NRL Team List

Round 23, Friday 8:00PM, CommBank Stadium

Did you really think that the footy gods wouldn’t extract a bloody toll from the Parramatta Eels after their breakthrough win against the New Zealand Warriors in Round 22? The latest sacrifice upon the altar of the prolate spheroid? Luca Moretti. We await an official report from the club as to what is the exact nature of his ritual sacrifice injury, the loss of Moretti is untimely as they come given the young forward was in real groove since returning from a stint in the NSW Cup.

Matt Doorey comes onto the vacant place on the bench but Trent Barrett could have another option available this week with Kelma Tuilagi named to the extended roster. Like Moretti above, Tuilagi was really starting to find his stride until injury (and suspension too I guess) struck him down against the Roosters in Round 15 after a series of physically dominant efforts. There are questions though like has his thumb fully healed? How short on match fitness is he? If he is good enough to go then it will be a tough call to leave him out.

In a rare Team List Tuesday win for the Eels, Penrith don’t welcome back any superstars. There is no shock return from Dylan Edwards, James Fisher-Harris hasn’t miraculously healed from a groin strain. Yep, there isn’t even a surprise appearance of Nathan Cleary! Nope, he already made his return a few weeks back and was Redcliffe’s problem. Same for St George. And Newcastle. But not Parramatta, no sir. He won’t be a factor in any way whatsoever.

Anyhow, the Eels host the Panthers on Friday night and will be looking to both build on their upset win over the Warriors and channel the same sort of energy from their audacious Round 26 victory over Penrith last year. Outrageous underdogs they may be but no team in the NRL loves to cause chaos, for better or usually worse, like our Eels.

Speaking of causing chaos, you can catch Sixties and myself live from the Bistro for the official pregame show from 5:30PM with returning special guest Michael Buettner.

NRLW Team List

Round 3, Sunday 12:00PM, Totally Workwear Stadium

No changes for our girls this week after getting pipped by the Cronulla Sharks in a cracking game. They will need to polish up their completion rate coming out of their own half but it is a fair call by Steve Georgallis after his charges have started the season strongly, narrowly missing out on a 2-0 opening to their campaign. They head to Brisbane for the second time this season as they face North Queensland in another NRLW double-header.

NSW Cup Team List

Round 23, Friday 5:30PM, CommBank Stadium

A tough trip to New Zealand saw the Eels cop a pasting at the hands of the Warriors last week. Now it looks like the club is prioritising a tilt at the finals in the Jersey Flegg with several key Flegg eligible players dropping out of the squad this week. Joshua Lynn, Jock Brazel, Araz Nanva and Saxon Pryke are gone as a result. Ethyn Martin is back from a hamstring injury and takes over in the centres in legitimately positive news while Meni Luke is thrown into the halves to cover Lynn. Youngsters Will Lewis and Antioch Faitala-Mariner make their Cup debuts and get a slice of action in the senior grade while the Eels also have a vacant spot on the bench.

Scratch that. While the Eels have jersey #15 listed as vacant, NSWRL do happen to have a player named to that spot and it is a wild one. First year SG Ball player Jezaiah Funa-Iuta will make his Cup debut against the Panthers. Jezaiah has been outstanding on the right edge for the Eels in both the Harold Matthews and SG Ball and has taken strongly to the Jersey Flegg this year. Now he gets a chance to throw down with one of the consistent benchmark teams in reserve grade.

Harvey Normans Women’s Premiership Team List

Round 6, Sunday 1:00PM, Eric Tweedale Stadium

A return home to Eric Tweedale Stadium awaits our girls in the HNWP after a late rally from the Cronulla Sharks snatched victory from their grasp last week. They host the Bulldogs and have named a similar team to last week with the addition of Raphaella Perigo who is back from suspension and slots straight back onto the bench.

Jersey Flegg Team List

Round 23, Saturday 3:00PM, New Era Stadium

The Eels have loaded up for a full-scale assault on the Jersey Flegg finals with the returns of Josh Lynn, Jock Brazel, Saxon Pryke and Araz Nanva this week. It is also the start of a mammoth home stand for our boys with the next FOUR games at New Era or Eric Tweedale! Given they host the 3^rd placed Panthers, it is a timely boost as they look to extend a prolific run in the back end of the season. A win this week most likely won’t see them sitting in the Top 6 at the end of the round (results and monstrous points differential swings needed) but it would position Parramatta nicely as they set up for follow up games against Newcastle, Fiji and St George.

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