as a middle. He is a little tackling machine and I believe that Hodgson will only play 60 minutes……I will wait and see and at this stage just stand on my cooments.
            PS I like Jordan Rankin but what is he doing with 18 on his back?

  4. greg okladnikov

    geez it is great to have the Team List Tuesday back….and Bumpers Up !! A great pre season for the TCT team. And hopefully a good trail…with no injuries…and then hit the ground running against the Storm

  5. pete

    Great to see Team lists are back!!
    It will be interesting to see how we go. It’s only a trial but still a good hit out.
    Thanks

    1. sixties

      Pete I want us to win every game we play. If we lose I will as always be disappointed then I’ll let logic kick in

  6. BDon

    Besides just enjoying the footy, I’ll be checking out the new lads mixing with the regulars. And I know it was only a trial on a hot day, but our scramble was pretty thin for those 2 Penrith intercepts,it’s a sign of effort, awareness and focus. DNA stuff. The Panthers swamped us when we had a broken play break.

    1. sixties

      BDon, there was some stuff I didn’t enjoy seeing and maybe effort areas might affect the selection decisions for round 1 but I like your stance of just enjoying the footy and watching the fringe players getting their shot

  7. NSENADA

    I like the way Cini played in the last trial match. Looking forward to J’Maine Hopgood. I thought he went well in the rep fixture

  8. Jeff

    I’ll be keeping a close eye on Lumelume, especially in defense and under the high ball. He looks a strong runner, handy attribute for kick returns, and has decent pace. Be interesting to see how rates against Sean Russell.

  9. Hanna Melki

    I hope we start playing 17 players. 15 or 16 players don’t win u competitions.
    Also I hope your bench keeps up to 85 % work of the starting players they replace.
    We have a very good 1-13 starting team that is top 3 in nrl it’s the bench that’s worry’s and if we get injuries to our starting team

    1. sixties

      Hanna, that’s probably an accurate observation of most of the Top 8 teams except Penrith. 1-13 is strong, but can’t afford injuries. The successful teams in any year don’t have injuries or suspensions to key players. Classic example was the Storm losing Smith for their GF with Manly. They got smashed by 40. Penrith were full strength for the GF last year and some of our players were below their best after a big game in Townsville.
      Right now we have backs missing due to 2022 injuries and we might be a prop short due to the Marty Taupa’u flip.

  10. Anonymous

    How good is it to have footy back on the agenda! I love reading all this stuff, even the bits I think are crazy and way off the mark. Enjoy the ride and remember it’s ONLY footy! Did I say only! Bad, bad me. Go the mighty Eels I’ve been waiting nearly 40 years for that premiership tattoo, bring it on boys and girls.

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