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Match Preview

Eels v Broncos: Blaize fills fullback void; Rogers new No.7

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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.

Team Lists

Backs

  • Fullback for Eels is number 1 Blaize Talagi
    Fullback for Broncos is number 1 Reece Walsh
  • Winger for Eels is number 2 Maika Sivo
    Winger for Broncos is number 2 Corey Oates
  • Centre for Eels is number 3 Will Penisini
    Centre for Broncos is number 3 Kotoni Staggs
  • Centre for Eels is number 4 Sean Russell
    Centre for Broncos is number 4 Selwyn Cobbo
  • Winger for Eels is number 5 Bailey Simonsson
    Winger for Broncos is number 5 Deine Mariner
  • Five-Eighth for Eels is number 6 Ethan Sanders
    Five-Eighth for Broncos is number 6 Ezra Mam
  • Halfback for Eels is number 7 Dylan Brown
    Halfback for Broncos is number 7 Josh Rogers

Forwards

  • Prop for Eels is number 8 Reagan Campbell-Gillard
    Prop for Broncos is number 8 Corey Jensen
  • Hooker for Eels is number 9 Joey Lussick
    Hooker for Broncos is number 9 Billy Walters
  • Prop for Eels is number 16 Joe Ofahengaue
    Prop for Broncos is number 10 Payne Haas
  • 2nd Row for Eels is number 11 Shaun Lane
    2nd Row for Broncos is number 11 Brendan Piakura
  • 2nd Row for Eels is number 12 Ryan Matterson
    2nd Row for Broncos is number 12 Jordan Riki
  • Lock for Eels is number 13 J'maine Hopgood
    Lock for Broncos is number 13 Patrick Carrigan

Interchange

  • Interchange for Eels is number 10 Junior Paulo
    Interchange for Broncos is number 14 Tyson Smoothy
  • Interchange for Eels is number 15 Makahesi Makatoa
    Interchange for Broncos is number 15 Xavier Willison
  • Interchange for Eels is number 17 Kelma Tuilagi
    Interchange for Broncos is number 16 Kobe  Hetherington
  • Interchange for Eels is number 22 Brendan Hands
    Interchange for Broncos is number 17 Jack Gosiewski

Reserves

  • Replacement for Eels is number 20 Daejarn Asi
    Replacement 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.

Stats supplied by David Middleton, League Information Services, author of the .

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Acknowledgement of Country

National Rugby League respects and honours the Traditional Custodians of the land and pay our respects to their Elders past, present and future. We acknowledge the stories, traditions and living cultures of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples on the lands we meet, gather and play on.