NRL Team List

Round 17 vs South Sydney Rabbitohs, Thursday 7:50PM, CommBank Stadium

Have the Eels finally done it? Have they actually emerged from a bye healthier than they were heading into it? I am not sure I believe it but the team sheets for the NRL and NSW Cup feature a number of returning players this week headed naturally by the Blue & Gold superstar in Mitchell Moses.

Moses reclaims his #7 jersey in Round 17 after roughly a month on the sidelines ahead of his 250th NRL cap as the Eels gear up to host the South Sydney Rabbitohs. That is the single most impactful change in first grade for Parramatta but it does have a bit of a ripple effect across the squad. Ronald Volkman will partner Moses in the halves this week as Joash Papalii drops back to the 6-man interchange bench as the backline-utility option.

Harrison Edwards has once again been named to the bench but if recent history has taught us anything, expect him to start on Thursday night. Teancum Brown holds down his berth amongst the rotational middles while Charlie Guymer claims the final place on the 6-man bench.

Jason Ryles has plumped for an unchanged starting backline and forward pack (accounting for the expected switch at dummy-half) as the Eels look to build on a last start victory against the Canberra Raiders. I will keep banging the drums for Sam Tuivaiti to get starting reps for the Blue & Gold but Ryles seems pretty settled on this formula of team list given the last month of footy.

Latrell Mitchell has gone from an expected returnee against the Eels to a sensational early week scratching after he succumbed to a calf injury at training on Monday. While it is a massive blow for the Rabbitohs, and a rare reversal of injury luck for the Eels, South Sydney still field a line-up that will ask plenty of questions. Jye Gray was the difference between the two sides late last year amidst Parramatta’s brilliant flourish to end the season while Tallis Duncan caused plenty of issues as a backrower-come-centre in the same game…as he lines up in the centres this week once again.

Injury Report

The injury report is starting to tidy up with the NSW Cup standing as big beneficiaries. Lincoln Fletcher remains in a downgraded status with a Round 21 designation which is a huge disappointment given I was hoping to see him build off his SG Ball campaign.

NSW Cup Team List

Round 17 vs Newcastle Knights, Friday 7:00PM, Scully Park

Richie Penisini and Jonah Pezet are back from the injury list this week while Jake Tago, albeit absent, was listed on the injury report as a Cup returnee this week. So keep that in mind heading into Friday’s game. Cup also welcome back Ryda Talagi from NSW Under 19s honours while, and not to go off mistakenly for the second time this year, it looks like Max Popo is set to make his Cup debut. Last time this happened it turned out to be a clerical error on the team sheets with Max Tupou but given both Popo AND Tupou are present on the same team sheet in Round 17 it does seem like the young middle forward will debut this week.

NSW Womens Premiership Team List

Round 3 vs Canterbury Bulldogs, Saturday 3:00PM, James Hardie Centre of Excellence

Updated for Round 3.

Jersey Flegg Cup Team List

Round 17 vs Melbourne Storm, Saturday 1:00PM, James Hardie Centre of Excellence

Updated for Round 17.

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