NRLW Team List
Round 7, 1:50PM Sunday 3rd September, Industree Group Stadium
The jubilant celebrations following Parramatta’s breakthrough win in the 2023 season immediately switch gears to grim resolve as the Blue & Gold now plot to take down the fearsome Sydney Roosters in Round 7. Dean Widders has made a single adjustment to his victorious squad as Capri Paekau returns to the interchange bench in place of Nakia Davis-Welsh.
Rookies Lindsay Tui and Noaria Kapua have held their places in the team after strong debuts. Team continues to find a healthy balance between the heady experience of veterans like Rachael Pearson, Talesha O’Neill and Mahalia Murphy alongside the invigorating energy of Tui and Kapua as well as breakout stars like Cassey Tohi-Hiku, Tyla Amiatu and Zali Fay.
Defeating the Roosters will be an enormous undertaking this week. Their team reads like an All-Stars representative squad. Baxter, Sergis, Kelly, Aiken, Kelleher, Boyle, Davis, Hill-Moana, Kernick and Joseph are all elite talents and it comes as no surprise that the Tri-colours lead the competition after six rounds.
Parramatta enter the contest as firm outsiders but shouldn’t be writing themselves off after terrific showings against Brisbane and Canberra before their win against North Queensland. Minimising errors will be the name of the game for the Eels. They simply can’t afford to spot the Roosters free possession and field position. If they can stay on top on their completion rates and settle into an early rhythm then they could ask some serious questions of the form team of the premiership.
| Parramatta Eels | Sydney Roosters | |
| Abbi Church | 1 | Corban Baxter |
| Zali Fay | 2 | Brydie Parker |
| Lindsay Tui | 3 | Jessica Sergis |
| Cassey Tohi-Hiku | 4 | Isabelle Kelly |
| Kimberley Hunt | 5 | Mia Wood |
| Pihuka Berryman-Duff | 6 | Tarryn Aiken |
| Rachael Pearson | 7 | Jocelyn Kelleher |
| Talesha O’Neill | 8 | Millie Boyle |
| Rueben Cherrington | 9 | Keeley Davis |
| Tyla Amiatu | 10 | Mya Hill-Moana |
| Amelia Mafi | 11 | Otesa Pule |
| Mahalia Murphy | 12 | Olivia Kernick |
| Jade Fonua | 13 | Keilee Joseph |
| Interchange | ||
| Capri Paekau | 14 | Joeli Morris |
| Noaria Kapua | 15 | Grace Hamilton |
| Ruby-Jean Kennard-Ellis | 16 | Pani Hopoate |
| Madeline Jones | 17 | Amelia Pasikala |
| Reserves | ||
| Nakia Davis-Welsh | 18 | Jayme Fressard |
| Kyra Simon | 19 | Teuila Fotu-Moala |
| Taneka Todhunter | 20 | Lexi Kiriwi |
| Monique Donovan | 21 | Lily Rogan |
| Shannon Muru | 22 | Tyler Bentley |
Jersey Flegg Team List
Finals Week 1, 11:00AM Saturday 2nd September, North Sydney Oval
It took some help from Canberra (who left it until 2-minutes from full time, mind you!) and some incandescent form of their own but the Parramatta Eels have burned down the door to the Jersey Flegg finals in 2023. Parramatta won five of their last six matches in the regulation season to claim the last berth in the finals and now meet the team they beat in their last start in the Penrith Panthers.
Craig Brennan has made some tortuous decisions this week about who to pick and who to leave out given that his young team has given him everything they’ve got in this prolonged run. Richard Penisini is back at right centre after recovering from a head knock two weeks ago. He pushes Blaize Talagi to the bench as the super utility. Toni Mataele is out due to suspension but some serious firepower comes in to replace him as Jontay-Junior Betham-Misa steps back into the arena of Jersey Flegg.
Jock Brazel is also back after missing last week and his return leads to a brutal decision to drop Charlie Guymer to 18th man. There was no right or wrong decision here as a quality player was missing out one way or the other. Noah Reed and Sam Tuivaiti provide the beef for the middle rotation on the bench while Will Latu covers the backrow and potentially the centres if Talagi second emergency centre spot if Talagi has already been thrown into the game.
| 1 | Apa Twidle |
| 2 | Matthew Komolafe |
| 3 | Samuel Loizou |
| 4 | Richard Penisini |
| 5 | Ethyn Martin |
| 6 | Joshua Lynn |
| 7 | Ethan Sanders |
| 8 | Brock Parker |
| 9 | Matthew Arthur |
| 10 | Jontay-Junior Betham-Misa |
| 11 | Jock Brazel |
| 12 | Max Tupou |
| 13 | Nicholas Lenaz |
| Interchange | |
| 14 | Blaize Talagi |
| 15 | Sam Tuivaiti |
| 16 | William Latu |
| 17 | Noah Reed |
| 18 | Charlie Guymer |
Mataele is a huge out but he wouldn’t have been able to play as he isn’t eligible to play finals and I find it very odd guymer out though
Big ins with jjbm and brazel hopefully the boys can repeat last weeks efforts and continue their push through this finals series
There is a wealth of riches in this grade Anon.
Are you sure Mataele is ineligible? He only played two more NSW Cup games than JJBM, who obviously is eligible. But then Mataele only made 4 appearances in Jersey Flegg Cup this year while JJBM appeared 10 times (none since round 18 though).
I’m 100% sure
So he’s ineligible rather than suspended?
Both
Ok cheers
Correct
I keep hearing Ethan Sanders is being lost to the club? Given the time without Dylan and Mitch being injured we have allowed it to happen. Given all the other recruitment blunders and loss of NRL and NRLW players. It just seems to be repeated errors and mismanagement in recruitment and retention. I really question accountability at the club!!
I’m really starting to question my families membership renewal. Given the lack of accountability and zero eyes on the future. Are we doomed to continue this path of inept planning for the future?
Given MM and Dylan are both on potentially long term contracts. It is more than likely Ethan is going to play NRL early, what would your solution have been?
I think that getting an outside back or even a cracking FB would have been the biggest priority. With Murchie moving on it would seem that they have begun making room for recruits already.
Yes, but. The way the NRL is going longer comp 17 rounds, Origin, Suspension, HIA and injuries (player behaviour).. He would get a debut with us and we’d have an excellent back up. Just seeing how rare talented halves are. We grow one and just let him go? And what do we get in return? HSS? I would have liked to see something more.
We didn’t get HSS as it turned out.
John, I’m not sure that we get too much salary cap benefit from Murchie departing. He wouldn’t have been on huge coin and he has to be replaced in the roster.
Agree Murchie will not give a lot of cap relief. It does throw up another spot in the 30. However I would be surprised if he is the last.
While not surprising at all we see that JH has been officially medically retired today.
Ethan will be at the club in 2024 but going to Canberra in 2025.
A player clearly that good..i believe you make room. At least not going to Bulldogs
Gee! I feel sorry for Charlie. I suppose someone had to miss out but we’ll miss his big heart.
Demonstrates the tough calls that had to be made.
I am hoping Guymer just has a niggle and comes into the team. No way he goes from playing NSW Cup to dropped out of the side. Start him in the backrow, move Tupou to the bench and Latu out of the side.
swap guymer and talagi,latu to centre pryke on bench,penisini out
I could pick 20 different players in the starting 13 and come up with a reason to select them. Tough calls there.
Blackburn also played NSW Cup, as did Turoa Williams. It doesn’t necessarily mean a player is top pick in the Flegg side.
There are a few boys who have missed out like you said here who have given it their all this year. No one has mentioned Davis either – he injects energy any time I’ve seen him play. Held his own in Cup too and is a workhorse when it comes to defence. Pryke also? I saw that Roosters game which was in my opinion the catalyst for getting us to where we are now. That rotation of Davis, Lenaz and Pryke that game worked well.
I guess Davis, Pryke and Guymer can all play Flegg again next year. Fualema too. A few of these other blokes are in their final year of eligibility.
I wonder if Talagi is going to play lock.
Off the bench? Who knows, but he has done that back in Matts.
Why is graig Brennan, not coaching next year done great job this year ,seems strange , any way ,keep playing good footy and hopefully will go long way in finals, go parr ,
Brenno is a terrific coach who has been responsible for guiding many of the young players in pathways. On a personal level I’m disappointed that he won’t be coaching next season. I think the role will be combined with other responsibilities next year and become full time with Jordan Rankin. Jordan had been working as an assistant coach with SG Ball this year.
I’ve seen some poor choices by Brennan – interchange has been poorly used all season. I think a lot of the issues with the club as a whole issue is we neglect to bring in new blood and fresh ideas. It will be good to see what Rankin can provide for the players coming up. Its good to see coaches with a decent footballing background! What ever happened to Woolford last year?
That’s a bit tough on Brenno. Have a look at the difference in personnel between the first half of the season and the back end. He’s done an exceptional job in blending two groups together at the mid point of the season.
The club and Woolford parted ways.
All coaches make poor choices according to the spectators who mind you aren’t in possession of a lot of facts, knowledge or experience ,hes the coach so its his educated choice .