Eels v Broncos: Blaize fills fullback void; Rogers new No.7
Two sides hit hard with injuries will have their depth put to the test when they clash at CommBank Stadium on Friday night.
The Broncos face life without Adam Reynolds for the next few months after the skipper went down with a biceps injury against the Roosters on Friday while winger Jesse Arthars is also set for a stint on the sideline after suffering a broken jaw.
With understudy halfback Jock Madden also sidleined, how the Broncos handle the coming weeks could have a big impact on the rest of their season.
Coming off a bye, the Eels will be hoping a week's reset will help get their season back on track after losing four of their past five matches.
The Eels have plenty of injury concerns of their own with fullback Clint Gutherson (knee) joining halfback Mitch Moses (foot) on the sidelines as Brad Arthur looks to the next generation to keep Parramatta's season alive.
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Team News
Eels: Joe Ofahengaue will start and Junior Paulo comes from the bench in the usual swap on game day. A change on Thursday with back-rower Bryce Cartwright dropping out after initially being named to return from a rib injury. Brendan Hands comes into the squad. Youngster Blaize Talagi will wear the No.1 jersey in the absence of skipper Clint Gutherson (knee) while Sean Russell is promoted to start in the centres at the expense of Morgan Harper.
Broncos: The Broncos are 1-17 with no late changes. The loss of skipper Adam Reynolds to a biceps injury sees 27-year-old Josh Rogers take over at halfback in his second NRL game. At the other end of the experience scale, Corey Oates plays game No.207 on the wing, coming in for Jesse Arthars (jaw). One new face on the bench with former Cowboy Jack Gosiewski coming in for his first game as a Bronco after joining the club last week.
Match: Eels v Broncos
Round 10 -
home Team
Eels
away Team
Broncos
Team Lists
Backs
-
Fullback for Eels is number 1 Blaize TalagiFullback for Broncos is number 1 Reece Walsh
-
Winger for Eels is number 2 Maika SivoWinger for Broncos is number 2 Corey Oates
-
Centre for Eels is number 3 Will PenisiniCentre for Broncos is number 3 Kotoni Staggs
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Centre for Eels is number 4 Sean RussellCentre for Broncos is number 4 Selwyn Cobbo
-
Winger for Eels is number 5 Bailey SimonssonWinger for Broncos is number 5 Deine Mariner
-
Five-Eighth for Eels is number 6 Ethan SandersFive-Eighth for Broncos is number 6 Ezra Mam
-
Halfback for Eels is number 7 Dylan BrownHalfback for Broncos is number 7 Josh Rogers
Forwards
-
Prop for Eels is number 8 Reagan Campbell-GillardProp for Broncos is number 8 Corey Jensen
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Hooker for Eels is number 9 Joey LussickHooker for Broncos is number 9 Billy Walters
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Prop for Eels is number 16 Joe OfahengaueProp for Broncos is number 10 Payne Haas
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2nd Row for Eels is number 11 Shaun Lane2nd Row for Broncos is number 11 Brendan Piakura
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2nd Row for Eels is number 12 Ryan Matterson2nd Row for Broncos is number 12 Jordan Riki
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Lock for Eels is number 13 J'maine HopgoodLock for Broncos is number 13 Patrick Carrigan
Interchange
-
Interchange for Eels is number 10 Junior PauloInterchange for Broncos is number 14 Tyson Smoothy
-
Interchange for Eels is number 15 Makahesi MakatoaInterchange for Broncos is number 15 Xavier Willison
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Interchange for Eels is number 17 Kelma TuilagiInterchange for Broncos is number 16 Kobe Hetherington
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Interchange for Eels is number 22 Brendan HandsInterchange for Broncos is number 17 Jack Gosiewski
Reserves
-
Replacement for Eels is number 20 Daejarn AsiReplacement for Broncos is number 18 Tristan Sailor
Match Officials
- Referee: Gerard Sutton
- Touch Judge: Dave Munro
- Touch Judge: Matt Noyen
- Senior Review Official: Grant Atkins
Last updated:
Stat Attack
- The Eels have lost their last nine games without fullback Clint Gutherson.
- The Broncos have won three of their past four games against the Eels.
- The Eels have conceded 76 points in their past two games.
- The Broncos have won only one of four games at CommBank Stadium.
Match: Eels v Broncos
Round 10 -
home Team
Eels
13th Position
away Team
Broncos
6th Position
Venue: CommBank Stadium, Sydney
Stats supplied by David Middleton, League Information Services, author of the official annual of the NRL.
