Parramatta Eels best 17 for 2016 - Fox Sports preview. - Eels Blogs

It’s been the recruitment approach at Parramatta for at least the last three years and finally the Eels have assembled a team to challenge the finals.And their old rivals, Manly.The Eels have won their last three stoushes with the Sea Eagles, but since 1947 they have won only 52 of 145 games against their classic rivals.There is a very distinct ‘Manly’ flavour about this team, from head coach and former Sea Eagles assistant Brad Arthur, to ex-players Kieran Foran, James Hasson and Anthony Watmough, down to rising star Clinton Gutherson.But all of it means nothing if the Eels haven’t poached some of that winning spirit too.In addition to Foran, Gutherson and Hasson, the Eels recruited NSW hard man Beau Scott and Sharks fullback Michael Gordon, who will also take up kicking duties.Gordon’s class at the back is only helped by his precise conversions as the Eels relied on either Luke Kelly or Reece Robinson when Chris Sandow left the club in 2015.The club has been through a heavy turn over but the new faces have added to the young and mobile forward pack — most of which has been developed in first grade for two seasons under Arthur, with players like Pauli Pauli, Tepai Moeroa and Manu Ma’u to be even better in 2016.The Eels have worked hard and patiently to get some good depth in the forwards, but after losing Will Hopoate, they’re in need of a strike centre to help Semi Radradra out on the edge.In the meantime, 21-year-old Gutherson is a good option to throw on the wing to gain some experience before eventually moving him into the centres in the future.Even so, the Eels have added much experience and steel to their improving squad.They should expect to finish much higher than last year’s 12th in 2016.LOCKSMichael Gordon, Semi Radradra, Corey Norman, Kieran Foran, Nathan Peats, Junior Paulo, Tim Mannah, Manu Ma’u, Beau Scott, Anthony Watmough.RISING STARKaysa PritchardKaysa Pritchard has had a rough run of injuries. Source:News Corp AustraliaHe made his NRL debut back in 2013 but so far has only played seven games. It’s possible that 2016 could be the year for the 21-year-old hooker. The brother of former Test star Frank, Pritchard played one game for the Eels in 2015 after tearing his pectoral in the Auckland Nines earlier in the year, and suffering a shoulder injury in his comeback game. With an experienced pack around him, it could be a good time for Arthur to start to blood Pritchard properly from the bench.THE BUBBLEPauli PauliPauli’s inclusion in the side comes down to how Brad Arthur wants to play in 2016. Carrying one utility on the bench (Isaac De Gois) or with another mobile second-rower to really steam roll through the competition. It is a matter of preference, but with the reduced interchange it could be handy to have a fresh pair of legs around the ruck to challenge the tired forwards, so Pauli misses out for us. Back-up hooker Kaysa Pritchard gets special mention as well. He is chance to grab the bench spot from De Gois.IT’S A BIG YEAR FOR...Corey NormanCorey Norman is in for a big year at Parramatta. Source:News Corp AustraliaNo, not Kieran Foran, but the man who stands to benefit the most from the big-name signing.Corey Norman has been a solid five-eighth for a few seasons now, but at the end of 2015 he was calling the shots with more confidence than ever.With a class international player like Foran by his side, Norman will blossom without having to be the senior head in the halves.PARRAMATTA’S BEST 171 Michael Gordon2 Semi Radradra3 Ryan Morgan4 Brad Takairangi5 Clinton Gutherson6 Corey Norman7 Kieran Foran8 Junior Paulo9 Nathan Peats10 Tim Mannah11 Manu Ma’u12 Beau Scott13 Anthony Watmough14 David Gower15 Tepai Moeroa16 Isaac De Gois17 Danny Wicks

Replies

Gower Power January 8, 2016 at 8:59am

I wonder if we would be better off using someone like Hasson or big Rory O'Brien ahead of Pauli? (when other forwards are injured and a bench space becomes available)
Cʜɪᴇғy Mclovin 🐐 January 8, 2016 at 9:09am

This could very easily be our starting 17. An extra dummy half on the beach could be the norm with the quicker game rules.

Unless we get Jennings, I feel Morgs may just pip a few others for the centre spot.

There'll be a few unlucky forwards come R 1. Hard to leave Alvaro & Edwards out of the picture.
- GRUNTA - Death of a Salesman > Cʜɪᴇғy Mclovin 🐐 January 8, 2016 at 9:18am
  
  Ahhh Chief, you're my kind of bloke.
  A hooker on the beach sounds great to me!
  
  There will be times when Foran and Norman will clash or want different things. I hope this is sorted out early as I'm sure it will be.
  One thing is for certain, that's one hell of a better looking team than in recent years, add Jennings to it and look out ;)
fishbulb January 8, 2016 at 9:30am

Where's Hock?
- Monster Eel #38 > fishbulb January 8, 2016 at 9:45am
  
  Where's Mossop?
GRUNTA - Death of a Salesman January 8, 2016 at 9:47am

Where's Papalli?
- fishbulb > GRUNTA - Death of a Salesman January 8, 2016 at 9:52am
  
  Where's JT?
  - This reply was deleted.
    - GRUNTA - Death of a Salesman > GRUNTA - Death of a Salesman January 8, 2016 at 9:57am
      
      Where's Wally?
      - fishbulb > GRUNTA - Death of a Salesman January 8, 2016 at 10:01am
        
        Dude, Where's My Car?
        
        Evil Elvis > fishbulb January 8, 2016 at 12:45pm
        
        And then?