NRL Team List
Round 2, Sunday 4:05PM, CommBank Stadium
His team might not have responded on Sunday but Jason Ryles sure has responded today on Tuesday with the Eels coach swinging an axe aggressively in Round 2. Out are Jake Tago (likely injured), Kelma Tuilagi and Charlie Guymer as Shaun Lane returns to the backrow while Gideon Kautoga is set to make his club debut off the bench. Speaking of debuts – congratulations to Jordan Samrani who will make his first grade debut on the right wing for the Parramatta Eels. It will be a high pressure environment to earn his maiden cap in following the brutal loss to the Storm last week but big moments can be the making of young players.
Ronald Volkman dons the #7 again with Dean Hawkins named in reserve grade in a surprising piece of eligibility news. The two rookies who held their own last week in Ryley Smith and Sam Tuivaiti have deservedly earned consecutive appearances from the bench.
I don’t really have too much to say about this one after what we all witnessed on Sunday. I certainly do appreciate that Ryles has shown a willingness to break early season inertia and hold his players accountable after just one game. With that said, the players now need to respond and put together a vastly improved effort against the Wests Tigers in our home opener on Sunday.
| Parramatta Eels | Wests Tigers | |
| Isaiah Iongi | 1 | Jahream Bula |
| Sean Russell | 2 | Sunia Turuva |
| Will Penisini | 3 | Adam Doueihi |
| Zac Lomax | 4 | Starford To’a |
| Jordan Samrani | 5 | Jeral Skelton |
| Dylan Brown | 6 | Lachlan Galvin |
| Ronald Volkman | 7 | Jarome Luai |
| Joe Ofahengaue | 8 | Terrell May |
| Brendan Hands | 9 | Apisai Koroisau |
| Junior Paulo © | 10 | Fonua Pole |
| Shaun Lane | 11 | Samuela Fainu |
| Jack Williams | 12 | Alex Seyfarth |
| J’maine Hopgood | 13 | Alex Twal |
| Interchange | ||
| Ryley Smith | 14 | Tallyn Da Silva |
| Matt Doorey | 15 | Royce Hunt |
| Gideon Kautoga | 16 | Jack Bird |
| Sam Tuivaiti | 17 | Sione Fainu |
| Reserves | ||
| Dan Keir | 18 | Charlie Staines |
| Joash Papalii | 19 | Latu Fainu |
| Wiremu Greig | 20 | Tristan Hope |
| Joey Lussick | 21 | Tony Sukkar |
| Charlie Guymer | 22 | Solomona Faataape |
Injury Report
TBA
NSW Cup Team List
Round 2, 2:00PM Sunday, Ringrose Park
Fresh off a Round 1 bye, the Parramatta Eels host the Western Suburb Magpies (aka Wests Tigers) while fielding a veritable galaxy of seasoned NRL forwards.Wiremu Greig, Joey Lussick, Ryan Matterson, Kelma Tuilagi and Bryce Cartwright would surely be among the most capped NRL packs to trundle out in the NSW Cup. It certainly a paints a muddy picture of exactly where all these players stand under Ryles currently – although Tuilagi and Guymer are pretty clearly suffering from the fallout of the Melbourne game.
Dean Hawkins, Josh Lynn and Joash Papalii solidify the spine although Hawkins is a surprising inclusion here given I thought he might be mandated to play in the NRL. Haze Dunster returns from injury on the wing opposite of Arthur Miller-Stephen but Parramatta’s shallow backline stocks become a bit more apparent in the centres where Samuel Loizou and Alfred Smalley have already being called upon to hold the line.
The interchange bench features some players worth keeping an eye on with Will Latu, Brock Parker and Toni Mataele hopefully looking to seize the moment with the overall roster in a state of flux but time will tell there.
| 1 | Joash Papalii |
| 2 | Haze Dunster |
| 3 | Samuel Loizou |
| 4 | Alfred Smalley |
| 5 | Arthur Miller-Stephen |
| 6 | Josh Lynn |
| 7 | Dean Hawkins |
| 8 | Wiremu Greig |
| 9 | Joey Lussick |
| 10 | Ryan Matterson |
| 11 | Kelma Tuilagi |
| 12 | Bryce Cartwright |
| 13 | Charlie Guymer |
| Interchange | |
| 15 | Meni Luke |
| 16 | Will Latu |
| 17 | Brock Parker |
| 17 | Toni Mataele |
Jersey Flegg Team List
Round 2, 1:00PM Saturday, New Era Stadium
| 1 | TBA |
| 2 | TBA |
| 3 | Antioch Faitala-Mariner |
| 4 | Araz Nanva |
| 5 | Bradley Avery |
| 6 | Apa Twidle |
| 7 | Matthew Hunter |
| 8 | Damascus Neemia |
| 9 | Jack Hudson |
| 10 | Teancum Brown |
| 11 | Dom De Stradis |
| 12 | Tyrese Lokeni |
| 13 | Saxon Pryke |
| Interchange | |
| 14 | Patrick Spence |
| 15 | Jaylen Taewa |
| 16 | Raffaele De Stradis |
| 17 | Ieti Samuelu |
I am going to be pissed if Richie is injured because why did he play Flegg last week?
Poor Ethyn Martyn. Got no idea what has happened to him.
Ethan is still injured I believe
Do you know what injury?
Even though Hawkins has not had a proper preseason, surely his defence is needed over Volkmans. Plus need a proper halfback rather than two 5/8’s running the team.
Bit worried about Lane starting rather than off the bench. Could be a late switch with Kautoga I recon. Lane hasnt had the fitness and time to adapt to Ryles system.
Matto jeez he must be on the outter.
How refreshing is it to see accountability in the selection room ??
Those dropped, were our worst performers except for Dylan Brown and if he puts in another shocker doesn’t be surprised if he shakes hands with the Cup coach.
I like the accountability as well. Ryles is setting a standard. Despite the debacle of last week, once a few other players return and some of the younger players adjust to first grade Parra will be alright.
It’s a good sign spark – this is the only way some players will learn, plus sets a message you have to show up or you won’t play NRL
I also like samrani is getting a chance
I would prefer him at centre and Lomax wing
But that likely won’t happen unfortunately
I think samrani offers good meters and does the hard work with hit ups from our own end which will help us get out of our own half
What’s wrong with Cartwright?
Some games last year he was the stand out forward.
I think it’s a reasonable set of changes.
Guymer wasn’t as explosive as in his debut last year. He’ll be back.
Doorey was less impressive in his start but had as solid a game as any of the forwards except Hopgood against the Storm.
Sunday will be hot, not 35 but still warm.
The Tigers will miss Olam. They have less strike power in the backs without him.
The battle of the #1 jerseys will be a cracker.
Somehow, the Tigers have scored a very solid halves combination and the defence in the middle will be the key to this game.
For us, we should have superiority with the centres, and should look to scoring out wide.
Should be a good, open game.
Have to agree with you 57. On his day Carty can pull off mind blowing passes in difficult situations. Ryles has publicly said that his decisions are never personal but, as Carty has been on the record as saying that BA did wonders for his game, I’m starting to wonder what the real reason for the cold shoulder from the coach is….and the fact that Lane has slotted straight back into the side.
Agree with both of you on Carty. Surprised he wasn’t named. He was much more reliable than Lane last year who never seemed to get fit or his head back in the game. I wonder with his disrupted pre season whether his body will be up for the challenge.
Matto being in Cup and last minute withdrawal also indicates he’s on the outer with Ryles to me.
Massive game this week i hope the supporters support n not bag Dylan Brown because that won’t help our cause.
Mmm….. isn’t samrani a centre? I wonder if ryles is doing a furphy and putting Lomax on the wing for this week only?
If Dylan brown doesn’t turn up at all this week we might actually get flogged.
That tigers 1-9 is no joke and if we gift them field position, that spine will absolutely score tries with ease.
If Dylan brown gives us a non existent performance this weekend, I think the clubs going to have to have the talk with him.
I get a horrible gut feeling about this situation now – the same feeling I did the moment he took up his option even when everyone stated he won’t leave.
I have a feeling Dylan is going to clock out on us and coast and absolutely let all the parramatta fans down and either clubs going to have to resolve something with him or move him on early.
I hope I’m wrong but my feeling is Dylan Brown will no longer give 100% to this club and will semi protect himself in the back of his mind for the Newcastle Knights.
I hope I’m wrong and he has an absolute blinder and we win. But I have a bad feeling about this and I think if parramatta is to win Dylan brown needs to step up and not let us lose looking like fools as we did last week.
I’m convinced himself and the whole team looked worst possibly ever in eels history last week and it has something to do with Dylan leaving, make no mistake that is not a coincidence.
Let’s hope he tries to put in efforts for the parra fans who have supported him through thick and thin. We desperately need Dylan on Sunday.
Galvin and Luai will absolutely tear us apart if guys like Dylan Brown and Paulo get out enthused again by parramatta eels rookies.
If our rookies are the most interested and hard working players again next week, this club is in deep trouble and it means the Snr players have mentally checked out.
I hope we see something completely different to last weekend. THAT was absolutely unacceptable and embarrassing to this football club and every fan who dedicates their life & finances to support this team and club, especially the people who flew down to Melbourne to support them.
Dylbro hasn’t given 100% ever!
The most exciting part of this game for me will be keeping a close eye on Galvin
Lol
I’m thinking the opposite to you Muz. I don’t think Dylan’s head was in it against the Storm. I think all this contract hullabaloo was playing on his mind, probably knew on game day where he was going. He has been with the club for 10yrs, and knowing he had to front the coach and players on the Monday to tell them he was leaving would have been hard for him. With all this out of the way now, I think we will see a better Dylan Brown come Sunday.
I hope so mate we really need him to come out and show up for the team, hope you are right mate. If he shows up it will definitely help your chances
Matterson has effectively been dropped without playing a game. He wasn’t great in the trial against the Tigers, but he is WAY too good to be playing Cup football.
It can’t be the need for match fitness, because Lane has been rushed straight in without much of a pre-season behind him.
Absolutely bizarre.
I just don’t get the long game here. No other club wanted him last year, he’s taken up his option to stay on next year, and is an elite forward on his day.
Adam Matto had injured his back and was unavailable for last game
He might be still recovering and not ready yet for first grade and trainers want him to see how it goes playing again
He was only not playing vs Storm due to something wrong with his back & may still be carrying back pain
Thanks Muz, if he’s got a good reason ok. But last minute withdrawal from the team is disruptive to everyone and he keeps doing it often enough for people to notice. I think Ryles did the right thing in naming him for reserve grade. So if he withdraws it’s not another disruption. As you know. Many players play through injuries and it’s a mindset thing. We need everyone dialled in to winning and not second guessing if they are playing or not.
Nothing bizarre about it for mine.
I dont think Ryles was too impressed about Matto pulling out late last week.
He did this numerous times under Arthur and reports were he left the Tigers because he didn’t like playing through niggles with Madge.
Matto has taken the club for a ride for a while now.
Gutho played busted for ages and never complained. Matto gets a slight sniffle he ain’t playing.
It’s refreshing we have a man in charge now that’s holding players accountable and setting some standards for that team first mentality that Ryles has preached all off-season.
It may cost us a game or two this season but will benefit the club in the long run.
In Ryles we Trust
Great Post
I’m very sure this may be the reason Matterson wasn’t even included in the 21 . If he was touch and go, you’d think he would be on the extended bench.
Ryles definitely showing his authority unlike other coaches who’d baby players like Matto
Yeah Matto pulled out last minute before magic round thumping And BA got punted after that. Then he does it again v Melbourne. Very disrespectful for your team unless there’s a solid reason. But it’s not the first and it keeps happening.
If so, Lane has the right attitude.
Lane, like Papenhuyzen has had a terrible run with injury.
Hopefully if it’s over he can get back to his best.
If we use last year’s game against Melbourne as an example, he worked for the full 80 minutes but was no match for fresher legs by the end of each half.
I didn’t see him as not trying.
He’s not the only big forward that needs a break to be at his best.
Matto is another story.
I can guarantee that there will be no free rides this year.
By the end of the season, the price might be high for some players.
Matterson pulled out last week with a back issue. Maybe they are giving him a run in reggies to see how he pulls up. Better to lose him early in reggies than 1st grade.
Ryles has gone straight to the chainsaw.
Glad to see Samrami get his chance.
What’s up with Matterson? Doesn’t play a game and gets dropped. There’s more to that story unless Lane and kautoga were always in front of him.
Thanks for your work Forty. I don’t know how you find the time but I greatly appreciate what you and Chopper do for us.
Let’s hope the effort and commitment of the Melbourne game second half is our benchmark for the rest of the season. Ryley Smith was outstanding in this regard. At the game you could see him trying to rev up the other players. He was a terrier in defence. Tuivaiti was likewise full of energy and commitment. Junior was disappointing in this regard. Those two debutants never dropped their heads.
BREAKING NEWS: Eels replace fringe first grade players with… fringe first grade quality players
Go play with your gutherson doll mate
Hopefully Pauli will be held to account if he doesn’t have a go this week again this week. He is the captain and should lead from the front taking two hit ups in the first few sets not sitting back and watching others take the hard runs.
If he could also move in defence and make first contact instead of being third man in around the legs that would be a refreshing change.
He is no alpha.
Great to see Samrani in the first grade team. I liked his work-rate in the first trial and thought he was unlucky to not get first crack on the wing in the 2nd trial and round 1. While he may not be a winger he’s big enough, quick enough and will help massively bringing the ball out of our end. Whilst Russell was decent last week having all of our back 3 rucking the ball out strongly will help us massively. He’ll also be lining up against Skelton who he partnered at the dogs in reserve grade.
Put him down for a try on the weekend
I can’t see Williams playing a whole game or even starting on the edge with that bench.
Does anyone suspect there will be a last-minute switch to give Kautoga a starting spot?
You could be right Simon.
I wouldn’t mind Junior on the bench.
I appreciate having Junior and Jo O start to try and get on the front foot early. But it didn’t work and Junior has been average since ’23. Even with his new found fitness he just didn’t dig in and Joe O was worse. I couldn’t help but think a few players knew about Dylan signing elsewhere. Because they certainly played that way.