NRL Team List

Round 15, 4:00PM Monday 12th June, Accor Stadium

Before we tuck into Team List Tuesday, let’s address the situation surrounding Dylan Brown. Parramatta’s five-eighth is alleged to have inappropriately touched a female patron at a bar on the weekend. I expect the NRL and the Parramatta Eels to thoroughly investigate the matter and should he be found guilty I hope that requisite punishments are levelled at him via suspension, fine and rehabilitative measures. Of course he is afforded the presumption of innocent until proven guilty and in that light the Eels have named him to play in Round 15 pending any action by the NRL and its Integrity Unit.

While the investigation involving Dylan will likely overshadow most news pertaining to the Eels this week, today’s team sheet comes with a mixed bag of news. The injury curse looks to have struck again with breakout bookend Wiremu Greig absent from the squad. We are left to wait for an official injury report to ascertain the full extent of any potential injury but all you can do is shake your head at the impressively poor run luck the Eels have suffered in the pack this season.

The good news is that Junior Paulo is back from State of Origin duties to anchor the front row. The better news is that Reagan Campbell-Gillard is also back, baby! It had been let slip by a number of players in recent rounds that ‘RCG’ was targeting the game after Parramatta’s first bye as his return date from a serious groin injury and the big man has shown that he has the healing factor of Wolverine by meeting that deadline. Further reinforcements arrive in the form of Andrew Davey who has successfully passed concussion protocols and will start presumably on the left edge.

The bench still looks somewhat, ahem, handy with Brendan Hands leading an interchange roster featuring Ofahiki Ogden, Matt Doorey and Makahesi Makatoa. The two rotation props have been in seriously solid form for a good run now and Brad Arthur will need them to stay at that level without Wiremu in the team.

It looks like Daejarn Asi will be on standby should the NRL intervene in regards to Dylan’s availability. He is slotted in at 18th man and could feature at either five-eighth or fullback – depending on which way ‘BA’ thinks would be best for the team.

The Bulldogs look to be fielding a full strength back line this week with Jacob Kiraz fit to take his place on the wing. Reed Mahoney left the field last week concussed but has evidently passed his follow-up checks and has been named to start for the public holiday game. Parramatta cruised past the Bulldogs back in Round 7 to the tune of 30-4 and you better believe that they had this return fixture circled.

Momentum is the name of the game for the Eels though. They were building nicely heading into the week off and now need to come out of the bye energised and ready to make a run through the Bulldogs, Sea Eagles and Dolphins. It all starts on Monday where a good win could ignite a serious climb up the ladder.

NSW Cup Team List

Round 15, 1:40PM Monday 12th June, Accor Stadium

The Eels were humbled by the last-placed Knights on the weekend and now face the table-topping Bulldogs on the Monday public holiday. Worse still, Canterbury rolled Parramatta 28-6 back in Round 7 when these two teams first met. It is a mammoth undertaking for the Blue & Gold but despite the embarrassing loss to Newcastle, just the week before they ambushed the in-form North Sydney Bears for a rousing victory.

So the question is, which Parramatta team turn up?

Haze Dunster gives the backline a boost after missing a couple of games while young tearaway Jontay Junior Betham-Misa continues his ascent in 2023 as he earns another starting cap in reserve grade. Toni Mataele and Jock Brazel feature on a relatively young interchange bench alongside Tevita Taumoepenu. While Daejarn Asi has been provisionally named at five-eighth, coach Nathan Cayless will need to have a contingency plan ready should Asi be called up to the NRL.

Jersey Flegg Cup Team List

Round 15, 6:30PM Friday 9th June, Belmore Sports Ground

Like the NSW Cup, the Jersey Flegg fell to the Newcastle Knights on Sunday. Whether injury, suspension or form are at play, coach Craig Brennan has shook up the spine. Ethyn Martin has been named at fullback with Apa Twidle taking over from Joshua Lynn in the halves. Apa will partner Mac Puafisi as the frontline playmakers. Matt Arthur is absent from the interchange this week, again injury or suspension could be at play here, with Patrick Spence coming into the team as the utility in his place.

Although they enter the round in 8th, the Eels are still very much in touch with as high as 3rd on the ladder with only a handful of wins separating the spots. The Dogs are one of those teams ahead of Parramatta with 4th place in their possession and a win on Friday night would pull the Blue & Gold within touching distance of their Western Sydney rivals.

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