NRL Team List
Round 2, 8:00PM Friday 15th March, BlueBet Stadium
The Eels emerged from Round 1 emblazoned by glorious victory over the Bulldogs as the club put a strong foot forwards in their season launch. Celebrations would have turned almost immediately to preparations though given who Parramatta face in Round 2 given they travel to Penrith to take on the indomitable force that is the Panthers.
Brad Arthur was spared a tough call last week when it came to the composition of his bench due to a minor hamstring injury to Wiremu Greig. With ‘Woody’ back to full fitness this week it means ‘BA” is pressed to make a big call on the bench. Unsurprisingly, Arthur has held firm with the crew that carried the flag in Round 1 as Brendan Hands, Ryan Matterson, Joe Ofahengaue and Kelma Tuilagi round out the rotational players.
Indeed the Eels are unchanged through 1-17 with Junior Paulo named to start once again – although that could obviously be switched up again ahead of kickoff on Friday night. Concerns over a groin injury to Mitchell Moses were assuaged yesterday with Parramatta’s principal playmaker confirming again today in a media presser that he is good to go against the reigning premiers.
On other side of the ledger the Penrith Panthers welcome back two starters this week as Mitch Kenny and Scott Sorensen bolster their squad ahead of their home opener. The Panthers were ambushed by an undermanned Melbourne Storm last week enroute to a stunning shutout loss. Taylan May was a menace with the ball in hand mind you with the Storm struggling to bring him down throughout the clash.
What else needs to be said (or written) about the Panthers at this point? The Eels have obviously matched up with them spectacularly in the regular season over the last three years but they have remain unquestionably the bench mark in the NRL. They will be stinging from a frankly humiliating loss to the Storm last week and when you mix that with the juice that comes with a bumper crowd for your home opener you know they will be bringing their absolute best this week.
It will be quite the effort for the Eels to improve their 2024 record to 2-0 this week. With that said it will almost certainly be a firecracker of a game regardless of the result. These two teams produced arguably the game of the year in Round 4 last year with a golden point thriller that saw Moses and Cleary trade clutch field goals. I am fired up to see how our boys match up on Friday night. They have a chance to steal a march on the premiership favourites and set the table for a monumental home stand against the Sea Eagles and Tigers in coming weeks.
| Parramatta Eels | Penrith Panthers | |
| Clinton Gutherson | 1 | Dylan Edwards |
| Bailey Simonsson | 2 | Sunia Turuva |
| Will Penisini | 3 | Izack Tago |
| Morgan Harper | 4 | Taylan May |
| Sean Russell | 5 | Brian To’o |
| Dylan Brown | 6 | Jarome Luai |
| Mitchell Moses | 7 | Nathan Cleary |
| Reagan Campbell-Gillard | 8 | Moses Leota |
| Joey Lussick | 9 | Mitch Kenny |
| Junior Paulo | 10 | James Fisher-Harris |
| Shaun Lane | 11 | Scott Sorensen |
| Bryce Cartwright | 12 | Liam Martin |
| J’maine Hopgood | 13 | Isaah Yeo |
| Interchange | ||
| Brendan Hands | 14 | Soni Luke |
| Ryan Matterson | 15 | Lindsay Smith |
| Joe Ofahengaue | 16 | Liam Henry |
| Kelma Tuilagi | 17 | Luke Garner |
| Reserves | ||
| Ofahiki Ogden | 18 | Daine Laurie |
| Wiremu Greig | 19 | Matthew Eisenhuth |
| Luca Moretti | 20 | Mavrik Geyer |
| Makahesi Makatoa | 21 | Paul Alamoti |
| Blaize Talagi | 22 | Brad Schneider |
NSW Cup Team List
Round 2, 5:45PM Friday 15th March, BlueBet Stadium
Defence was certainly optional in Parramatta’s wild 36-38 loss to the Bulldogs on the weekend but the defeat came with some seriously impressive performances from young prospects. Matt Arthur was in outrageous form with the young rake eviscerating the Bulldogs from dummy half. Blaize Talagi chalked up some learning errors at fullback, which is to be expected, but produced several spectacular moments with the ball in hand as he notched up a pair of try assists. Matt Doorey(3 linebreaks) and Samuel Loizou (5 tries) were both plenty productive as well.
Round 2 sees the Cup team reinforced by the returns of Wiremu Greig and Toni Mataele. Wiremu will start alongside Ofahiki Ogden in the front row while Toni makes his season debut from the bench. Meni Luke and Reece Alderton drop out of the team to create space for the changes.
The Eels take on the Panthers in the curtain raiser on Friday night and you can catch this game on NSWRL TV if you have a subscription or still have the free trial available to use!
| 1 | Blaize Talagi |
| 2 | Isaac Lumelume |
| 3 | Samuel Loizou |
| 4 | Zac Cini |
| 5 | Haze Dunster |
| 6 | Daejarn Asi |
| 7 | Ethan Sanders |
| 8 | Ofahiki Ogden |
| 9 | Matt Arthur |
| 10 | Wiremu Greig |
| 11 | Matt Doorey |
| 12 | Luca Moretti |
| 13 | Makahesi Makatoa |
| Interchange | |
| 15 | Toni Matele |
| 16 | Dan Keir |
| 17 | Charlie Guymer |
| 17 | Brock Parker |
| 18 | Meni Luke |
Jersey Flegg Team List
Round 2, 3:15PM Saturday 16th March, St Marys Stadium
It went awry for the Eels in Round 1 of the Flegg with the Bulldogs punching out a 30-6 win over our lads. They get a tough assignment this week as they travel to St Marys to take on the Panthers. There is a solitary change for the team this week as one Will gets swapped out for another as Will Latu drops out of the team (a one week suspension) while Will Lewis comes into the backrow to replace him.
| 1 | Apa Twidle |
| 2 | Tamarere Simons |
| 3 | Eric Vaafusuaga |
| 4 | Araz Nanva |
| 5 | Charlie Scorovi |
| 6 | Mitchell Chester |
| 7 | Joshua Lynn |
| 8 | Sam Tuivaiti |
| 9 | Ryley Smith |
| 10 | Saxon Pryke |
| 11 | Will Lewis |
| 12 | Jock Brazel |
| 13 | Max Tupou |
| Interchange | |
| 14 | Pat Spence |
| 15 | Damascus Neemia |
| 16 | Lance Fualema |
| 17 | LeBron Tuala |
Mitch and Dyl playing reggies and firsts? 😛
Hey mate, might want to update the halves in the NSW Cup team.
Look forward to these games every season. The local derbies are always good. Usually with a big crowd.
I am surprised that Woody not listed in NRL. He maybe is touch and go to be fit for this week. Need to wait another week I guess
I would suggest he lacks match fitness and theyre expecting a pacy energy draining game , he in the right division this week .
Agreed!
A week of game time in Reggies won’t hurt Woody. The more match fir he is the better.
Hard to argue with the an unchanged winning team.
Wiremu almost ready to come back. The question is who gets left out? We are in a good spot in the forwards.
NSW cup lost again. But Loizou scored 5 tries. Does he have any chance of first grade?
Note Club approaching Dragons about Zac Lommax? I actually don’t mind that. We are already down 1 outside back due to suspension. With Mitch hobbling we are on a knife-edge.
Who gets left out becomes a hard decision for the coach. I think a fit Woody would almost be an automatic starter. Who would want to be a coach?
You are right about Lomax. I think he would be a good addition. He is only 24? Feels like he has been around for ages. Would need to come 2024.
Let 3 in .
I have not watched his game from the weekend. In the past he has shown ability.
Happy to trust the club if they chase him.
Agreed
Pete, we have to sign outside backs, whether it’s Lomax or somebody else.
Does anyone know what happened to Lachlan Blackburn? Was an Aus schoolboy outside back with us last year!
Looks like he’s on the bench for Penriths Jersey Flegg
Did he play well for us last year?
Oh really, wondered what happened to him, that explains it. I didn’t see much of him play last year at all to be honest. Just had interest as a aus schoolboy, had high hopes for him. I think he may be a Penrith junior.
You could count the amount of games he played for us over 2 years on 1 hand. Unfortunate with injuries.
He’ll be playing in the Jersey Flegg game this weekend – for Penrith.
Another one gone, can’t keep them all I guess, hope we don’t regret it.
Is Ethyn Martin injured?
Ethyn Martin was 18th man for the cup side last week.
Is there a reason Cini and Lumelume are preferred. Ethyn seems to have far more of an upside than both of them. How did his preseason go in comparison 60s?
I agree about Martin. I feel we would be better off preparing him for NRL life than persevering with Cini or Lumelume.
Watched the second half of NSW Cup and honestly Dunster cannot run and Lumelume is not a decent winger. These wingers are well past their best. Surely Martin and the fast winger (Hill?) we bought from W-T late last year would be better options and have upside for the future.
Ethyn was doing a day a week prior to Christmas. That increased in January. I suspect injury is why he’s not selected but I haven’t been at training recently to know one way or another.
I haven’t been able to attend training for a few weeks so I’m not aware of any injuries. He’s too old for Flegg now, but I’d assume he would be likely to earn selection if fit.
Saw a video of Blaize carving up junior reps, and very often setting up tries for Matt Komolafe. What happened to him? Scored a heap of tries in Cup last year and seemed to have the tall athletic physique we need in our outside backs. Did we let him go? If so, why given our lack of depth there?
Komolafe was last seen trialing for the Waratahs, looks likely to end up in club rugby this year. He’d had plenty of chances, and you need to do more than just look the part. I don’t think there was a potential first grader there. Keep in mind that decision would’ve been made before we lost two younger, more talented outside backs to injury as well.
Matt had also had a number of preseasons. I think he was looking for a NRL train and trial elsewhere early on but has obviously now taken a Union path.
Is jirah momosiea still with the club or is he injured? Massive fall if he’s gone from a top 30 player to not being able to make our 3rd string side (albeit still a top 30 player)
I don’t expect to see him play this year in the
Blue and Gold.
I’ll believe Mitch is playing when I see him run out with the team. Groin muscles are notoriously fickle things to fix. He didn’t look like he was in great shape.
In an interview with Fox he admitted he had not run since the Dogs game
Agreed. Then again I have my fingers crossed Mitch can be like the captain/coach of Greystanes Rugby club where my dad played in the late 70s. This bloke hobbled around training all week complaining about his groin and how he would need an operation. Always played the next weekend and somehow managed to find pace and freedom to sprint twenty metres for a try during the touch footy games that finished training.
There is no doubt if there is a way for him to get onto the field he will be there.
I have watched training where a player is in rehab all week then plays on the weekend. Will that happen with Mitch? I have no idea.
This is the NRL not some 2nd tier suburban club Rugby. If there is any doubt he should be rested. It is a long season.
Joe, the Eels have excellent staff that look after the health of the squad. I’m confident that they wouldn’t risk further injury. All NRL players push through bumps and niggles at some stage of the season. It’s the nature of the game.