Team List Tuesday vs Broncos - Friday night in Darwin

[Gronk]

 

[King-Gutho94]

Not sure if we have this bizarre Darwin record but history shows our chances of making top 4 are better if we lose.

Since we started playing in Darwin in 2014 every season we have won up there we have failed to make the top 4.

Victories in Darwin in 14, 15, 16, 18, 19 & 21. Didn't make Top 4 in those seasons.

Conversely the 2 years we lost in 2017 & 2022 and the covid year in 2020 where we didn't play up there are the 3 seasons we have made top 4 under BA.

So basically a loss this week lads and we are a certainties to make the top 4.

 

[the phantom menace]

Prediction:

1. Gutherson
2. Sivo
3. Penisini
4. Russell (may swap to wing on gameday)
5. Simonssen (may swap to centre on gameday)
6. Brown
7. Moses
8. Campbell-Gillard
9. Hodgson (probably contractually obliged to name him, but predict Hands will start)
10. Paulo
11. Lane
12. Cartwright (I think we played better when Cartwright starts, and Hopgood comes off the bench)
13. Matterson
14. Hands (starts, but Hodgson to come on from the bench)
15. Hopgood
16. Greig
17. Makatoa
18. Arthur
19. Doorey (could be a chance at a game day bench spot)
20. Dunster
21. Murchie
22. Blake (just for pity / a farewell trip?)

 

[Twizzle]

that looks like an AFL ground

hope it's a cut and paste, don't want Simonssen back

 

[emjaycee]

that looks like an AFL ground

hope it's a cut and paste, don't want Simonssen back

Absolutely is an AFL ground and the distance from the fence to the field is nearly as much as the SCG.
Really hard place to watch the game from if you like seeing what you're looking at.

 

[emjaycee]

Prediction:

1. Gutherson
2. Sivo
3. Penisini
4. Russell (may swap to wing on gameday)
5. Simonssen (may swap to centre on gameday)
6. Brown
7. Moses
8. Campbell-Gillard
9. Hodgson (probably contractually obliged to name him, but predict Hands will start)
10. Paulo
11. Lane
12. Cartwright (I think we played better when Cartwright starts, and Hopgood comes off the bench)
13. Matterson
14. Hands (starts, but Hodgson to come on from the bench)
15. Hopgood
16. Greig
17. Makatoa
18. Arthur
19. Doorey (could be a chance at a game day bench spot)
20. Dunster
21. Murchie
22. Blake (just for pity / a farewell trip?)

BA made it clear in the post-game presser that Hodgson will start. As he said, Hands is a 4 game rookie so not quite ready to unseat a 200+ game veteran just yet.

I reckon Simonsson is named and starts in the centres, that was his spot before suspension. Russell won't make the cut. I reckon BA has more faith in Dunster to come good although I am ok with either option.

 

[Noise]

I was also thinking Simonsson to centre but Russell to wing and Dunster dropped.

 

[yy_cheng]

BA made it clear in the post-game presser that Hodgson will start. As he said, Hands is a 4 game rookie so not quite ready to unseat a 200+ game veteran just yet.

I reckon Simonsson is named and starts in the centres, that was his spot before suspension. Russell won't make the cut. I reckon BA has more faith in Dunster to come good although I am ok with either option.

i was a little disappointed with Russell. He looked really lost out there. He showed more on the wing when he did play there.

Dunster was good the latter part of the year before he got injured. But does he have his confidence back fully?

I really would like to see Cini get a run so maybe in a few more weeks.

 

[eels_fan]

Dunster has been massively underwhelming (understandably however). He just isn’t ready for first grade yet.

if Russell makes way for Simonssen with Dunster staying put, we’ve lost the plot…

 

[yy_cheng]

Dunster has been massively underwhelming (understandably however). He just isn’t ready for first grade yet.

if Russell makes way for Simonssen with Dunster staying put, we’ve lost the plot…

Yeah, I prefer to have

4. Simmonssen
5. Russell

If only if Marata was still around.

Anyone think that Waqa will make a comeback?

 

[Gronk]

Anyone think that Waqa will make a comeback?

That's up to him, amirite ?

He's like a old dino Ferrari. Looks good but costs a fortune and will probably run like a tractor most days now.

Nobody can say that he does not have the talent and it is not his body that is holding him back.

 

[Noise]

Yeah, I prefer to have

4. Simmonssen
5. Russell

If only if Marata was still around.

Anyone think that Waqa will make a comeback?

Not this week. And hopefully not at all.

 

[King-Gutho94]

Anyone think that Waqa will make a comeback?

Yeah for Western Force in the Yawnion.

 

[Incorrect]

Just read the SMH article about our short turnaround and prep for this game. I'll be giving Jake Arthur a lot of leeway with his performance in NSW Cup this week. Apparently the poor bugger will be getting the last plane out of Darwin Friday night back to Sydney before then flying over to Auckland for this weekends NSW Cup game... Not much of a preparation for the baby giraffe....

 

[golfer]

Yeah, I prefer to have

4. Simmonssen
5. Russell

If only if Marata was still around.

Anyone think that Waqa will make a comeback?

I think Waqa only played the first half on Sunday and seemed to have a hand injury, so I doubt he will go.

 

[the phantom menace]

BA made it clear in the post-game presser that Hodgson will start. As he said, Hands is a 4 game rookie so not quite ready to unseat a 200+ game veteran just yet.

Fair enough, but BA can change his mind right up to an hour before kick-off... and against the comp leaders it might be worth not telegraphing our moves. Post 'flu and in the heat I'd be tempted to throw on Hodgson at the 20min mark this week (when our first choice middles start to come off), just to change things up.

I reckon Simonsson is named and starts in the centres, that was his spot before suspension. Russell won't make the cut. I reckon BA has more faith in Dunster to come good although I am ok with either option.

Interesting take re Dunster v Russell. I'm also ok with either and was just thinking of the high ball scenario.

 

[King-Gutho94]

Just read the SMH article about our short turnaround and prep for this game. I'll be giving Jake Arthur a lot of leeway with his performance in NSW Cup this week. Apparently the poor bugger will be getting the last plane out of Darwin Friday night back to Sydney before then flying over to Auckland for this weekends NSW Cup game... Not much of a preparation for the baby giraffe....

Well going off Sunday's performance the NSW Cup team look like they all had done the red-eye last friday night out of Darwin and had to play last Sunday.

 

[Suitman]

Absolutely is an AFL ground and the distance from the fence to the field is nearly as much as the SCG.
Really hard place to watch the game from if you like seeing what you're looking at.

View attachment 72799

Wouldn't this stadium be better? Territory Rugby League Stadium. Capacity 10 000.
Probably not enough corporate facilities.

 

[emjaycee]

Wouldn't this stadium be better? Territory Rugby League Stadium. Capacity 10 000.
Probably not enough corporate facilities.

View attachment 72803

View attachment 72804

That one is just across from TIO but I think the issue is NRL standard lighting doesnt exist there and the capacity is a lot smaller.

The corporate factilities at TIO are very sparse actually. From memory there are two or three corporate 'boxes' and a single bar area in the stand and the Eels corporate business trip attendees get to stand on a balcony in the north western corner and get served beers from an esky.



And like I mentioned, the view from the stands leaves you a distance from the field of play.

 

[hineyrulz]

Absolutely is an AFL ground and the distance from the fence to the field is nearly as much as the SCG.
Really hard place to watch the game from if you like seeing what you're looking at.

View attachment 72799

It could always be worse, you could be watching AFL.