NRL Team List
Round 10, 6:10PM Sunday 7th May, Suncorp Stadium
Magic Round rolls around again as the Parramatta Eels take on the Gold Coast Titans in Round 10 of NRL action. While both teams will be looking to pull the proverbial rabbit out the hat and get the win on Sunday, perhaps the biggest magic trick they can conjure will be escaping the worn and torn turf of Suncorp Stadium unscathed. The stadium turf was looking in a dire state in the Brisbane Broncos’ Round 9 loss to South Sydney and it still have 7 full games to be played on it in Round 10 before the Eels and Titans play.
In terms of the things the Parramatta Eels can control though, we now turn to the team sheet. After something close to a training run against the Newcastle Knights, Brad Arthur will want his team to, ahem, tighten up against the Gold Coast. We have a number of expected changes with Ryan Matterson (illness) and Bailey Simonsson (concussion) coming back into the team while Andrew Davey makes an expeditious return to the Eels as he slots into the starting team outside of Mitchell Moses. Simonsson takes the place of Sean Russell while Matterson will play from the interchange where he replaces Ofahiki Ogden.
Obviously there will be plenty of attention on Andrew Davey given that both Matterson and Cartwright have done well in the same role this year. However, the fact that he will likely platoon that right edge with Cartwright opens up the opportunity for Matterson to beef up Parramatta’s middle rotation in the absence of Reagan Campbell-Gillard. The other big selection decision sees Haze Dunster hold his place in the backline over Sean Russell. ‘BA’ clearly had a quandry here with Haze’s current lack of top-end pace against Sean’s struggles under the high ball and the odd defensive lapse. I don’t know if there is a right answer here and will defer to the coach.
The Titans lost the talented AJ Brimson last week and welcome the equally talented Jayden Campbell into their team as a result. The Gold Coast have been…alright if I have to describe them in a word in 2023. Often times they are capable of explosive offence in the first half of games but have been guilty of fading in the second stanza – most infamously against the Dolphins recently. Phillip Sami and Alofiana Khan-Pereira give them some legitimate strike in the backline while Tino Fa’asuamaleaui and Moeaki Fotuaika provide serious beef in the ruck. If the Eels gift them opportunities to score they can and will capatilise of them.
I don’t really know what to expect from the Eels this week. They played poorly against the Broncos under some actual duress (5-day turnaround etc) and blew through the Knights with almost comical ease. I would honestly be happy with a solid, fundamentally sound victory this week but who knows what is in store for us?
| Parramatta Eels | Gold Coast Titans | |
| Clinton Gutherson | 1 | Jayden Campbell |
| Maika Sivo | 2 | Alofiana Khan-Pereira |
| Will Penisini | 3 | Brian Kelly |
| Bailey Simonsson | 4 | Jojo Fifita |
| Haze Dunster | 5 | Phillip Sami |
| Dylan Brown | 6 | Kieran Foran |
| Mitchell Moses | 7 | Tanah Boyd |
| Wiremu Greig | 8 | Moeaki Fotuaika |
| Josh Hodgson | 9 | Chris Randall |
| Junior Paulo | 10 | Tino Fa’asuamaleaui |
| Shaun Lane | 11 | David Fifita |
| Andrew Davey | 12 | Joe Stimson |
| J’maine Hopgood | 13 | Isaac Liu |
| Interchange | ||
| Bryce Cartwright | 14 | Kruise Leeming |
| Brendan Hands | 15 | Erin Clark |
| Ryan Matterson | 16 | Klese Haas |
| Makahesi Makatoa | 17 | Joe Vuna |
| Reserves | ||
| Jake Arthur | 18 | Keano Kini |
| Sean Russell | 19 | Aaron Schoupp |
| Ofahiki Ogden | 20 | Tom Weaver |
| Matt Doorey | 21 | Thomas Mikaele |
| Jack Murchie | 22 | Sam McIntyre |
NSW Cup Team List
Round 10, 3:00PM Saturday 6th May, North Sydney Oval
I don’t know who had the Parramatta Eels bouncing back from a nightmare trip to New Zealand with a 44-10 victory over the Knights but if you did – kudos to your good sir or madam. The Eels ran riot at Kellyville on Saturday with Matt Doorey, Meni Luke and Zac Cini all bagging doubles. With the NRL squad travelling to Brisbane Magic Round, the NSW Cup too enjoy their own slice of fantastical footy as part of a block of games at the timeless North Sydney Oval. They take of the Western Suburbs Magpies this week – who you might recall the Eels beat a few ago in a 10-6 bludger.
Sean Russell will turn out in the centres for this game and is joined in the new-look starting team by Ofahiki Ogden and Jirah Momoisea who take their places in the frontrow. With the Jersey Flegg on the bye again, Jontay-Junior Betham-Misa reinforces the bench and the prop rotation.
| 1 | Daejarn Asi |
| 2 | Isaac Lumelume |
| 3 | Sean Russell |
| 4 | Zac Cini |
| 5 | Chris Tupou |
| 6 | Jordan Rankin © |
| 7 | Jake Arthur |
| 8 | Ofahiki Ogden |
| 9 | Meni Luke |
| 10 | Jirah Momoisea |
| 11 | Matt Doorey |
| 12 | Jack Murchie |
| 13 | Luca Moretti |
| Interchange | |
| 14 | Jayden Yates |
| 15 | Toni Mataele |
| 16 | Tevita Taumoepenu |
| 17 | Jontay-Junior Betham-Misa |
Jersey Flegg Team List
BYE
Haze Dunster over Sean Russell on the wing against Sami or Khan-Pereira. Ok ah .. that will do me.
Dunster can barely break out of a Jog. Does no one any favours keeping him in 1st grade. Id rather Lumelume or Cini get a run.
Interesting 🤔….I would stay with Dubstep
One thing is for certain – there will be some great long distance tries for the fans of magic round! I saw Papenhuyzen destroy us with speed at magic round a couple of years ago.
We haven’t learnt anything since then.
If the Eels arnt doing absolutely everything they can to get Jake Averillo to the club to play centre they are just stuffing around. Can play fullback and centre and is quick .. just what we need.
one swallow does not a summer make. You must have watched the game against dragons
I did but then again I have watched all of the bulldog games. Some have suggested Lomax and whilst a good player he is pretty slow as a back. It would be nice to have someone in the backline with a bit of speed because we are damn pedestrian in that regard whilst every other team is investing heavily in the speed department.
Titans have a seriously undermanned bench. Three players with 17 games between them. Not sure what to make of this but big game possibly big crowd – where are their experienced players. For Parra they are going for eight straight over the Titans. Let’s hope they don’t turn up with the easy beat attitude.
Yes. It’s Pandora’s box for us this year….. You just don’t know what you will get
I liked the Easybeats. Evie?
I a fan for Matto of the bench especially with RCG out, however I think its worth sacrificing that middle punch and play him in the backrow to mark Fifita.
Ogden was a beast coming off the bench, how do you drop him. Two edge forwards and only one middle forward on the bench
Right now Simonsson/Dunster is better than Russell/Dunster. And Davey makes us stronger while RCG is out. Hodgson’s first stint v Knights was better, more of that will help.Matterson back and Lane is building, his carries were v good but we’re not getting him one on one in attack, I’d say he’s on the opposition coach sheet.
Would’ve love to have seen Ogden play again but I read the reviews by Gol in regards to Maca and I guess it’s fair to say he deserves his spot on the bench after last week..I still think Murchie needs to be given a chance…..I rate him in front of Doorey
Murchie – big things expected but …
I won’t be surprised if Haze is a a late scratching and Russell cones in
I just hope the cow paddock we’ll have to play on doesn’t result in injuries. I really can’t understand why this round needs to be played on a single ground, but I’m glad we aren’t giving away another home game for this.
As Hamsamich pointed out recently. We traded our home game for the Darwin ordeal.
All our Magic round games have been away games.
When are we going to have Magic Round in Sydney?
Peter Valandys time to squeeze Chris Minns for some money.
At least if the round was played in Sydney they would not have to play all games at the same ground. Sydney is not a one stadium city.
The Cup side looks better when Asi is ball playing
1. Rankin
6. Asi
7. Arthur
9. Luke
Watch this team go ham
I like this except find a fullback and kick Rankin out.
How does Davey slot right into a starting position when he hasn’t played many first grade games this year ahead of blokes that have actually worked hard to get there. Shows the wrong message about earning your spot for the rest of the team.
Exactly. Matherson to bench and Doorey/Ogden dropped. All players who have looked great for the team.
Understand Matterson comes back in for us but would have kept Ogden on the bench to reward him of his good efforts
Not really , shows there not producing enough to earn-a spot .
I rate what Doorey has given the team, he runs great lines and challenges defences. But I’m not the coach so I don’t know what he’s looking for. Also, Parra isn’t an island. Most clubs, if not all, who add mid season signings are intending to play such additions in first grade. Players are used to this happening.
I think Davey for his defence