NRL Team List
Round 7, 4:05PM Sunday 16th April, CommBank Stadium
Nothing like a recovery session Team List Tuesday! Just 24 hours after the Eels kicked off their Round 6 clash against the Wests Tigers they now name their Round 7 line-up to take on the Canterbury Bulldogs. Brad Arthur has barely had time to take stock of any injuries from Easter Monday – of which thankfully there were no overt casualties for the Blue & Gold – and has named a similar team this week.
Notably, Junior Paulo returns from a 2-game suspension and slots straight back into the starting front row. Wiremu Greig drops back to the interchange and Jack Murchie makes way out of the team to accommodate Paulo’s selection. The Eels are surprisingly heavy on middle forwards in their interchange rotation with 3 on the bench, given that Paulo, Reagan Campbell-Gillard, Ryan Matterson and J’Maine Hopgood are all capable of lengthy stints on the field.
Perhaps it points to a renewed focus on physicality for Parramatta after a disappointing showing against the Tigers yesterday. While the Eels secured a much needed win on the public holiday, their first-up contact and ability to win important collisions was lacking. Still, there are only so many minutes you can share between 6 players across 3 positions which means timely rotations will be key.
To little surprise for myself, ‘BA’ has stuck true with Haze Dunster and Sean Russell. Russell had a largely positive game against Wests as he came to grips with playing at centre. Dunster however had struggles under the high ball and in the front line of defence as he was engulfed in the pace of the game. Time, or rather playing time, is the simple but most brutal medicine here and Haze taking his lumps as he gets back up to speed was to be expected.
With the Eels now fielding a full-strength starting pack the emphasis then becomes dominating the ruck, winning collisions and setting a bone-jarring tone in terms of physicality. Backline growth and explosive plays from the spine both feed from it.
The Canterbury Bulldogs will not be pushovers in that regard this week as they welcome back a trio of powerhouse forwards in Viliame Kikau, Tevita Pangai Junior and Raymond Faitala-Mariner. As is so often the case with our opponents, it is an incredibly timely boost for them and makes Sunday’s clash that much more difficult. It is no way a pre-emptive excuse mind you. The Eels have the cattle to get this job done and it done they must. Over the next 6 or so games the Blue & Gold see their draw open up considerably and they need to bank as many wins as possible. It all starts on Sunday and it starts with mindset to get physical.
| Parramatta Eels | Canterbury Bulldogs | |
| Clinton Gutherson | 1 | Hayze Perham |
| Maika Sivo | 2 | Jacob Kiraz |
| Will Penisini | 3 | Jake Averillo |
| Sean Russell | 4 | Paul Alamoti |
| Haze Dunster | 5 | Braidon Burns |
| Dylan Brown | 6 | Matt Burton |
| Mitchell Moses | 7 | Kyle Flanagan |
| Reagan Campbell-Gillard | 8 | Max King |
| Josh Hodgson | 9 | Reed Mahoney |
| Junior Paulo | 10 | Tevita Pangai Junior |
| Shaun Lane | 11 | Viliame Kikau |
| Bryce Cartwright | 12 | Jacob Preston |
| Ryan Matterson | 13 | Raymond Faitala-Mariner |
| Interchange | ||
| J’Maine Hopgood | 14 | Josh Reynolds |
| Brendan Hands | 15 | Jayden Okunbor |
| Wiremu Greig | 16 | Corey Waddell |
| Makahesi Makatoa | 17 | Ryan Sutton |
| Reserves | ||
| Jake Arthur | 18 | Karl Oloapu |
| Matt Doorey | 19 | Jackson Topine |
| Ofahiki Ogden | 20 | Samuel Hughes |
| Jack Murchie | 21 | Declan Casey |
| Waqa Blake | 22 | Andrew Davey |
NSW Cup Team List
Round 7, 1:30PM Sunday 16th April, CommBank Stadium
It doesn’t get much uglier than Parramatta’s 10-6 win on Easter Monday in the NSW Cup but they all count the same at the end of the season. While you can hand wave the result, the process does need to improve though with the Eels botching far too many plays in both offence and defence. They will need to sharpen up quick smart as well given they take on the ladder-leading Bulldogs in Round 7.
Nathan Cayless has made a solitary change to his starting line-up with Jack Murchie dropping out of the NRL squad. Murchie replaces Toni Mataele on the edge with the young backrower slipping back to the interchange. Jirah Momoisea is relegated to 18th man as his unhappy start to 2023 continues.
Despite the scrappy last start win, the Eels have enjoyed a quality month of footy with wins over the Magpies, Workers Sea Eagles and Panthers alongside a draw with the Dragons. Their win over in Panthers in particular showed the squad has the quality to tango with the best in the competition and they will need that same drive on Sunday to unseat the Bulldogs.
| 1 | Daejarn Asi |
| 2 | Isaac Lumelume |
| 3 | Waqa Blake |
| 4 | Zac Cini |
| 5 | Matthew Komolafe |
| 6 | Jordan Rankin © |
| 7 | Jake Arthur |
| 8 | Ofahiki Ogden |
| 9 | Mitch Rein |
| 10 | Ky Rodwell |
| 11 | Jack Murchie |
| 12 | Matt Doorey |
| 13 | Luca Moretti |
| Interchange | |
| 14 | Jayden Yates |
| 15 | Dan Keir |
| 16 | Toni Mataele |
| 17 | Tevita Taumoepenu |
| 18 | Jirah Momoisea |
Jersey Flegg Team List
Round 7, 3:00PM Saturday 16th April, New Era Stadium
The Eels rampaged on across the long weekend with dominant 34-18 win over the Wests Tigers. It stretches the winning streak for Craig Brennan and his young men to 4 straight games and keeps them in touch with the Top 2. Their opposition this week enter the round on the same amount of competition points with the Bulldogs and Eels only separated by points differential. It sets the stage for an important clash with Parramatta forced to make a number of changes this week following injuries sustained in Round 6.
Brock Parker, Turoa Williams and Beau Newlands all picked up knocks in the win over the Tigers. Samuel Loizou returns to the team to play on the wing for Newlands while Ned Hicks shifts from five-eighth to centre to cover for Williams. Damien Nati, who made his club debut with a sparkling effort from the bench, joins Mac Puafisi in the halves. Noah Reed starts alongside Jontay Junior Betham Misa as Lachlan Mears-Crabb and Larry Muagututia reinforce the bench following the other moves.
| 1 | Lindsay Munro |
| 2 | Samuel Loizou |
| 3 | Ned Hicks |
| 4 | Will Latu |
| 5 | Lene Feterika |
| 6 | Damien Nati |
| 7 | Mac Puafisi |
| 8 | Noah Reed |
| 9 | Jacob Davis |
| 10 | Jontay Junior Betham Misa |
| 11 | Jock Brazel (c) |
| 12 | Max Tupou |
| 13 | Nicholas Lenaz |
| Interchange | |
| 14 | Lachlan Mears-Crabb |
| 15 | Tyson Chase |
| 16 | Nikau Wrathall |
| 17 | Larry Muagututia |
| 18 | Markis Atoa |
Can you provide an up-date on the Arthur Miller-Stephen injury?
Poor old Momo. Time to start looking at TAFE courses.
What is Asi’s best position?
I had it in my head that he was a 6 and would possibly make a utility. He is currently down to play FB again this week but I have heard others say that he is a Centre.
His highlight reel shows him predominantly at 5/8.
Maybe they will give him a run at prop next week ? May as well.
Asi was developing into a tidy 5/8 , I bet my bottom dollar he will have the best boot at the club, be tough sitting behind Dyl and MM and also JA , but I am sure he will play his way in, he is being underutilized though, his passing and iq are what makes him different to other halves atthe club, Although handy in other backline positions , he is primarily a 5/8
If he’s a 5/8 he’s not behind JA, he’s behind Rankin. And, Rankin has played fb this year, as has Asi. Versatility is what is going to gain him an opportunity at this stage of his career.
I think JA’s lack of versatility was a major reason for bitching about his selection last year, so encouraging it for Asi seems logical?
And should play there. Put Rankin back to fullback.
But when Rankin was named at fb, there were complaints that he was taking an opportunity that should have been given to someone else (can’t recall who). It’s almost like someone is going to criticise no matter what… 👀
So you are saying that he is a better kicker of the football than MM
I’m a big Dunster fan but I don’t think we can carry him in first grade waiting for him to get his fitness and confidence back. He can do that in NSW Cup.
The comment by BA that haze did not trial most of the week ahead of this game and only had one session was astounding. Complete lack of faith in the rest of his options and really stark insight into the lack of talent in outside backs at the club. Haze was pretty bad (as anyone would be after such a big injury and only a few games back). Surely someone else can do a job while he builds up his body and form in nsw cup. Really disappointing to risk such a player prematurely in an nrl game.
Hard to disagree with these comments. Lack of other options at this point is presumably the issue.
If you happened to have a look at the Cup game on the weekend, it wouldn’t have lightened your mood.
They were putrid.
We need a winger / centre absolutely pronto.
What’s even worse is that Wayne Bennett picked up a bunch of outside backs (isaako, Tesi, Edrick Lee, Brenko Lee etc) from the scrap heap (aside from hamiso) and they generally look much better than our side backs this year (especially the wingers). If parra were deadset on an “X factor” they would have tried to get hamiso to play left centre (even though that was a long shot with dolphins in the picture). There’s plenty of talented young outside backs in the comp/reserve grade that parra should be sniffing around but instead we seem to try tread water each year/chop and change to hide how dreadful waqa is. 27 players and a few spots left should be interesting. Hopefully haze builds on his performance against dogs and we find our physicality/style as a team.
All of what you have said is absolutely true.
Although the reason that those players are playing so well is due to one man.
Although BA is a decent coach, he is light years away from Wayne Bennett.
If you were one of those players, who would you rather play under ?
That’s true – Wayne has a unique ability to bring the best out of players (circa origin 2020) but the parra recruitment of outside backs is just shockingly bad. Each week I watch other teams have centres and wingers who carry hard, make tackles and even have speed to finish off chances/make a line break from their own territory. What a luxury with our one-dimensional bunch. I’d look at dwz from warriors for a wing spot. Runs hard, acrobatic finisher (sure he has some errors in him but parra have carried waqa for years with that issue)
Yes you are totally correct. In all honesty, Waqa should have met the reserve coach at least 12 months ago.
That has been one of the criticisms of BA – he won’t drop his favourites and Waqa has been a favourite of his for years.
I’ve stated before, when Bennett took over the Dolphins it took huge balls to drop Milford and put in that young kid into the 5/8 spot.
Hand on heart, there is no way on this green earth that BA would have done it.
That’s the difference between the men.
MILF is a decent player and should have come to the eels, he could have just coasted for years in our system.
Back to your recruitment of outside backs – yes, extremely poor.
Who are the standout players in Jersey Flegg that should excite us?
Jock Brazel, Brock Parker and I’m throwing in Noah Reed. Jock will be training full time next year I believe. Jontay has potential and there are others doing a great job and playing their role. For them, it’s a matter of keep doing what you’re doing and a call up to NSW Cup at some stage gives them the opportunity to shine in an open age competition which for me is important.
I feel Morretti will debut in NRL this year. His forms been great.
Where is Rodwell at? In his limited first grade time last year I thought he was pretty good. I also thought Doorey was pretty good in his limited time this year, notwithstanding some room for improvement.
I agree with Gols assessment in the Rd 6 grades, Reg looks a bit tired – too much expectation having him intended to play 65 mins and provide all the go forward. I presume / hope a middle heavy bench will mean he gets a better rest and more normal playing minutes, otherwise he will be cooked by round 20.
Possibly our strongest side on paper and that’s a worry.
The reserve team doesn’t have anyone knocking the door for selection I think Doorey might be worth putting on the 1st grade bench for a bit of something different.
Hopefully we are improving and fir once we actually don’t get dominated for field position
Couple of points.
Karaz is going to be coming at Dunster full speed, 100%. He better be ready and won’t be able to dish up anything like the crap we saw in the second half from him. There will be no excuses and we can’t afford to carry him again.
What has happened to Momoisea ??
We signed him for 2 years on a decent contract. At the moment, he’s just wasting a top 30 spot. At this rate, he will be out of the club in a month or two.
Talking about wasting a top 30 spot, when are we going to see anything of Samuel Loizou? I know he’s had a couple of injuries but hasn’t been anywhere remotely near the NRL.
Recruitment is lacking big time.
Agree Spark
I don’t know what we are paying Momoisea so I would like to know what you mean when you say”decent”, but he is another example of poor recruitment. The fact that he is on the bench for the Reserves says it all. Clearly he is not of first grade standard. If the money is as you say “decent” could that not have been put towards the retention of Ice and/or Reed particularly as there seemed to be enough to entice Ice to stay when he was getting cold feet about joining the Tigers at the end of last year.
The obvious to all knee jerk signature of an ageing and physically limited Hodgson in the wake of Reed signing with the Dogs is another example of a flawed recruitment strategy and didn’t fool anybody. Just a thought.
Hardly even noticed Ice was on the field last weekend.
Been the same all year. Perhaps he doesn’t want to be there.
I think you’ll find Kiraz will be up against Sivo unless he changes sides due to JAC’s injury.
Loizou playing Flegg? Is the the same Sam Loizou?
Yes he is.
Is Murchie seen as a Prop or 2nd rower? In NRL he plays at PROP. He should be doing the same in NSW CUP unless BA has decides he ain’t good there and wants to put him back to the edge.
Unfortunately for Matalele development I don’t like him back to the bench. Ogden and Rodwell are never going to be NRL players. Matalele could be and slowing down his development isn’t a good idea. I feel him and Morretti along with Doorey should be priority. I guess I will reserve judgement till after the game. But anything less then 60mins would be dissapointing for Toni.