Squad Breakdown: Parramatta Eels SC roster analysis


<p>Beginning many recent seasons with promise, Parramatta will be out to take their season deeper into September after a promising pre-season.</p>



<p>They are choc full of relevant SuperCoach players, helped largely by a seriously friendly early run of games.</p>



<p>They start the year with games against the Titans, Sharks, Storm, Dragons and Titans.</p>



<p>I really like the Eels style of attack and they finished the 2021 season in really good form, almost beating Penrith in the finals! I think they are a great team to target in the early rounds.</p>



<p>With our predicted teams, for SuperCoach purposes we’ve included any players returning from injury/suspension in the first three rounds in the starting line-up.</p>



<p>This combines both the likely starting teams and best 17s, as initial price changes occur after Round 3.</p>



<p>Let’s take a look at the Eels’ SuperCoach prospects to begin the new season.</p>



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<h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>PREDICTED TEAM</strong></h2>



<p>1. Clint Gutherson 2. Sean Russell 3. Will Penisini 4. Waqa Blake 5. Bailey Simonsson 6. Dylan Brown 7. Mitchell Moses 8. Reagan Campbell-Gillard 9. Reed Mahoney 10. Junior Paulo 11. Ryan Matterson 12. Isaiah Papali’i 13. Nathan Brown</p>



<p>Bench: 14. Ray Stone 15. Marata Niukore 16. Oregon Kaufusi 17. Shaun Lane</p>



<p><strong>Injuries/suspensions:&nbsp;</strong>Marata Niukore (suspension, Round 2), Maika Sivo (knee, mid-season), Haze Dunster (Knee, season)</p>



<p><strong>Analysis:&nbsp;</strong>Pretty straight forward here, the team fairly well picks itself. Dunster’s pre-season injury is a huge blow for the young gun and for SuperCoaches.</p>



<p>That injury opens up a wing role, with Sean Russell a big chance at filling the vacant spot.</p>



<p>Makahesi Makatoa impressed in the front-row in both trials and may sneak onto the bench ahead of Oregon Kaufusi.</p>



<p>Nathan Brown is under an injury cloud but is expected to play the season opener. If he missed, Ryan Matterson would likely shift to lock, with Shaun Lane starting on the edge.</p>



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<h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>GUNS</strong></h2>



<p><strong>Clint Gutherson // $655,300 // FB // 2021 Ave: 74.7</strong></p>



<p>Gutherson didn’t necessary look an option due to the quality at fullback, but with Turbo soexpensive, Lil Papi possibly out of Round 1 and Latrell suspended, suddenly there is an opening.</p>



<p>He faded a little to end 2021, yet King Gutho still averaged 75PPG, had five tons (including 3 in a row) and averaged 87PPG v bottom 8 sides in 2021! And that doesn’t include a 110 &amp; 121 v Newcastle and Gold Coast who were top 8.</p>



<p>He looks like handy cover with an early draw against the Titans, Sharks, Storm, Dragons, Titans and Tigers. Five of six could be decent scoring games the way Parra’s attack looks.</p>



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<p><strong>Isaiah Papali’i // $688,100 // FRF // 2021 Ave: 78.5</strong></p>



<p>Be wary here. Can he replicate last season? It will likely come down to position (edge is better then middle) and minutes. If he can play 80 he could be enormous! A wait a see for me, but he could be an awesome POD.</p>



<p><strong>Reed Mahoney // $594,600 // HOOKER // 2021 Ave: 67.8</strong></p>



<p>Another who is capable of serious scores. Mahoney averaged 83 across the first eight rounds in 2021.</p>



<p>Injury slowed his season, but he could be a massive option to start with. Do you take him over Harry Grant who misses round 1?</p>



<p><strong>Ryan Matterson // $569,300 // 2RF // 2021 Ave: 64.9</strong></p>



<p>I think its all about minutes for Matto. A look a previous years –</p>



<p>2021 – 64.9PPG in 69 minutes</p>



<p>2020 – 75PPG in 76 minutes</p>



<p>2019 – 67PPG in 76 minutes</p>



<p>The question is can he get back to his 2020 form? He is certainly capable and I’m not against anyone that wants to start him.</p>



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<h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>MID-RANGERS</strong></h2>



<p><strong>Mitchell Moses // $511,100 // HB // 2021 Ave: 58.3</strong></p>



<p>While possibly a bit above genuine mid-range pricing, when compared to the likes of Cam Munster and Cody Walker, Moses is pretty cheap.</p>



<p>Mitch could be primed! He started running the footy really well late last year and has an excellent record against lower teams. With the Eels run he is a serious option, especially if Cleary is ruled out early.</p>



<p>For much of the same reasons, halves partner Dylan Brown at $466k is also an option.</p>



<p>He’s coming off a down year averaging just 53 points per game, but the season prior he averaged an impressive 64 per game.</p>



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<h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>CHEAPIES</strong></h2>



<p><strong>Will Penisini // $255,700 // CTW // 2021 Ave: 42</strong></p>



<p>Penisini has plenty of potential in a strong side, and his job security is fairly well assured.</p>



<p>He boasts a strong running game and is classy prospect. His base looks reasonable in the limited sample we’ve seen.</p>



<p>Lock him into your sides at a nice price.</p>



<p><strong>Sean Russell // $285,400 // CTW-FLB // 2021 Ave: 47</strong></p>



<p>Russell isn’t assured of the wing role at the Eels, but he looks the front-runner.</p>



<p>He’s very awkwardly priced, but with the Eels looking impressive during the trials, and Gutho/Moses feeding him, he’ll be hard to ignore.</p>



<p>The fact that he’s playing on the end of a high quality backline and could find bags of tries give him a load of upside.</p>



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<h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>AVOIDS</strong></h2>



<p>I actually don’t have any avoids as far as the major options at the Eels go.</p>



<p>The favourable draw makes it hard to put a line through any options for me.</p>


Squad Breakdown: Parramatta Eels SC roster analysis

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