NRL Team List
Round 21, Friday 8:00pm, CommBank Stadium
For an injury riddled Eels team, the assignment doesn’t get much tougher than facing the might of the Melbourne Storm.
The Victorian/Queensland team looks likely to welcome back the mercurial Cam Munster – as if they need reinforcements to get the job done.
In contrast, the Eels will be without at least thirteen players across their NRL and NSW Cup teams. That includes a whopping seven players with season ending injuries! It’s hardly the ideal circumstances for Gutho’s 200th appearance for the club.
Strangely enough, the Eels have not named another debutant for this week. It’s seemed like par for the course in recent weeks. In fact, Round 19 debutant Lorenzo Mulitalo won’t play any grade this week after being suspended from an incident during last week’s NSW Cup clash with the Bulldogs.
Lorenzo’s place on the wing will be taken by Sean Russell who returns from concussion protocols via an appearance in NSW Cup last week. Blaize Talagi retains his spot at centre though he and Will Penisini have undertaken an apparent jersey number swap.
Dylan Brown and Daejarn Asi resume the halves partnership, but they’ll need to be more effective than they were against the Titans.
There are changes and reshuffles galore across the starting pack and the interchange.
Big unit Wiremu Greig has been delivered a first grade recall and it will be as a starting prop. Lane and Cartwright take on edge responsibilities, with Matterson running out as lock.
Matt Arthur has been relegated to NSW Cup in a decision that might be related to his release at the end of this season, with Joey Lussick making his return. Matt Doorey also drops back to NSW Cup with Makahesi Makatoa joining the interchange.
| 1 |
Clinton Gutherson |
| 2 |
Jake Tago |
|
3 |
Blaize Talagi |
|
4 |
Will Penisini |
|
5 |
Sean Russell |
|
6 |
Dylan Brown |
|
7 |
Daejan Asi |
|
8 |
Reagan Campbell-Gillard |
|
9 |
Brendan Hands |
|
10 |
Wiremu Greig |
|
11 |
Shaun Lane |
|
12 |
Bryce Cartwright |
|
13 |
Ryan Matterson |
|
Interchange |
|
|
14 |
Joey Lussick |
|
15 |
Joe Ofahengaue |
|
16 |
Luca Moretti |
|
17 |
Makahesi Makatoa |
|
Reserves |
|
|
18 |
Ethan Sanders |
|
19 |
Matthew Arthur |
|
20 |
Matt Doorey |
|
21 |
Morgan Harper |
|
22 |
Dan Keir |
NSW Cup Team List
Round 21, Saturday 3:00PM, Henson Park
Only four players with an NRL top 30 contract are available for NSW Cup selection this week, and that includes Morgan Harper who remains under an injury cloud.
Consequently seven Jersey Flegg eligible players take their place this week, with Araz Nanva being the latest to be promoted from the under 21 side.
There’s a 2023 SG Ball reunion in the spine with Sanders, Lynn and Arthur linking for a rare occasion this year.
The suspension of Lorenzo Mulitalo also sees the promising Mohamed Alameddine again elevated to Cup.
It won’t be an easy task this week. The wheels have fallen off this Eels team over the last two rounds, with a second half capitulation against the Warriors followed up by an ordinary loss to the Bulldogs. If you’re travelling to Henson Park, remember that the match headlines the Beer, Footy and Food event this weekend and there will be a crowd of around ten thousand in attendance.
|
1 |
Zac Cini |
|
2 |
Mohamed Alameddine |
|
3 |
Araz Nanva |
|
4 |
Morgan Harper |
|
5 |
Isaac Lumelume |
|
6 |
Josh Lynn |
|
7 |
Ethan Sanders |
|
8 |
Ofahiki Ogden |
|
9 |
Matt Arthur |
|
10 |
Brock Parker |
|
11 |
Jock Brazel |
|
12 |
Matt Doorey |
|
13 |
Dan Keir |
|
Interchange |
|
|
14 |
Meni Luke |
|
15 |
Toni Mataele |
|
16 |
Saxon Pryke |
|
17 |
Reece Alderton |
Harvey Norman Women’s Premiership Team List
Round 4, Sunday 1pm, Eric Tweedale Stadium
It’s currently unclear as to whether there might be late changes to this team following the news concerning Kate Fallon. That’s not up for discussion here, so please refrain from offering an opinion on a matter that will be before the court.
Though losing two of their three matches, the Eels seem to be settling on a reasonably consistent line up.
The main task for the team is definitely getting control over their errors. Completion rates have been poor, and they are to the detriment of the football that this side is capable of playing.
Perigo has been named on the interchange, but there has been no news as to whether she has been fined or faced the judiciary for a send off mid way through last week’s loss to the Steelers.
|
1 |
Yasmine Baker |
|
2 |
Debbie Doueihi |
|
3 |
Kate Fallon |
|
4 |
Aaliyah Haumono |
|
5 |
Caitlin Peadon |
|
6 |
Tallarra Bamblett |
|
7 |
Sarah Dimech |
|
8 |
Aliti Namoce |
|
9 |
Chelsea Makira |
|
10 |
Tafao Asaua |
|
11 |
Chloe Jackson |
|
12 |
Tahleisha Maeva © |
|
13 |
Ryvrr-Lee Alo |
|
Interchange |
|
|
14 |
Raphaella Perigo |
|
15 |
Losalio Payne |
|
16 |
Rysh’e Fa’amausili |
|
17 |
Ashlee Pottinger |
|
18 |
Liaina Dimech |
|
19 |
Fontayne Tufuga |
|
20 |
Caitlin Stanley |
|
21 |
Bella Sandford |
|
22 |
Shaye Shipton |
|
23 |
Tehillah Vaeluaga |
Jersey Flegg
Global Bye
NRLW Team List
Round 1, Saturday 27th July, 12:45pm, Suncorp Stadium
A new era under head coach Steve Georgallis begins this week, and the game is the first in a month of away fixtures for the Eels NRLW team.
The NRLW draw is a strange beast, and Parra have been at the rough end in each of their seasons.
There are a couple of debutants for the Eels and both can be found in the centres. Rory Owen and Rosie Kelly bring much needed pace to the backline, with Kelly having All Black pedigree.
In a sense, Elsie Albert is also making a debut after not completing her only game for the Eels in 2023. She will be critical to the Eels fortunes.
Cassey Tohi-Hiku makes another move closer to the action, with the talented youngster shifting to five-eighth. Her new role gets the TCT tick of approval.
There’s a nice mix of youth and experience in this Eels side and based on what I’ve observed at training and in the trial, we can expect a vastly different brand of footy to be played in 2024.
|
1 |
Abbi Church |
|
2 |
Zali Fay |
|
3 |
Rory Owen |
|
4 |
Rosie Kelly |
|
5 |
Monique Donovan |
|
6 |
Cassey Tohi-Hiku |
|
7 |
Rachael Pearson |
|
8 |
Elsie Albert |
|
9 |
Rueben Cherrington |
|
10 |
Madeline Jones |
|
11 |
Boss Kapua |
|
12 |
Mahalia Murphy |
|
13 |
Kennedy Cherrington |
|
Interchange |
|
|
14 |
Taneka Todhunter |
|
15 |
Tyla Amiatu |
|
16 |
Jade Fonua |
|
17 |
Ruby-Jean Kennard-Ellis |
|
18 |
Tafao Asaua |
|
19 |
Rosemarie Beckett |
|
20 |
Chloe Jackson |
|
21 |
Kate Fallon |
|
22 |
Pihuka Berryman-Duff |
Eels forever!
Sixties
We all knew our Depth was shit and we lacked quality young talent but this team is rank.
How we haven’t produced a 1st grade standard back up half or Dummy half is amateur at best.
Happy to see MA not in the team 1 he doesn’t want to be here 2. His dummy half passes reminds me of Matt Keating I don’t think we will be missing out on much him going I’d only Russell needed a compassionate leave
Thanks for the show gents, awesome as usual.
If I’d woken from a year long coma and saw that team list, I’d assume that there must have been a plane crash.
I’m predicting the team lifts for Gutho and springs an upset. Eels to lose by less than 60.
I honestly don’t know what to think about Arthur. Anything I want to say I’ll regret.
This season can’t end fast enough, 2018 will look like a good season by the time this one’s done.
I’d don’t want to turn this into a Matt Arthur debate. He’s an excellent young player and an even better young man. Let me just remind people that he’s a teenager playing in the toughest and most demanding position and was selected as the under 19 Origin hooker and Captain and was outstanding.
True from what I’ve seen in Cup and 1st grade yes it’s a small sample I don’t see the hype he has a fair bit of work to do.
I get being upset about his dad but common sense should tell him that his dad was destined for the boot if the Arthur’s feel he’s been hard done by that’s a sad reflection on the situation.
And after seeing how his brother copped it from because of his dad he was better off forging his own path hopefully he gets that opportunity
Who’s going to bark at the forwards to keep their feet moving?
Moses from the side line 😅
It will be good for Ryles to watch again (after Magic Round) first hand.
He’ll be able to see who is having a dig and who’s been taking the pi$$.
Russell back on the wing. Lane, Matto and Carty all nowhere to hide.
I’m hoping we have a dig.
Pete, if we were in form, it’s not an overly bad team on paper. 1-2 years ago most of these players put up a true fight to the storm. Let’s hope we get an upset, but I’ll be happy to see even a good dig / effort displayed as you said. These men need to realise it’s a job reversal from here on out. Contracts won’t save some of them, the eels will need to bite the bullet. Youthful players being blocked by ageing or simply disinterested players will only keep the eels back from progressing long term. We all know this, let’s hope the club also supports Ryles taking this longer term approach if he does take that route.
I’m on the view Jason already knows all our issues and weaknesses, he’s been studying us with Bellamy. Craig would have more information regarding our problems & weaknesses than our own staff & players. I will 100% support Ryles doing a clean out, even if we pay overs on freight, if that means next year is a blooding season. To make us truly competitive from 26’ onwards. I see zero ROI from playing some of these players moving forward, we cannot win with them their anyhow, all they do is block younger eels players from gaining experience – if we are going to keep losing, make it at least worth while for the long term good of the club. Imo
There’s a larger ripple effect that takes place with us also blooding more Jnrs – this then switches up the narrative about our club being too hard to get a real NRL pathway, it will make our club more attractive for younger players to join our ranks if they can see it’s likely a good opportunity to get a shot at NRL level. Young players leave our club (or don’t join), often because we have been notoriously a retirement home type club who has historically valued experienced players over young players. This could help us recruit better in all grades if players can see there’s a good amount of young players getting NRL debuts yearly.