NRL Team List
Round 10, 7:50PM Thursday, CommBank Stadium
Sometimes you do wonder if the footy gods look down upon this great game of ours and ponder to themselves how best can they inflict suffering upon the Parramatta Eels. Our latest trial and tribulation comes in the form of an injury to young star Sam Tuivaiti who has been sidelined until Rounds 19 or 20 with a sydnesmosis injury. I missed where this occurred against the Sharks and would be keen to hear from any commenters that know what minute/incident the injury happened in.
Jason Ryles has kept it exceedingly simple in the wake of losing Sam. Matt Doorey replaces him on the interchange bench. Jordan Samrani continues his exciting transition into the backrow and it will be interesting to see if his minutes expand this week. Brendan Hands returns from injury and features on the extended bench while Joash Papalii also features on the shadow roster but curiously is absent from the NSW Cup team list. Is something afoot? Maybe but if the Eels were going the cloak and dagger route his debut than I would have expected him to be named in reserve grade. Still something to monitor ahead of Thursday.
The Eels and Dolphins are coming off Magic Round losses and both clubs are desperate to secure bounce-back wins to keep them in touch with the tail end of the Top 8. Sixties and myself will be live from 5:30PM at Parramatta Leagues Club on Thursday with special guest John Muggleton as we break down the crucial clash against the Dolphins!
| Parramatta Eels | The Dolphins | |
| Isaiah Iongi | 1 | Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow |
| Bailey Simonsson | 2 | Jamayne Isaako |
| Will Penisini | 3 | Jake Averillo |
| Sean Russell | 4 | Herbie Farnworth |
| Josh Addo-Carr | 5 | Jack Bostock |
| Dylan Brown | 6 | Kodi Nikorima |
| Mitchell Moses © | 7 | Isaiya Katoa |
| Jack Williams | 8 | Francis Molo |
| Ryley Smith | 9 | Kurt Donoghoe |
| Junior Paulo | 10 | Felise Kaufusi |
| Charlie Guymer | 11 | Kulikefu Finefeuiaki |
| Kitione Kautoga | 12 | Connelly Lemelu |
| J’maine Hopgood | 13 | Tom Gilbert |
| Interchange | ||
| Dylan Walker | 14 | Ray Stone |
| Luca Moretti | 15 | Mark Nicholls |
| Jordan Samrani | 16 | Josh Kerr |
| Matt Doorey | 17 | Sean O’Sullivan |
| Reserves | ||
| Ryan Matterson | 18 | Harrison Graham |
| Joash Papalii | 19 | Oryn Keeley |
| Dean Hawkins | 20 | Max Feagai |
| Toni Mataele | 21 | Kenneath Bromwich |
| Brendan Hands | 22 | Junior Tupou |
Injury Report
| Zac Lomax | Foot | Round 11 |
| Joey Lussick | Thumb | Round 11 |
| Sam Tuivaiti | Ankle | Round 19-20 |
| Dan Keir | Hamstring | Round 12-14 |
| Arthur Miller-Stephen | Knee | Season |
| Ethyn Martin | Clavicle | Pending surgery |
| Apa Twidle | Hand | Pending scans |
NSW Cup Team List
Round 10, 3:00PM Sunday, Scully Park (Tamworth)
It is regional round in the NSW Cup and the Eels take their home game to Tamworth where they will face the Canterbury Bulldogs. Parramatta secured an important win against the Newtown Jets on the weekend that lifts them into 2nd place on the ladder and they now face the 7th placed Bulldogs.
Nathan Cayless has some changes this week though with Joash Papalii absent at fullback. Young prospect Zac Hunter comes into the squad to replace him while Matthew Hunter earns a call-up into the halves to replace Ronald Volkman. Volkman is absent from the injury report but I have a sneaking suspicion he might have battled through a knock in-game last week.
Brendan Hands boosts the play-making stocks as he slots straight back into dummy-half with Kruz Niutili-Schmidt dropping back to the bench as a result. Toni Mataele is also straight back into the starting front-row after a week off due to a suspension while the bench features a couple of depth options in Reece Alderton and Iverson Mapu-Satiu.
| 1 | Zach Hunter |
| 2 | Jake Tago |
| 3 | Araz Nanva |
| 4 | Richard Penisini |
| 5 | Haze Dunster |
| 6 | Matthew Hunter |
| 7 | Dean Hawkins |
| 8 | Kayne Kalache |
| 9 | Brendan Hands |
| 10 | Toni Mataele |
| 11 | Will Latu |
| 12 | Bryce Cartwright |
| 13 | Ryan Matterson |
| Interchange | |
| 15 | Kruz Niutili-Schmidt |
| 16 | Reece Alderton |
| 17 | Brock Parker |
| 17 | Iverson Mapu-Satiu |
Jersey Flegg Cup Team List
Round 10, 12:30PM Saturday, Belmore Sports Ground
The Eels squandered a golden chance to climb closer to the summit on the weekend when they were run down 30-26 by the Cronulla Sharks in the final 17-minutes. Thankfully, they still find themselves in the Top 4 and face an arch-rival this week in the 6th placed Bulldogs.
We are still awaiting the confirmation of a couple of slots at five-eighth and prop but it is a familiar looking squad this week. Lennox Risati comes back onto the bench in the major change to the team. However, Tyrese Lokeni did push into the starting front-row last week with Patrick Spence taking over at lock forward so there could be some pre-game shuffling still on the cards.
| 1 | Bradley Avery |
| 2 | Mohamed Alameddine |
| 3 | Tuvaka Palu |
| 4 | Antioch Faitala-Mariner |
| 5 | Dakota Kakoi |
| 6 | TBA |
| 7 | Josh Lynn |
| 8 | Damascus Neemia |
| 9 | Jack Hudson |
| 10 | TBA |
| 11 | Domenico De Stradis |
| 12 | William Lewis |
| 13 | Tyrese Lokeni |
| Interchange | |
| 14 | Patrick Spence |
| 15 | Raffaele De Stradis |
| 16 | Lennox Risati |
| 17 | Javahn Stevenson-Hala |
The thing regarding Joash is an interesting one John mate.
I personally (and I think anyone who watches cup for that matter) probably feels like he is bordering on maybe “too good” to only be use used in nsw cup. Or at least, too good to not be given an opportunity at some point.
It just looks / sounds like Joash being a specialist fullback has made his debut more difficult.
I’ve heard on YouTube from bulldogs camp back when he was with them, Joash can tackle, he’s played 14 before, I think they even mentioned he has played hooker in games.
We all obviously have no idea what happens here yet. 😅 but I’m personally a big fan of Joash Papalii, I actually see him as a great future parramatta eel.
P.s best of luck in recovery for young Sam Tuivaiti. He has been absolutely unreal – huge fan of his.
So where is the young prop brown ?,injured, and why waste time with alderton.,
Tks Forty, bad luck for Sam Tuivati. Glancing through the team list and thinking about last week, I’m sure we’ll improve further. The Sharks defended their line well and capitalised on free rides.
With an even share of the whistle, this will be a close game. The Dolphins are dangerous in broken play, but we are developing better concentration and 80 minute resilience.
Bdon the issue / danger is backs like Herbie Farnworth.
The dolphins backs could tear some of our defenders up.
Guys like will penisni and Sean russel need to have blinders defensively..
Agree. Farnsworth and Averillo like to run angles. Russell in defence is always a worry, but i think the bigger concern, based on the way the Dolphins play, is the lack of lateral movement we have at backrow.
Probably a blessing in disguise for Sam. He’s had a taste for it, played half a dozen games, about 3hrs of NRL playing time, he can freshen up, get fit for the stretch run and then a big pre season should see him get more minutes next season. He’s already closer to the player we’d hope Wiremu Greig would become.
Agree Brett, Sam is doing extremely well.
One blessing of having Jason Ryles, yes a rookie, we don’t know how good he will do, but so far at least we are seeing the true young talent get priority opportunities, Jason is exercising delayed gratification as a head coach regarding young players. Should see us much better off long term.
I agree Brett. Obviously disappointing for the kid, but stops him getting over used and gives him and the coaching staff to see how he deals with adversary and his commitment to rehab. Ryles and coaching staff will still learn plenty about him over the next 2-3 months
No Sam what a pity. Leaves our middle looking very fragile, not to mention one more injury and almost non existent. If we can’t hold them in the middle which looks likely given the return of some players for the dolphins and Sam being out, this could be a big score ran up against us.
Pity I thought despite the loss we played some good looking football last week. We are so light on in the middle and for edge forwards any injury is almost catastrophic.
Dolphins after an 0-4 start have averaged 32 points a game over the last 5 weeks with their lowest return 26 points in the rain last week.
They are generally weaker away from home, but you have to think our hit and miss defence will be challenged this week. Particularly on the edges. I hope Samrani gets more time in the backrow. We need is speed and movement as we have two guys who are better in the middle named to start backrow.
The Papalii thing is interesting. Unless someone in the back 6 is struggling to get up for this week, one can only assume it is to do with picking an 18th man and the flow on effect for NSW Cup and JF with the Cup team having to travel to Tamworth. Or maybe he just simply wasn’t going to be available to play on Sunday in Tamworth for personal reasons.
Ba I have a feeling dophins might be lethal against us
Where they are strong in attack, we are often weak in those same areas
We will need to be on our best game here
Farnworth and co have often terrorised us over the years especially, Herbie has caused us issues and has confidence beating us from his broncos days
Hopefully we can just hold the ball, no silly off side kick chases, then I feel like we can hold our own
Dolphins are very dangerous if your speed is slow and there’s lots of time & space for the half to set up his outside men on the flanks