The Parramatta Eels named 28 players to their NRL squad in late 2020. The club will need to add two more players to reach the required 29 players by the start of March as Daniel Alvaro has since departed, while the club will need to fill its 30th spot by June 30.
Here is the depth chart as it currently stands.
Fullback: Clint Gutherson, Will Smith, Jordan Rankin
Winger: Maika Sivo, Blake Ferguson, Haze Dunster, Michael Oldfield
Centre: Waqa Blake, Michael Jennings^, Tom Opacic, Michael Oldfield
Five-Eighth: Dylan Brown, Will Smith, Jordan Rankin
Halfback: Mitchell Moses
Hooker: Reed Mahoney, Joey Lussick, Nathaniel Roache*
Prop: Junior Paulo, Reagan Campbell-Gillard, Oregon Kaufusi, David Hollis, Sam Hughes
Second-Row: Ryan Matterson, Shaun Lane, Bryce Cartwright, Isaiah Papali'i, Keegan Hipgrave
Lock: Nathan Brown, Marata Niukore, Ray Stone, Keegan Hipgrave
*Denotes development player
^Suspended due to positive drug test
It's clear to see Parramatta's depth strength lies in its forward pack with NRL experienced players available in starting positions and in bench spots. A key area of concern is Mitchell Moses' back-up given the club's only other halfback is Eli Levido and there is no current confirmation that he is in the NSW Cup squad this season.
Jaeman Salmon and Jai Field's departures leave the halves stocks fairly thin. Likewise, centre appears to be of some concern with Michael Jennings' position yet to be filled.
If Jennings were to be de-registered before the start of the season then the Eels would have to sign three players to their NRL squad before round one.
Replies
Until he's officially de-registered he's in our top 30 and is on the salary cap.
So at this stage we need a back up half and a centre. I think you'll see Will Pensini upgraded in the top 30. Maybe Tyrone Roberts could be an option considering he is off contract and be relatively cheap. Any news on that Burns rumour?
Chris Pix, back to Netflix son
Halves - Lussick, Smith, Rankin, people keep teling us there is little to no difference between 6 & 7 now.
Replacing Moses is not going to be that difficult - finding a game manager is.
I am not saying Moses is a game manager.
Apart from Sivo (at this time) all the wingers and centres are interchangeable.
You are very confusing with the numbers for our top 30 Super
We have 28 but need to sign TWO more to have 29 by March?
Then you say if MJ is gone we got to sign THREE more before round 1.
We have one in waiting with Roache so the sky isn't falling yet.
Thought we have 27 without Jenkins 26 could be wrong
Maths is pretty simple. Eels named 28 including Alvaro. Alvaro has left, we have 27. If Jennings is de registered we have 26.
Then how come you stuffed it up originally Super?
27 listed on official Eels site, so why don't we work with those figures.
Alvaro left ages ago but you started out with 28 - maths doesn't seem to be that simple for you.
Right - we need 2 before end of February - we have a couple who can be elevated from all accounts.
We then need 1 more before June 30 - MJ might not get deregistered until after June 30 - where will that leave us then? Question based on B sample being taken from the same test sample as the A sample which makes it highly improbable to come back negative. Don't know if the substance degrades over time and can return a negative result. Any Chemists on here?
If MJ deregistered after June 30 will we need to promote someone immediately into top 30 or can we finish the season with 29?
Lussick can fill in at halfback.
Dylan Brown can fill in at halfback with Matterson, Rankin, Smith or Guth moving to 5/8.
We have plenty of options within the squad that can be moved around with little to no disruption to the flow of the squad.
Lane / Prop in a heartbeat
We haven't been languishing in any premiership window, we are only just entering it
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