It is a mild if slightly overcast day out at Campbelltown. Not the most picturesque afternoon for footy but a serviceable one nonetheless.
Wenty travel out this way as competition leaders but will surely be expecting to have a fair game on their hands as they tackle the fourth placed Wests Tigers.
The Magpies find themselves stacked with youthful talent once more with the likes of Fabian Goodall, John Folau, Ryan Matterson and Kaysa Pritchard all continuing their push towards a spot in first grade. Wenty are further bolstered by the returns of Ben Smith and Kenny Edwards from injury while Lee Mossop will replace one of the eighteen named players after serving duties as 18th man for first grade last night.
While there are plenty of quality players in both teams, the most interesting match up for mine is that between the two young halves in Ryan Matterson and Mitchell Moses. Moses, nephew of Benny Elias, has long had his named plastered through the media and generated even more hype after an excellent showing in the Under 20s State of Origin (before receiving a suspension for a homophobic slur in said game). Meanwhile, most Parramatta fans are now familiar with the name and feats of Matterson, who enjoys a similarly impressive rugby league heritage to that of Moses.
Although Matterson has been in superb form in the NYC this season - including spearheading a demolition job against Moses' Tigers- selectors decided to play Moses in front of him in the Under 20s Origin (relegating Matterson to the bench). Today represents an excellent chance for our young five-eighth to take revenge and further solidify Wenty's lead at the top of the NSW Cup.
We are still 30min from the start of play so stay tuned for any changes to the playing rosters of either team.
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You can listen to the game here http://893fm.com.au/
Not sure if this is the link now. Was put up by the NSWRL yet it doesn't sound like footy commentary. And if it is it isn't in English. Don't mind me, there's a direct link to the NSW cup http://ondemand.893fm.com.au/liveevent.php here.
Henry Rawalui replaces Justin Hunt at fullback.
Elsewhere it gets a bit messy as the ground announcer absolutely raced over the changes.
From what I gathered our starting frontrow is:
Lorenzo Ma'afu
Ben Jones
Fui Fui Moi Moi
While Lee Mossop comes into the starting team at lock (it would seem he and Ma'afu will swap roles on the field)
I'll give you a better idea of the changes once the players take the field.
Okay here are the changes:
Henry Rawalui replaces Hunt at 1
Ben Jones replaces Pritchard at 9
Lee Mossop replaces Smith
Danny Howard goes into the bench
Lassalo goes onto the bench
Ma'afu in the starting line up at prop
Wenty will be be kicking off in the first half.
Solid first set of defence of Wenty which leads to Rawalui comfortably fielding the ball and bringing it back out to his 30m line.
Wenty quickly pick up the first penalty of the game and Luke Kelly finds touch 10m into the Tigers' half.
Comon u wenty boys give us eels fans something to take away from this weekend.
Matterson is playing on his preferred left. Indeed it is Matterson who directs play to the left and hits Edwards with a short ball.
Edwards is stands tall in the contact and nearly offloads to Toutai in support but decides to take the tackle.
Kelly brings play to the right on the last where he stabs a kick across the field, looking for Bureta Faraimo but it sails over the sideline for a turnover.
Another good set of defence by Wenty and Fui puts the Magpies onto the front foot with a great run and offload.
Mossop is in at first receiver and links up with Matterson. The young half sees the defence has shot up outside him and chooses to run and then find his outside men. He can't quite thread the pass through a Wests defender but does draw a new set from a knock on.
Wenty spread it right from the scrum where John Folau makes a superb run, going roughly 40m down field and taking play to the try line.
Matteson gets the ball under pressure on the last and tries to roll it in goals to his right but it picks up a deflection. Luke Kelly is able to clean up the ball and put it a second kick towards Goodall, who traps his opposite just inside the field of play.
I'm liking Fui's involvement early on in this game. Good intensity from the veteran.
Wenty ruck it up the middle this set before Luke Kelly bombs it on the last. Goodall gives chase and does well to leap and take the ball but loses possession as he tries to find support.
The Tigers are able to make half a break from the turnover before picking up a penalty a few tackles later to take paly into Wenty's red zone.
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