1 Bevan French,
2 Josh Hoffman,
3 Michael Jennings,
4 Jarryd Hayne,
5 Kirisome Auva'a,
6 Corey Norman,
7 Mitchell Moses,
8 Daniel Alvaro,
9 Cameron King,
10 Tim Mannah (c),
11 Manu Ma'u,
12 Tepai Moeroa,
13 Nathan Brown
Interchange: 14 Beau Scott (c), 15 Brad Takairangi, 16 Suaia Matagi, 17 Kane Evans
Reserves: 18 Will Smith, 19 Kenny Edwards, 20 David Gower, 21 Kaysa Pritchard
Jarryd Hayne will make his return in Eels colours at centre with Bevan French playing fullback. Tepai Moeroa has won a starting spot in the second row meaning Brad Takairangi will come off the bench along with new signing Kane Evans.
Panthers:
1 Dylan Edwards,
2 Josh Mansour,
3 Waqa Blake,
4 Tyrone Peachey,
5 Dallin Watene-Zelezniak,
6 James Maloney,
7 Nathan Cleary,
8 James Tamou,
9 Peter Wallace (c),
10 Reagan Campbell-Gillard,
11 Viliame Kikau,
12 Isaah Yeo,
13 Trent Merrin
Interchange: 14 Corey Harawira-Naera, 15 Sam McKendry, 16 Moses Leota, 17 James Fisher-Harris
Reserves: 18 Sione Katoa, 19 Tim Browne, 20 Christian Crichton, 21 Jarome Luai
James Maloney will line up for his new team in the halves while Viliame Kikau will start in the second row, keeping Corey Harawaira-Naerea and James Fisher-Harris on the bench.
Replies
Can't believe Kenny has been left out, Taka is almost as big a protected species as Captain Soft Serve.
A player learning to transfer into a regular secondrower is in front of ur best bench player. The taka lovers will be creaming their pants
I would go with Edwards over Scott personally, but then again Scott is our co captain.
Kenny Edwards misses out, wonder if theres more to it than meets the eye there.
Id thought he'd have been a certainty for the 17, no Vave either, is vave injured?
Yeh Vave's injured. He had off-season surgery for something.
Vave playing for Wenty
No Kenny a huge call and a negative for us IMO. Love what he brings off the bench.
Only thing I didn’t expect is Edwards not in the team. Taka will need to step up to secure his position over Edwards. Other than that it is the squad I expected. Solid forwards, lethal backline. Alvaro and Mannah will wear them down, and let Evans use his size and Matagi his agression.
Exactly what i expected.