Round 1 Predicted Parramatta Eels team - Fox sports - Eels Blogs

EELS

1 Clint Gutherson

2 Maika Sivo

3 Waqa Blake

4 Michael Oldfield

5 Blake Ferguson

6 Dylan Brown

7 Mitchell Moses

8 Junior Paulo

9 Reed Mahoney

10 Reagan Campbell-Gillard

11 Shaun Lane

12 Ryan Matterson

13 Nathan Brown

14 Bryce Cartwright

15 Isaiah Papali’i

16 Marata Niukore

17 Oregon Kaufusi

2021 squad: Daniel Alvaro, Waqa Blake, Dylan Brown, Nathan Brown, Reagan Campbell-Gillard, Blake Ferguson, Clint Gutherson, Keegan Hipgrave, Michael Jennings (stood down), Oregon Kaufusi, Shaun Lane, Joey Lussick, Reed Mahoney, Ryan Matterson, Mitchell Moses, Marata Niukore, Michael Oldfield, Tom Opacic, Isaiah Papali’i, Junior Paulo, Jordan Rankin, Maika Sivo, Will Smith, Bryce Cartwright

2021 gains: Joey Lussick (Salford), Tom Opacic (Cowboys), Isaiah Papali’i (Warriors), Michael Oldfield (Raiders), Keegan Hipgrave (Titans), Nathaniel Roache (Warriors), Bryce Cartwright (Titans)

2021 losses: Stefano Utoikamanu (Tigers), Kane Evans (Warriors), Andrew Davey (Sea Eagles), George Jennings (Storm), David Gower (retired), Jai Field (Wigan), Peni Terepo, Rhys Davies, Jaeman Salmon, Brad Takairangi (all unsigned)

Dylan Brown of the Eels.

"On a sport program they were debating what possibilities old Nick has worked out. One was, Nick allowed Manu to go to Rugby allowing him to earn top dollar in Japan under the condition when he returns he signs with the Chooks for around $300 000…"

Replies

Jack November 24, 2020 at 1:03pm

Avg team
Parraborn1 November 24, 2020 at 1:27pm

Keegan Hipgrave will definitley be in the 17
Sir Col "THE NODDY MUSHROOM" November 24, 2020 at 2:44pm

I would be starting Nuikore with Lane to bench.

Haven't really started "The Toughest Pre Season ever" and already we are seeing the click bait team lists. *sigh*

Parraborn1 you could be right. Kafusi out? These days a middle forward is a middle forward, regardless of title of Prop or Lock.
Coryn Hughes November 24, 2020 at 3:00pm

I reckon middle fowards are where it's at.

I'd be carrying 4 props every game especially the way it looks like we want to play.

What you need is that guy at 14 a Conor Watson type whose just all energy and can change a game.Could Bryce Cartwright be that for the Eels.
- Sir Col "THE NODDY MUSHROOM" > Coryn Hughes November 24, 2020 at 3:17pm
  
  I am not a fan of 4 props on the bench Coryn - if (or more likely when) a backline player goes down we have NO real options to cover them with any form of effectiveness.
  
  Shifting a back rower into the back line is mostly stop gap measure, we have seen this proven so many times with every team that is forced into this situation.
  
  14 should, imo, always be a utility. Cartwright can be that utility, same as Taka and Smith were
  - Brett Allen > Sir Col "THE NODDY MUSHROOM" November 24, 2020 at 4:00pm
    
    Agreed, if your best 5 middles can't get the job done, two more aren't gonna help much
  - Coryn Hughes > Sir Col "THE NODDY MUSHROOM" November 24, 2020 at 5:04pm
    
    Depends how you want to play Col if you are a bend the middle momentum type team,like BA wants to play having 4 props isn't a bad thing.
    
    But I do think that 14 position is something that I'd probably like to see invested in a bit more.
- This reply was deleted.
  - Coryn Hughes November 25, 2020 at 11:32am
    
    Quite easily actually possession dictates minutes.If we defend a lot I want to keep my 2 starting props as fresh as possible if the flow stays with us I leave the starters on longer to dig the dagger in deeper.
    
    My 14 would be Cartwright whose my halves cover and I'd be having a guy like Lussick or Roache to spell Mahoney.With the 2 props.
    
    Lane and Matto are 80 minute guys with Brown.If anyone of my middles get hurt I'd probably move Lane in and and Brown just picks up the slack.
    
    Remember dependent on who we are playing I could mix and match my bench.
    
    The reason I want 4 props is because I still think BA wants to go through the middle of teams.
    - Sir Col "THE NODDY MUSHROOM" > Coryn Hughes November 25, 2020 at 12:27pm
      
      Ah-HAH! Silly me, I took Coryn's comments to mean carry 4 props on the bench.
      
      *sigh* getting older by the day.
      - Brett Allen > Sir Col "THE NODDY MUSHROOM" November 25, 2020 at 2:01pm
        
        So did I