NRL Team List
Round 13, 4:05PM Sunday, CommBank Stadium
The Eels are on the road this week with an arduous away trip all the way to…CommBank Stadium? Indeed, it is a home-away-from-home game for the Blue & Gold as they are hosted so generously by their Western Sydney rivals in the Penrith Panthers.
Jason Ryles has nominated his pair of Origin stars in Mitchell Moses and Zac Lomax to back up from Wednesday to Sunday but the Eels will be without the service of WIll Penisini as he serves his mandatory 11-day rest period for the Category 1 concussion sustained against the Sea Eagles in Round 12. Those are the cliff notes for this week’s Team List Tuesday but as always let’s peek under the hood for all the juicy details.
Lomax’s expected return to the back line helps cover for the loss of Penisini as he settles back onto the right wing. He will partner Jordan Samrani down that edge with Sean Russell and Josh Addo-Carr platooning down the left as has become custom in recent weeks.
Jack Williams has once again been named in the front row but if the last fortnight is anything to go you can probably expect Luca Moretti to come into the starting team at prop. That frees Williams up to take over on the right edge with Kelma Tuilagi to default back to the interchange rotation. Ryles could be cooking something different up this week but Williams and Moretti have done very well in this capacity against the Knights and Sea Eagles while Tuilagi brought plenty of impact from the bench last week.
The selection I dare say everyone was looking for is indeed there as Joash Papalii holds his place in the team after making his debut last week. He likely reverts to what was the original plan for his debut in deputising Ryley Smith at dummy half but he will also help the Eels put out spot fires – or infernos in the case of a 2nd minute concussion to your right centre. Ryan Matterson now clearly has a foothold in the team and deservedly maintains his spot on the bench after a solid performance against Manly.
Penrith have named their Origin stars to back up in a move that surprises no one. While Ivan Cleary has plenty of form in resting his stars through these double-stacked weeks, Penrith simply do not have that luxury this year. Still, they have taken advantage of the Origin provisions in naming at 24-man roster so perhaps there could be some shuffling of the deck later in the week.
| Parramatta Eels | Penrith Panthers | |
| Isaiah Iongi | 1 | Dylan Edwards |
| Zac Lomax | 2 | Thomas Jenkins |
| Sean Russell | 3 | Izack Tago |
| Jordan Samrani | 4 | Casey McLean |
| Josh Addo-Carr | 5 | Brian To’o |
| Dylan Brown | 6 | Blaize Talagi |
| Mitchell Moses | 7 | Nathan Cleary |
| Jack Williams | 8 | Moses Leota |
| Ryley Smith | 9 | Mitch Kenny |
| Junior Paulo | 10 | Lindsay Smith |
| Kelma Tuilagi | 11 | Scott Sorenson |
| Kitione Kautoga | 12 | Liam Martin |
| J’maine Hopgood | 13 | Isaah Yeo |
| Interchange | ||
| Dylan Walker | 14 | Luke Sommerton |
| Luca Moretti | 15 | Matthew Eisenhuth |
| Ryan Matterson | 16 | Luron Patea |
| Joash Papalii | 17 | Harrison Hassett |
| Reserves | ||
| Matt Doorey | 18 | Brad Schneider |
| Joey Lussick | 19 | Riley Wake |
| Toni Mataele | 20 | Preston Riki |
| Dean Hawkins | 21 | Daine Laurie |
| Samuel Loizou | 22 | Jack Cole |
| 23 | Paul Alamoti | |
| 24 | Austin Dias |
Injury Report
| Will Penisini | Concussion | Round 14 |
| Bailey Simsonsson | Foot | Round 16-18 |
| Sam Tuivaiti | Ankle | Round 19 |
| Dan Keir | Hamstring | Round 17-18 |
| Arthur Miller-Stephen | Knee | Season |
NSW Cup Team List
Round 13, 1:45PM Sunday, CommBank Stadium
A few tweaks to the NSW Cup in Round 13 starting in the halves as Dean Hawkins returns to reserve grade in triumph after a career day against the Sea Eagles in the NRL. He partners Ronald Volkman who looks to have recovered from a late injury concern in the contest at Kellyville last week.
The other major change comes in the form of Saxon Pryke’s recall to the NSW Cup. This move comes on the back of a brilliant showing in the Jersey Flegg for the young middle forward and he slots onto the bench in the senior grade. Brendan Hands and Joey Lussick swaps places in what looks to be a horses-for-courses dummy half strategy.
| 1 | Apa Twidle |
| 2 | Jake Tago |
| 3 | Araz Nanva |
| 4 | Richard Penisini |
| 5 | Samuel Loizou |
| 6 | Ronald Volkman |
| 7 | Dean Hawkins |
| 8 | Wiremu Greig |
| 9 | Brendan Hands |
| 10 | Toni Mataele |
| 11 | Matt Doorey |
| 12 | Will Latu |
| 13 | Charlie Guymer |
| Interchange | |
| 15 | Joey Lussick |
| 16 | Brock Parker |
| 17 | Saxon Pryke |
| 17 | Bryce Cartwright |
Jersey Flegg Cup Team List
Round 13, 6:30PM Sunday, CommBank Stadium
We have a few holes to fill in for the Flegg team list once the club eventually posts the official team sheet on the main web site but even so here is a mostly complete look at the squad. Dom Farrugia marks the next SG Ball graduate to push up into the Under 21s as he takes over from Dakota Kakoi on the wing. Antioch Faitala-Mariner also returns this week after some time on the sideline and will reclaim his berth at right centre.
Another good face to see back in the fold is Ieti Samuelu who has been among the Eels best this year. He will add some fire and brimstone from the bench/
As it stands there are question marks over fullback, lock and the bench utility spot as this version of the team sheet had duplicates of other players there. Depending on their status Bradley Avery, Jayden Ambichi or Cooper Fuller could feature in the #1. Patrick Spence could equally play lock or be in the #14 while Isaac Jim – fitness pending – seems like a good bet to perhaps feature on the bench if Spence plays lock.
If I see an updated list tonight I will amend this team sheet.
UPDATE
Alright we have a proper team sheet up in the NSWRL match centre and we have another debut! Congratulations to Cameron Bamblett who will make the jump to the Flegg and debut at fullback. Additionally we have Matthew Hunter returning to the grade at five-eighth which in turn pushes Lorenzo Talataina back to the bench. Raffaele De Stradis will start at lock which then allows Tom Summer to reclaim his place in side. Finally, Ryda Talagi appears to be close to a Flegg debut as he takes over as the 18th man for Friday night’s clash.
| 1 | Cameron Bamblett |
| 2 | Mohamed Alameddine |
| 3 | Tuvaka Palu |
| 4 | Antioch Faitala-Mariner |
| 5 | Dom Farrugia |
| 6 | Matthew Hunter |
| 7 | Josh Lynn |
| 8 | Damascus Neemia |
| 9 | Jack Hudson |
| 10 | Tyrese Lokeni |
| 11 | Domenico De Stradis |
| 12 | William Lewis |
| 13 | Raffaelle De Stradis |
| Interchange | |
| 14 | Lorenzo Talataina |
| 15 | Tom Summer |
| 16 | Jezaiah Funa-Iuta |
| 17 | Ieti Samuelu |
| 18 | Ryda Talagi |
Tough matchup this weekend I’d think with the penrith origin stars I believe wanting to set a point with how their season is going.
I said it on the last post and I’ll probably keep saying it but is there a world that in a full strength team Walker, Samrani and Papalii all feature on the bench with matterson/tuivaiti being the only core middle on the bench? Would make some exciting footy to watch.
Hearing a lot about going to the market for a sandon Smith or someone similar to play 6, I just hope it doesn’t mean we lose Lorenzo Talataina in the future, he’s young now but would love to see him starting 6 in 2-3 seasons when he starts hitting NRL maturity age.
How Ryles tinkers with the bench is one of the most intriguing subplots to this season, Sebastian. You have to imagine he wants to keep all those rookies in the squad.
I feel sorry for Jordan Rankin. That Jersey Flegg team is impossible to pick. When Eels won SG ball in 2023 it was easy for them to promote those players as the JF team was not doing well. But this year we were runners up in SG Ball and JF were coming in the top 4.
I look at the updated team list:
1. Bamblett
2. Alamadine
3. Palu
4. Mariner
5. Farrugia
6. Hunter
7. Lynn
8. Neemia
9. Hudson
10. Lokeni
11. D De Stradis
12. W Lewis
13. R De Stradis
14. Lorenzo
15. Funa-luta
16. Summer
17. Samuelu
18. Talagi
So we have Twiddle, Richie, Nanva and Pryke who are in cup despite playing JF this year.
Then Popo and Coinakis are injured but should get a spot when fit.
Jim and Spence could not make the team despite good games.
T Brown is still injured.
Avery and Ambichi cannot make the team/injured.
Shane-Tapau dropped out too.
Not sure what happened to Piakula (i assume injured)
Stevenson Hala and Taewa have had good games.
This is INSANE depth. While I think the 2-5 are average overall the depth in other position is unfair for those that cannot make the team.
Thats insane depth
It is the deepest Flegg squad I have ever seen at the club no doubt EA and yeah, the weekly selection decisions must be among the most difficult you will see a coach have to make at this grade!
We are having a nice mix of power and youth and speed now in the NRL list.
For weeks many of us saw the rotation as too small or too inexperienced.
You could see last week the impact of a Matto and Kelma coming into the game makes it very hard for the opposition forward pack to dominate us.
I wish good health and speedy recovery to Will Pensini, but I’m also wondering if him not playing much of the last game helped us.
Will is out of form and if you make 5 errors in a game you absolutely gas out your team by making them defend consistently.
Samrani was solid last week. 161 meters and only 1 error. Scored a very good 4 pointer as well. Only 2 missed tackles.
Hopgood role looks to have been simplified. He only made 1 error last game. He Gave away zero penalty’s as well.
I think that Will can probably do with the few weeks break, it might help his form for when he comes back.
Joash Papalii hopefully gets better attacking opportunities this week, thi kid is probably close to the hardest person to tackle in the parramatta eels football club, from across any grade.
The Samrani single error was big as was his improving defensive reads.
But the try. Penisini simply doesn’t score that try.
Feel like it’s hard to hypothetical what would’ve happened when you insert a new player, yeah I doubt Penisini score the try like that but maybe he’s strong enough to break the tackle and stroll over, or maybe manly never score 2 tries down that corridor, maybe we lose 13+ but there’s no way to know.
It’s interesting looking at potential options for NRL 6 next season. It’s a great position to be in, and if those players are ready to step up to full time NRL, they have one of the best halves in the game to play alongside them. What are thoughts on who could fill that role? Would any of them be ready for next year or does the club look to fill that spot for 1-2 years? Looking at how Ryles has continued to add youth to the NRL squad, I’m thinking Ryles will look from within to fill the 5/8 role.
The depth all round in lower grades is really good to see. If the club can nail development and progression, we should be in a healthy steady state in 3-5 years.
Would love to see Lorenzo start at 6 a few more times. Flegg seem to execute a lot faster with him there
Jacob Preston is on the radar !!