Thursday 8 May, 7.50pm AEST
Parramatta Eels vs Dolphins, CommBank Stadium
Referees: Wyatt Raymond, Kasey Badger (touch judge), Ziggy Przeklasa-Adamski (touch judge), Chris Butler (bunker)
Spotsbet: Eels $1.78, Dolphins $2.08
Eels: 1. Isaiah Iongi 2. Bailey Simonsson 3. Viliami Penisini 4. Sean Russell 5. Josh Addo-Carr 6. Dylan Brown 7. Mitchell Moses 8. Jack Williams 9. Ryley Smith 10. Junior Paulo 11. Charlie Guymer 12. Kitione Kautoga 13. J’maine Hopgood \
Bench: 14. Dylan Walker 15. Luca Moretti 16. Jordan Samrani 17. Matt Doorey
Extended: 18. Ryan Matterson 19. Joash Papali’i 20. Dean Hawkins 21. Toni Mataele 22. Brendan Hands
Dolphins: 1. Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow 2. Jamayne Isaako 3. Jake Averillo 4. Herbie Farnworth 5. Jack Bostock 6. Kodi Nikorima 7. Isaiya Katoa 8. Francis Molo 9. Kurt Donoghoe 10. Felise Kaufusi 11. Kulikefu Finefeuiaki 12. Connelly Lemuelu 13. Tom Gilbert
Bench: 14. Ray Stone 15. Mark Nicholls 16. Josh Kerr 17. Sean O’Sullivan
Extended: 18. Harrison Graham 19. Oryn Keeley 20. Max Feagai 21. Kenny Bromwich 22. Junior Tupou
Injury Updates from the Eels' site: Sam Tuivaiti suffered a right ankle Syndesmosis injury during Magic Round. He has consulted a specialist and will undergo surgery this week. He will be sidelined for 8-10 weeks.
| Zac Lomax | Foot | Round 11 |
| Joey Lussick | Thumb | Round 11 |
| Sam Tuivaiti | Ankle | Round 19-20 |
| Dan Keir | Hamstring | Round 12-14 |
| Arthur Miller-Stephen | Knee | Season |
| Ethyn Martin | Clavicle | Pending surgery |
| Apa Twidle | Hand | Pending scans |
NSW Cup side includes backrow of Bryce Cartwright and Will Latu with Ryan Matterson at lock.
Replies
Papalii on the reserves in first grade but not playing NSW CUP. Could walker be injured?
Or dropping Doorey and having Papali'i on bench. Walker and Moretti is all you need with Williams able to play big minutes.
I would play Mataele over Doorey.
Interesting that they decided to give an injury update about Martin suddenly. Is that to suggest he is in their future plans.
NSW Cup team is interesting. Grieg must still be suspended. But Papalii and Volkman have not been named in cup. Pryke and Brown have not been named in either team as well.
Not sure why we're favourites.
Dolphins are a side that can pile on points with momentum so we'll need to be up for the fight in defence. Dolphins are also a side which can drop their heads when things don't go their way. We'll need to be at our best, if we are we can get this done.
Poor Tuivaiti. That sucks. We really need some quality middles urgently.
We also need quality edges but I'm starting to sound like a broken record.
Dolphins have won 1 of 4 in Sydney, including 0-2 at Commbank. They also got hammered by an ok team like the Roosters where we were in most of the game v Cronulla.
Not saying we are morals but i think our favourite tag is justified. JMK and Saifiti are big losses.
Our centres will be carved up by Herbie and Ray Stone will be folding some c*nts.
On a serious note, an advice from one centre (ex-legend) to another... Penisini needs to have a long hard look at his future in the centre position. Kid has seriously poor defensive read, too slow and lacks any creativity in attack. He may well be suited to wing, focus on bulking up a little and mirror his game on Brian To'o. Alternative look to become a dummy half. Defending in the middle and with his short stockie build, could be a strong dummy half runner aka Brandon Smith.
I think Samrani will end up starting on the edge.
Guymer moving to 13 maybe and Hopgood coming later.
I also don't see Papalii on the NSW Cup list, but he's an extended list. I gotta feeling he might make it into the 17 late. It's a hunch and not sure what he'll do.
Tui's injury shame, but he's made his statement and should still have a couple of games to play before end of the season. Very good debut campaign.
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