NRL Team List
BYE
NRL Casualty Ward
| Player | Injury | Expected Return |
| Haze Dunster | Lisfranc | Round 20 |
| J’maine Hopgood | Back | TBC |
| Toni Mataele | Hamstring | Rounds 18-19 |
| Ofahiki Ogden | Pec | Rounds 18-19 |
| Bailey Simonsson | Knee | 2025 |
| Maika Sivo | Hamstring | Round 17 |
| Kelma Tuilagi | Thumb | Rounds 22-24 |
The injuries are piling up once more for the Blue & Gold as Kelma Tuilagi faces a long stint on the sideline care of a broken thumb. Parramatta’s backrow stocks could be further depleted pending the results of scans on J’maine Hopgood’s back with the club obviously holding out for a positive outcome.
Maika Sivo looks to be good to go out of the bye and goodness knows the Eels need as many troops in the backline as possible. Toni Mataele and Ofahiki Ogden have missed the bulk of play this year but are set to boost the NSW Cup squad in the coming weeks with Haze Dunster just behind them.
NSW Cup Team List
Round 15, 3:00PM Saturday, Eric Tweedale Stadium
| 1 | Zac Cini |
| 2 | Lorenzo Mulitalo |
| 3 | Jake Tago |
| 4 | Morgan Harper |
| 5 | Isaac Lumelume |
| 6 | Joshua Lynn |
| 7 | Ethan Sanders |
| 8 | Wiremu Greig |
| 9 | Joey Lussick |
| 10 | Makahesi Makatoa |
| 11 | Dan Keir |
| 12 | Matt Doorey |
| 13 | Luca Moretti |
| Interchange | |
| 15 | Meni Luke |
| 16 | Charlie Guymer |
| 17 | Brock Parker |
| 17 | Reece Alderton |
The Parramatta Eels have been doing a whole lot of winning in the NSW Cup over the last two months but they now face a serious litmus test as they host 2nd placed Canberra Raiders on Saturday at Eric Tweedale Stadium. Nathan Cayless has largely stayed true to the formula that has worked so well in that period albeit with Joey Lussick taking over from Matt Arthur who looks to be rested post Under 19s Origin. Charlie Guymer gets bumped to the bench this week as senior forwards in Greig, Makatoa and Moretti helm the opening rotation in the ruck.
Jersey Flegg Team List
Round 15, 1:00PM Saturday, Eric Tweedale Stadium
| 1 | Zach Hunter |
| 2 | Mohamed Alameddine |
| 3 | Antioch Faitala-Mariner |
| 4 | Araz Nanva |
| 5 | Beau Newlands |
| 6 | Apa Twidle |
| 7 | Matthew Hunter |
| 8 | Sam Tuivati |
| 9 | Ryley Smith |
| 10 | Teancum Brown |
| 11 | Jock Brazel |
| 12 | Will Latu |
| 13 | Saxon Pryke |
| Interchange | |
| 15 | Yehya Ayache |
| 16 | Dom De Stradis |
| 17 | Tyrese Lokeni |
| 19 | Damascus Neemia |
| 18 | Raf De Stradis |
The first game in an Eric Tweedale Stadium double header sees the Flegg looking to ambush the table topping Raiders with the Eels hunting a 5th straight win. Jordan Rankin, like Cayless above, is rolling with the team list that has performed so admirably across the lengthy win streak. Sam Tuivaiti has been named to back up from Under 19 Origin while Will Latu comes back to this grade after a healthy stint in the NSW Cup.
Could anyone give me a rundown on how Apa Twidle is developing this season?
I have seen snipets of highlights where he is looking very good at five eight but again they are only small highlights.
Thanks,
Tony
Eric Tweedale was a great man. I played Rugby Union with Merrylands in 1960 – and Eric was our coach. I recently found an article I penned about his influence on me. Eric passed away in 2023 aged 101…
Thinking back to when I was a 14 year-old-schoolboy attending Marist Brothers, Auburn, one of my school mates invited me and three of four others to come to Merrylands Rugby Union Club, and try out this ‘new code”
My mate’s name was Arthur Gunning, and he lived in Henson Street, Merrylands which was just around the corner from Merrylands Oval.
I had heard of Rugby, but I had never experienced the game.My mates and I came into the code ‘cold turkey”
We were fortunate to have as our ‘first coach’, a living legend, the great Eric Tweedale.
The Year was 1960, and just imagine a star struck youth getting to meet, not only a former Wallaby, but one of the famous ‘front row” from the Parramatta Two Blues – Ken Kearney, Eric and Len Woolfe —and he was the man to coach you ‘how to play the game’
It was 60 years ago, and I can still remember the ‘aura’ that surrounded the great man.
He was always in attendance for training and games – he was a coach by his presence and he was great at the way he instructed young boys ‘new to the game”
“Get the rods outta ya backs going into the rucks”..he would yell out at training and matches. “Stop walking you forwards’. In other words, ‘keep running’.
Eric was always ready to drive the team to matches.
He had a Holden, painted in the Colors of Parra – Two Blues
He was an imposing figure. I remember him handing out Merrylands Rugby Union jumpers, which he told us were “Old Wallaby jumpers”, dyed green.
I remember those original green jerseys and the fact that they had the letter ‘W’ on their left breast and we understood that it indeed stood for the ‘Wallabies’. They were the days before more fancy badges or coats of arms became all the go.
Even if it wasn’t true, it made the wearing of the jumper all the more special.
I remember Eric teaching the team the words to the two blues theme song, changed from Parramatta to Merrylands..and we derived much enjoyment of belting it out after games.
“Young sons of Rugby Union, listen here, for here’s a story we’d like to tell…for old Merrylands you must always fear, until you hear that ringing bell……..”
Our under 14 team of 1960 contained several players who would go on and make their name in Rugby Union at the Two Blues.
Greg Hackett was in our team…he played over 200 First Grade games with Parra.
Others in our team from Auburn – were Arthur Gunning, Lenny Bollard, Andy Hoban, Greg Dwyer, Keith Harrington, David (Darcy) Bailey. We played schoolboy Rugby League in the same team, and I recall it was a great ‘opportunity’ for us to show off our skills in a different code.
I remember a hugely talented, and well built and athletic Laddie Holovinski in the Merrylands Under 12 team,..He was an outstanding talent who went on to play Two Blues), Gary Vigour, Rob Carroll, Bruce Dalkeith,….these are just some I can recall from a fading memory.
Rob Carroll was in the Under 16 team, and I recall that we were all in awe of his size and ability
Eric Tweedale was responsible for my introduction to the code, and for that I will always be thankful.
My involvement enabled me to become President of Hay Cutters Rugby Union Club for four seasons (including premiership year in Riverina Rugby First Division), become a Life Member, meet and interview personalities like Mark Ella, Richard Loe, Rob Egerton, Michael Cleary, Jim Hindmarsh, Merv Hicks, Peter Fitzsimons – and as a sport nut, I can never thank Eric enough.for showing interest in promoting ‘kids into Rugby’
Thank you Eric…it seems like only yesterday. You stand like a Colossus among men – A Bridge Builder
Good story Parra Pete
Thanks John..Eric rang me at home a couple of years before he passed away. He was about 98 or 99, and was very clear in his speech, and there was nothing wrong with his memory. Lovely bloke. I was so pleased when Granville Oval was upgraded and re-named Eric Tweedale Stadium.
I lost plenty of skin playing at Granville Oval – the playing surface in those days was littered with gravel and stones – (we could have charged two bob to stand on some of the rocks so people could see the Harbour Bridge).
I remember the dressing shed had a boxing ring, and posters of fighters and upcoming bouts on the wall.
(I realise this post has nothing to do with the Eels – just posted it to keep the memory of Eric ‘alive’ and to advise who he ‘was’..RIP Eric..
Good onya Pete! Very pleased you did.
Cheers
We all have a path through life, friends and football. I enjoyed that piece of yours, great read Pete.
It’s reported that Ryles will bring all new staff to the Eels which would be a good move with new voices across the team. Hannay is apparently not averse to keeping staff that are in place.
Accountants don’t like spending money unnecessarily so have to trust that doesn’t play into the decision that staff would be moved on and possibly paid out.
The concern over the short roster and the imoacr injuries have on an already deselected backline continue to question the overall recruitment criteria, but doesn’t look like an explanation will ever be forthcoming.
Really hope that Matt Arthur and Sam Tuavati really get on The front foot and show the supporters that don’t get to see lower grades what they have to offer, so Thursday night will be more than interesting.
However, still waiting for decisions on Hopgood, Simmonson and Talagi to,be signed for next year, they are absolutely essential for depth and experience, so hope R&R is not taking a complete backseat to the decision on a new coach, that would not be sensible at all.
Oops,”impact on depleted backline “
Autocorrect can be a pain
Will be an interesting team list next week against the knights, if we don’t pick Arthur on the bench in first grade will he be playing bench in NSW cup behind lussick?
I think that decision would sum up the clubs inability to read the room.