Your Team list v Dragons - Kelma must stay - Eels Blogs

1. Iongi

2. Fox

3. Russell

4. Samrami/Penasini

5. Simmonson

6. Pezet

7 Mo

8. Jnr

9 Smith

10. Williams

11. Kelma Tuilagi

12 kit Kautoga

13. Debelin

14. Da Silva

15. Sam Tuivaiti

16. Walker

17. Doorey

18. Hopgood

* Kelma did enough and is a strike weapon out wide. Although Williams is a steadier player, i really think Kelma creates opportunities both on and off the ball. He also had a massive pre season as Ryles pointed out. Without Kelma we don't beat the donkeys

* Also, i don't know what to do with Hopgood/ Williams fighting it out for a prop rotation position.

* I think Ryles will opt for Penasini over Samrami if fully fit. If Samrami is kept at centre i have no issues.

* The bench must be retained, each of the four turned the tide for the eels in the second half

* Williams & Hopgood. Williams the player of the year 2025 wont be left outHopgood returns after suspension - a good headache for Ryles to have having a number of choices

Debelin/Hopgood. One of these two will.be left out

Some interesting choices

"Brisbane's play the ball speed was quicker, but later on we got control of the ruck, poking our nose through and getting on our elbows for quick play the balls, Brisbane were out on their feet. Tawha was having a tough time keeping up and Mam…"

"Reckon they give their players a few weeks to get fit enough to do their job in Penrith? Hell, everyone on this site would go into meltdown if we signed Leka, but Webster has him on the bench because of standards. Kautoga isn't a first grader, it…"

"Kautoga started the same last season, everyone wanted him out of the team. By the end of the year he was our most dangerous attacking weapon, and was hitting hard in defence. Give him time, he will come good."

Replies

EA March 13, 2026 at 8:19pm
1. Iongi
2. fox
3. samrani/penisini
4. russel
5. simmo
6. pezet
7. moses
8. moretti
9. smith
10. paulo
11. williams
12. kautoga
13. Hopgood
14. tds
15. walker
16. tuivita
17. jdb
18. Tuilagi
19. Papalii
This is the team I would want but I don't see that happening. Moretti will probably still be in cup and Doorey will be in the team but probably unused on the bench.
- EA > EA March 13, 2026 at 8:25pm
  I expect
  
  iongi
  
  fox
  
  pensini/samrani
  
  russel
  
  simmo
  
  pezet
  
  moses
  
  paulo
  
  smith
  
  hopgood
  
  williams
  
  kautoga
  
  jdb
  
  tds
  
  walker
  
  tuivita
  
  tuilagi
  
  doorey
  
  papalii
  - EA > EA March 13, 2026 at 8:32pm
    
    Starting paulo should be fine against the dragons forward pack but against elite teams it won't work out
  - DYNASTY.LOADING > EA March 13, 2026 at 10:04pm
    
    EA
    
    who you got breaking through on the wing out of Rokosuka, Alameddine, or someone else? Richard P I feel may have fallen behind? Maybe not.
    - LB > DYNASTY.LOADING March 13, 2026 at 11:31pm
      
      Richie's chance would have been 2024, we debuted Jake Tago and Lorenzo Mulitalo. I reckon guaranteed Barrett would have thrown Richie a debut. But he did his ACL while BA was still there. Injuries after injuries, then Nanva getting on the scene as well Samrani kicking on, just got worse for him.
      
      Maybe Perth pick him up.
  - LB > EA March 13, 2026 at 11:29pm
    
    I think they will sit Penisini til his groin is 100%. Why rush when Samrani did a job.
    
    But other than that, i reckon 100% that is the team. Tuivaiti or Doorey would be the question of who misses out, with Tuilagi more likely being used off the bench allowing Williams to go into the middle and the style he is, Doorey becomes expendable for now. You need Tuivaiti who has 2-3 defenders on him to bring him down.
- Cʜɪᴇғy Mclovin 🐐 > EA March 13, 2026 at 8:34pm
  
  Moretti the forgotten man. Id always have him in the 19
  - LB > Cʜɪᴇғy Mclovin 🐐 March 13, 2026 at 11:31pm
    
    Well to be fair, i see him and Doorey practically being the same player. I feel Moretti is more consistent though.
Longfin Eel March 13, 2026 at 8:25pm

It should be horses for courses, so our bigger middles to play. We have that luxury, so why not use it?
- Coryn Hughes > Longfin Eel March 13, 2026 at 9:09pm
  
  Exactly right we have enough versatility to adapt to circumstance.
  
  I still see Jnr as the pack alpha though there are times during the game where it loosens up to much and he gets exposed.Ruck control is so important in the modern game more so now you just can't have a quick ruck of you'll get run over like we did the first 20-25 last night.