BATTLE OF THE WEST
Story & Photo 's By : 'PK' &
PARRA V WESTS
SG BALL
This weekend’s games in the Harold Matthews and SG Ball between rugby league powerhouse the Parramatta Eels and premiership wannabes the Western Suburbs Magpies shapes up as a genuine battle of the west.
What a game the SG Ball Cup fixture will be as the first placed Magpies battle to keep the second placed Eels from taking over as leader of the competition.
Parramatta have chosen a strong line-up to take on the Maggies after resting players over the last few weeks while providing their fringe selection players an opportunity to shine in the best under 18 rugby league competition in the world.
Whether this has been a good strategy only time will tell. I don’t believe resting players in a nine game competition leads itself to developing combinations and team work with players. The competition is too short for that.
Back this week for Parramatta are winger Jacob Gagen, fullback Chris Ulugia and Jason Wehbe returns to his best position at five eight after having a quite game by his standards at fullback against Manly last weekend.
Wests have also selected a strong squad but they will be without big Willie Skelton the 145 kilogram monster forward. He will be missed in the fiery forward exchanges.
The Maggies smashed St George last week 54-0 with centre Theo Leato in fine form notching three tries. They remain the only undefeated team in the competition.
Parramatta wants to win badly. If they succeed they will probably leap frog Wests on percentages and lead the competition and that means the club will lead both the SG Ball Cup and the Harold Matthews Cup competitions.
I think the Eels will have an advantage in the halves where the Hills Sports High School duo of Jason Seage and Jason Wehbe have been playing great football.
Last week against Manly the game was an arm wrestle until Seage turned the game for the Eels when he scored two tries in five minutes late in the first half. He used his blistering pace to leave Manly defenders in his wake in his second try. He has scored four tries in five games.
His partner in the halves Jason Wehbe is the competition’s leading point scorer with six tries and twenty five goals to his credit. This boy knows how to sniff out a try.
Wests halves Mitchell Brasington and David Atuau are fine players but they don’t possess the same strike power that the Parramatta pair has.
No doubt Magpies coach Derek McVey will have Brasington hoisting his favourite spiral bombs directed towards the Parramatta back three Ulugia and wingers Gagen and Stefano Takafa.
They will need to be strong in this area otherwise Wests will use this as a catalyst to put great pressure on the Eels team.
If Wests have an advantage I think it could be in the forwards where they have belted and out muscled opposition teams this year including the Canterbury Bulldogs.
They are well led by Matthew Groat, last years Australian Schoolboy prop and he is well supported by his fellow forward marauders including Tunui Joseph and Ino Inosesio who have been in great form.
If the Eels want to win this game they have to match the Wests rampaging forward pack. Their back row of Joseph Ualesi, Matthew Eisenhuth and Luke Fishburn are all work horses who will tackle to the cows come home.
In the front row there is no Jarod Azar who must be injured. They have selected props Josh Neale and Michael Inskip who have been tradesman like so far this season. Their form will have a major bearing on how this game fares.
If Parramatta can hold Wests in the forwards I think their superior backs will have too much razzle dazzle for the Magpies. The Eels by six.
Campbelltown Sports Stadium 1.30 pm
PARRAMATTA EELS
1. Chris Ulugia 2. Stefano Takafa 3. Vai Toutai 4. Trent Jennings 5. Jacob Gagan 6. Jason Whebe 7. Jason Seage 8. MIchael Inskip 9. Troy Errington 10. Josh Neale 11. Joseph Ualesi 12. Matthew Eisenhuth 13. Luke Fishburn © 14. Dean Blackman 16. Cameron Picker 17. Josh Batelibasi 18. James Tuitahi 19. Sione Hehepoto 20. Junior Paulo 21. Jake Lewis 23. Zacc Douglas COACH: Greg Boulous
WESTERN SUBURBS MAGPIES
1. David Nofoaluma 2. Sevao Stowers 3. Ed Murphy 4. Theo Leato 5. James Tedesco 6. Mitchell Brasington 7. David Atuau 8. Matt Groat © 9. Sam Atuau 10. Tim Sloman 11. Tunui Joseph 12. Jessie Sue 13. Inno Inosesio 14. Sebastion Sell 16. Zane Ioane 18. Shane Lalogafua 19. Zac Blackshaw 20. Crete Waka 21. Peter Brown 22. Jordan Tuiavaii 23. Pale Tanumalev 24. Keanu Rogers 25. Ngamanu Winitana 26. Thomas Sauvao COACH: Derek McVey
