The Parramatta Eels team to take on the St George Illawarra Dragons in the team's first trial game of 2022 has been named.
Shaun Lane has been named captain for the first time in his NRL career and will head up the 24 man squad.
Bailey Simonsson and Mitch Rein will make their debuts in the Blue and Gold, after signing with the Club last year.
Reed Mahoney returns to the side for the first time since being sidelined with a shoulder injury last year.
Experienced players Clint Gutherson, Junior Paulo, Mitch Moses, Dylan Brown, Waqa Blake, Ryan Matterson, Reagan Campbell-Gillard, Isaiah Papali'i, and Nathan Brown have been rested from the side.
Kick off is at 6pm on Sunday 20 February at CommBank Stadium.
1. Haze Perham
2. Haze Dunster
3. Tom Opacic
4. Will Penisni
5. Bailey Simmonson
6. Jordan Rankin
7. Jake Arthur
8. Oregon Kaufusi
9. Reed Mahoney
10. Makahesi Makatoa
11. Marata Nuikore
12. Shaun Lane (c)
13. Ray Stone
Interchange:
14. Mitch Rein
15. Bryce Cartwright
16. Sean Russell
17. Luca Moretti
18. Ky Rodwell
19. Ofahiki Ogden
20. Elie El Zakhem
21. Brendan Hands
22. Solomone Naiduki
23. Matt Komolafe
24. Josh Tuipulotu
Replies
Thanks Lurker . It looks like a NSW CUP team with a only few NRL 1st grade players being those who are leaving the club at the end of the season . Might be only 1st grade games they play this year Lol.
Let's hope that's the case for a few on that list - not mentioning any names....
Looks like Moretti is higher in the pecking order than Rodwell and Ogden. Idk why Lane is captain. Hopefully everyone doesn't follow the leader and drop the ball atleast twice during the game. Interesting that Russel is also preferred over Naiduki. Perhaps due to versatility. Rather Carty start on the edge and Lane be used in the middle.
Me too.
I don't think we should look too much into jersey numbers as it could purely be who fits into what number, I doubt no.14 on Rein would fit on Wiremu Greig too haha.
Or maybe that is a way to look at it, we will see on Sunday, more first graders then i thought, and i think a good decision to name Mahoney for this one give him a bit of both games ready for 2022, if he beats himself up oh well Canterbury can deal with it in 2023.
Haha yeah hopefully not..
Hope Rein out plays him and get the 9 Jersey
Hogdson coming next year Hands and Authur coming through the grades.
Maybe Reed is now expendable!!
Reed was outstanding at the start of last year, in fact, he was probably the best hooker in the comp for the first 10 rounds, so I hope that trend continues. But, I'm sure an injury will play a hand in Rein getting more time in first grade than we expect.
I think it is great to give others a taste of first grade.It will be a long season and we should look after players better who are carrying injuries.
Great side should thump whatever dragons field
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