NRL Team List
Round 5, 8:00PM Thursday 30th March, Allianz Stadium
The Thursday Night Eels™ are baaaaaaaaack! Just when you thought there couldn’t possibly be another Parramatta game crammed on to a Thursday night, Round 5 drags us right back in. Incredibly, this marks Parramatta’s 4th appearance in the round-opening slot in their 5 matches but there is something of a silver lining this week as the Eels won’t feature again in this slot until the penultimate round of the season.
If Thursday nights have been one ‘feature’ of the Parramatta’s draw in 2023, the other would be playing an opponent fresh off an early season bye. Lo and behold we have the intersection of these two quirky factors yet again! The Sydney Roosters come into this round well rested on the back of victories over the Rabbitohs and Warriors. One aspect of their bye that has played into the hands of the Blue & Gold is the fact that superstar back Joseph Manu was unable to serve a 1-game suspension for a careless high tackle. A huge omission certainly but it will be offset by a healthy and hostile Tri-colours squad.
Brad Arthur now has to contend with the loss of Junior Paulo as his star bookend serves the first leg of a 2-game suspension. Wiremu Greig has been thrust into the fray to partner Reagan Campbell-Gillard in the starting roster. Greig’s missive will be clear. Rip in against Jared Warea-Hargreaves and Lindsay Collins. He will absorb the intensity of the opening exchanges before making way for Ryan Matterson (by way of reshuffle) or Makahesi Makatoa after 15 or so minutes.
Parramatta’s bench is reinforced by the return of Jack Murchie while Brendan Hands has retained his place in the team – much to the surprise of nobody following an outstanding NRL debut in Round 4. Replacing the impact of Paulo in the aggregate is a colossal task but the Eels have no choice but to pick up slack across the pack as they tussle with a very well rounded Roosters’ pack. Equally the backs will be busy all night contending with the likes of James Tedesco, Daniel Tupou and Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii. Such are matches against the Roosters but as we saw in Round 4, Parramatta have the talent and temperament to match it with the best in the competition. It merely comes down to their execution.
| Parramatta Eels | Sydney Roosters | |
| Clinton Gutherson | 1 | James Tedesco |
| Maika Sivo | 2 | Daniel Tupou |
| Will Penisini | 3 | Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii |
| Waqa Blake | 4 | Drew Hutchinson |
| Bailey Simonsson | 5 | Jaxson Paulo |
| Dylan Brown | 6 | Luke Keary |
| Mitchell Moses | 7 | Sam Walker |
| Reagan Campbell-Gillard | 8 | Jared Warea-Hargreaves |
| Josh Hodgson | 9 | Brandon Smith |
| Wiremu Greig | 10 | Lindsay Collins |
| Bryce Cartwright | 11 | Egan Butcher |
| Ryan Matterson | 12 | Nat Butcher |
| J’maine Hopgood | 13 | Victor Radley |
| Interchange | ||
| Matt Doorey | 14 | Jake Turpin |
| Brendan Hands | 15 | Naufahu Whyte |
| Jack Murchie | 16 | Corey Allan |
| Makahesi Makatoa | 17 | Fletcher Baker |
| Reserves | ||
| Jake Arthur | 18 | Ben Thomas |
| Jirah Momoisea | 19 | Junior Pauga |
| Ofahiki Ogden | 20 | Sandon Smith |
| Toni Mataele | 21 | Siua Wong |
| Haze Dunster | 22 | Elie El-Zakhem |
NSW Cup Team List
Round 5, 3:10PM Saturday 1st April, WIN Stadium
A rousing 22-16 victory in the NSW Cup set the tone for the Parramatta Eels across Round 4. Similar victories in the NRL and Jersey Flegg followed and while it would be too much to call the men in the Cup torch bearers, I certainly tip my imaginary hat to them for getting it all started.
Nathan Cayless’ team is boosted by the return of Ky Rodwell to the front row. Unfortunately this is offset by the loss of Arthur Miller-Stephen with the young fullback not named in any grades – pointing to a likely injury. Isaac Lumelume returns from suspension to take over the reins at the back with Matthew Komolafe earning a promotion to the wing to fill the open spot. I welcome Matthew’s return to reserve grade after an excellent showing against the Panthers in the Jersey Flegg.
The Eels enjoy a healthy dose of consistency through the remainder of the roster as they take on the Dragons in Round 5. Haze Dunster continues to build nicely back to his best while Jake Arthur has found a nice rhythm controlling the team. After a slow start, the team now has the chance to consolidate their position with a win over the winless Dragons and perhaps emerge at the end of the round inside the Top 8.
| 1 | Isaac Lumelume |
| 2 | Matthew Komolafe |
| 3 | Daejarn Asi |
| 4 | Zac Cini |
| 5 | Haze Dunster |
| 6 | Jordan Rankin © |
| 7 | Jake Arthur |
| 8 | Ofahiki Ogden |
| 9 | Mitch Rein |
| 10 | Ky Rodwell |
| 11 | Toni Mataele |
| 12 | Dan Keir |
| 13 | Luca Moretti |
| Interchange | |
| 14 | Jayden Yates |
| 15 | Niko Apelu |
| 16 | Jirah Momoisea |
| 17 | Tevita Taumoepenu |
Jersey Flegg Team List
Round 5, 11:30AM Saturday 1st April, Ziems Park
An outstanding all-round team effort laid the foundations of Parramatta’s 18-10 victory over the Penrith Panthers while some individual flair sealed the deal. Lindsay Munro continues to show that what he lacks in size he makes up for in skill, speed and savvy. The forwards worked tirelessly as a unit with Brock Parker showing sparking footy IQ to dispossess a Penrith forward submitting to a voluntary tackle to avoid a penalty for an obstruction. Each and every player contributed meaningfully in an exceptional team performance.
Unsurprisingly, Craig Brennan has only made a change to the starting team where enforced as Beau Newlands replaces the promoted Matthew Komolafe. Tyson Chase gets his chance to impress off the interchange though as he trades places with Lachlan Mears-Crabbs.
| 1 | Lindsay Munro |
| 2 | Lene Feterika |
| 3 | Turoa Williams |
| 4 | Will Latu |
| 5 | Beau Newlands |
| 6 | Ned Hicks |
| 7 | Mac Puafisi |
| 8 | Brock Parker |
| 9 | Jacob Davis |
| 10 | Jontay Junior Betham Misa |
| 11 | Jock Brazel (c) |
| 12 | Max Tupou |
| 13 | Nicholas Lenaz |
| Interchange | |
| 14 | Riley Lack |
| 15 | Tyson Chase |
| 16 | Nikau Wrathall |
| 17 | Noah Reed |
| 18 | Lachlan Mears-Crabb |
Excellent choice for Emu to be up against JWH. RCG is going to need some assistance against the alpha dog and you can bet that JWH is going to be looking to give Emu a bath.
Make no mistake, this will be the biggest game of Emus career to date.
Word of caution to Emu – stay with him and hold your ground LEGALLY !
JWH will be doing absolutely everything to get Emu sin binned or worse and Emu does have a short fuse.
If we control the Alpha Dog – we win. He is that important to them.
Secondly- The Roosters will be doing everything to isolate both Simmonson and Blake in the air to allow Suualli to out jump them. Blake has been terrible in the air this year on the line and it’s a definite weak point that they will look to exploit.
Kudos to the coaching staff – good team but I would have preferred Asi to Blake but what can you do ….
Talking about playing personnel what has happened to Jirah Momoisea ??
I see he can’t even make the Cup run on side. Huge fall from NRL.
Rodwell is another player that seems to have fallen off the cliff in regards to development.
Rodwell was out with injury recently. Thought he had gone alright in the matches I’ve seen him play, but Moretti has made big strides this year.
Greig starting could be the making of him. Just a hint for him, run at the gap between defenders rather than straight at them. A bit of late footwork helps in that regard.
Thanks for the write-up Forty20.
I give us a chance here.
Wiremu gets a great opportunity to put some shots on the Roosters in the opening exchanges.
I hope Suallii isn’t lined up against Waqa. Last time he did. He out jumped him and scored an easy try. We cannot afford a weak link in the chain. I’d probably put Cartwright at centre in the interim. He can play the role Marata played.
Looking forward to Hands injecting that up tempo play again.
Go Eels!!
Not wishing to be contrary but wasn’t that Perham who gave the try to Sualii? My memory is not that good.
No I think you’re just fine.. I just looked at the video again and you are right. It just looked very much like Waqa from that angle. Another reason to have names on the back. Apology to Waqa lol
Cometh the hour, cometh the Emu! Hopefully this is the game that gets his career going. Tough opponent given the hoodoo but got a feeling that the Eels can get it done.
I like all this love for Woody.
This game may be a defining moment for him and determines whether he gets an extension or not.
I think Woody will be up for playing an impact game. I’m not expecting long minutes.
To me he seems a bit lumbering, lacking some of the speed that most props have which enables them to break the line, I hope he can turn it up a notch.
well he put egg on my face, I reckon he was terrific and his game can only improve from here. i think he’s on track to surpass makatoa in the prop rankings
The big collisions were his forte
How come we are allowed to use B Hands in our top 17 when he is not on a top 30 contract. Rein is there so what valid reason do when have for an exemption lol.
Ability!!
Thankfully he is allowed to play because selecting Rwin is admitting defeat
Has big Larry been dumped by the club? I see he has turned out for Cabramatta in Sydney cup. Got 2 tries.
He was at Jersey Flegg training when I called in before the Manly game