NRL Team List

Round 7, 8:00PM Friday 19^th April, TIO Stadium

Where’s Darwin? That’s in Queensland – I mean the Northern Territory! Sometimes it gets hard to remember though seeing as yet another year goes by and the Parramatta Eels are set to face another opponent from the state that has been feuding with daylight savings since 1992. Wait, the Northern Territory don’t observe daylight savings either…maybe Darwin IS in Queensland.

Either way the Eels find themselves in the tropical surrounings of Australia’s northernmost state or territory capital in their annual home-away-from-home game against one of four potential suitors from the sunshine state. It couldn’t be the North Queensland Cowboys this time around seeing as the Eels banked a surprise 27-20 victory against the ‘Boys in Round 6.

That puts the Redcliffe Dolphins on the card for 2024 and wowza do the Eels get them at a good time. While Parramatta have struggled to replace Mitchell Moses in recent weeks, the Dolphins are a veritable footy triage centre coming into Round 7. Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow, Herbie Farnworth, Felise Kaufusi, Tom Gilbert, Thomas Flegler and Connelly Lemuelu are all unavailable due to various injuries while Anthony Milford is out due to suspension. It is wild stuff and a credit to their roster and Wayne Bennett that they sit on a 3-2 record heading into Friday night.

Football games certainly aren’t won on Team List Tuesday and the Eels will have plenty of work to do to overcome the gritty Dolphins and Brad Arthur has made an interesting change for his squad as they brace for the brutal humidity of the Top End. An uncharged starting line-up gives way to a bench that now includes Blaize Talagi as the, ironically, almost QLD-esque State of Origin utility. ‘BA’ signalled on NRL360 last night that Talagi would be recalled into this role with his ability to cover the backline, halves and perhaps even the up-tempo lock role we have seen in Origin preferred over Kelma Tuilagi this week.

Otherwise it is the same team that stunned the Cowboys last week. Daejarn Asi returns at five-eighth and I assume we will see Dylan Brown continue to switch to the right edge as long as Asi starts in the NRL squad. A win and some useful continuity in the team are pretty much all you can ask for in first grade and the Eels have both heading into this clash as they look to climb back over parity (3-3) and begin their ascent to the Top 8 once again.

If you are feeling like getting out for the footy but don’t want to lavishly splash out for the trip to Darwin, Sixties and myself will be hosting a live site for the Friday night blockbuster at Parramatta Leagues Club. Stay tuned for the full details from Sixties later this week but look forward to both a pre and postgame show from the home of the Eels.

NSW Cup Team List

Round 7, 3:00PM Sunday 21^st April, Wentworth Park

The drought has been broken! It wasn’t exactly textbook but the Eels rolled up their sleeves to bank a breakthrough 30-28 win over the North Sydney Bears last week. Now their attention turns to the Roosters who have also struggled in their start to the season.

There are a host of changes in the Cup this week starting at fullback. Zac Cini dons the #1 with Talagi recalled to NRL. Jake Tago shifts one spot inside to centre and Isaac Lumelume takes his place on the wing.

Kelma Tuilagi will start on the left edge and Charlie Guymer, the previous tenant of that position, takes over at lock forward as he continues to build on a good, industrious start to his time in senior footy. The Eels are also boosted by the return of Matt Doorey after he sustained a facial fracture in Round 2.

Jersey Flegg Team List

Round 7, 1:15PM Sunday 21^st April, Wentworth Park

The Cup may be off the duck egg but the Flegg are still in the market for their first win of the season following a loss to the Melbourne Storm last week. They receive a damn near armada of outside backs in reinforcement for Round 7 with the SG Ball bowing out of the finals. Mohamed Aladmeddine, Dakota Kakoi and Devonte Vaivela bolster the centre and wing spots.

There is a new face in the line-up as well, another QLD recruit to boot, with Tyler Cuthbert making his club debut in the custodial role. That bumps Apa Twidle into the halves where he partners a returning Joshua Lynn. That in turn sees Ryley Smith return to his primary role at dummy half.

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