NRL Team List

Round 2, Thursday 8:00PM, Suncorp Stadium

In Round 1 the Parramatta Eels met last year’s runners-up in the Melbourne Storm and as we all know that went absolutely brilliantly for the Blue & Gold. Much has been written and said about the humiliating loss and with the sting of those rebukes still not even fading, the Eels must now turn to face the other party in the big dance of 2025 as they travel to Brisbane to take on the Broncos. Indeed, it is a Grand Finalists Redux for Parramatta as they look to navigate one of their trickier scheduling gauntlets this season.

Like the Eels, Brisbane made a despondent start to the season and while they may have won the most minor of victories in not conceding 50-points, they were manhandled and ultimately shutout by the Penrith Panthers to the tune to 26-0. It sets the scene for an extremely odd Round 2 encounter between the reigning premiers and a team in the Eels who would see themselves as on the rise. Which side can find their ignition point on Thursday night?

Jason Ryles has made two changes to his side this week. One was telegraphed by a rather overzealous charge from the Match Review Committee which saw J’maine Hopgood stood down for a game for a high tackle. Ryles has bumped Jack Williams from the right edge and into the front-row as a result with Kelma Tuilagi getting a promotion into the starting back-row to round out the series of moves to replace Hopgood. The second comes in the form of good news, something of a scarcity in the last week, as Josh Addo-Carr looks to return ahead of schedule from a broken thumb.

Otherwise the Eels are as per the program from last week…which is much what I expected to be honest. Coaches generally don’t make knee-jerk selection reactions to Round 1 losses – as ugly as they can be in the case of last week – and you have to imagine Ryles sees the first up loss as an aberration. He will charge his team with the more manageable primary mandate of cutting down on the horrifically unnecessary errors and the far more whimsical mandate of somehow drawing less ire from the officials as they look to unseat the Broncos.

Brisbane have made one notable change this week as Ezra Mam returns to his usual role as starting five-eighth. I am not exactly sure what scheme Michael Maguire hatched up in benching Mam last week but it didn’t exactly work out and the Broncos return to their usual configuration this week as a result.

Like last week, Sixties and myself will be hosting a watch party at Parramatta Leagues Club in our usual home at Sterlos on Thursday night. While the game itself leaned considerably into the scale of miserable viewing, the turnout and atmosphere in Round 1 was top notch and for that we thank everyone that attended! There was plenty of swag given away as well and there will be more of that on the cards this week so be sure to get out to Sterlos to see our lads surely upset the Broncos in Round 2!

Injury Report

NSW Cup Team List

Round 2

BYE

Jersey Flegg Cup Team List

Round 2

BYE

If you liked this article, you might consider supporting The Cumberland Throw.