The Parramatta Eels take on the Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles at Lottoland this Sunday 5 March for Round One of the NRL Telstra Premiership, the first game of the 2017 season for the Blue & Gold.
Head Coach Brad Arthur has named a 21 man line up that features plenty of youth and experience, including new recruits Josh Hoffman, Suaia Matagi, Nathan Brown and Frank Pritchard.
Hooker Kaysa Pritchard will start at hooker with Isaac De Gois ruled out due to a concussion, with Arthur naming a four man bench that includes, Brown, Pritchard, Daniel Alvaro and Rory O’Brien.
Clinton Gutherson will partner Corey Norman in the halves.
The Sea Eagles side, coached by Trent Barrett, includes several new recruits to their line up in 2017.
Five-eighth Blake Green has made the move from the Melbourne Storm to the Sea Eagles, partnering Daly Cherry-Evans. Akuila Uate, Curtis Sironen and Lloyd Perrett will all make their club debuts.
The recent retirement of Steve Matai and Brett Stewart sees young fullback Tom Trbojevic claim the number one jersey, which should prove to be an exciting match u against Blue & Gold fullback Bevan French.
Brian Kelly will make his NRL debut for the Sea Eagles at left centre.
The Eels have a strong recent winning record over the Sea Eagles, claiming the two points in the last 5 clashes, including a gritty 10-9 victory in Round 22, 2016.
However, at Lottoland, despite winning the last two clashes at the ground, the Eels were successful just once in the eight before that.
Kick off is at 4pm.
LAST TIME WE MET
Match Details: Parramatta Eels v Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles at Lottoland on Sunday 5 March 2017. Kick off at 4pm.
Televised: Channel Nine – Live from 4pm. Fox Sports – Live from 4pm.
The History: Played 136; Sea Eagles 82; Eels 50; Draw 4.
The Eels have a strong recent winning record over the Sea Eagles, claiming the two points in the last 5 clashes, including a gritty 10-9 victory in Round 22, 2016. However, at Lottoland, despite winning the last two clashes at the ground, the Eels were successful just once in the eight before that.
Parramatta Eels squad: 1. Bevan French 2. Semi Radradra 3. Michael Jennings 4. Brad Takairangi 5. Josh Hoffman 6. Clint Gutherson 7. Corey Norman 8. Suaia Matagi 9. Kaysa Pritchard 10. Tim Mannah (c) 11. Manu Ma’u 12. Tepai Moeroa 13. Beau Scott (c)
Interchange 14. Nathan Brown 15. Daniel Alvaro 16. Rory O’Brien 17. Frank Pritchard
Reserves 18. Jamal Fogarty 19. Cameron King 20. David Gower 21. Scott Schulte
Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles squad: 1. Tom Trbojevic 2. Jorge Taufua 3. Dylan Walker 4. Brian Kelly 5. Akuila Uate 6. Blake Green 7. Daly Cherry-Evans 8. Brenton Lawrence 9. Apisai Koroisau 10. Martin Taupau 11. Frank Winterstein 12. Curtis Sironen 13. Jake Trbojevic
Interchange 14. Lewis Brown 15. Nate Myles 16. Addin Fonua-blake 17. Lloyd Perrett
Reserves 18. Jarrad Kennedy 19. Cameron Cullen 20. Matthew Wright 21. Jonathan Wright
Match Officials: Referee: Grant Atkins; Assistant Referee: Chris Butler; Touch judges: Russell Turner and Rickey McFarlane; Review Official: Luke Patten; Senior RO: Bernard Sutton.
