The Eels have welcomed back two big-name stars and made a shock move regarding a teenage star, but there’s no excuses for Parramatta now.
The Dragons next generation of talent will be on full show in Round 13, with Shane Flanagan forced into mass changes.
Meanwhile, three new players will get their first taste of NRL action for the Panthers and Cowboys.
Read below for the big talking points out of the Round 13 Team Lists!
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Tallis reveals wild Origin conspiracy | 01:55
BIG EELS INS… AND BARRETT’S SHOCK TALAGI MOVE
The Eelshave no excuses moving forward, with superstar halfback Mitchell Moses and skipper Clint Gutherson returning to the side in Round 13.
Prior to his sacking, Brad Arthur mentioned several times his side had been hampered by losing Moses, who is Parramatta’s most important player.
So now with him back wearing the No.7 jersey, there’s nowhere to hide and the Eels have a chance to turn their season around starting with a win against the Sharks who have lost Nicho Hynes and Cameron McInnesto Origin duty.
Moses, 29, was a likely NSW Blues player had his injury not kept him sidelined past Round 12.
His side have slumped to 15th place on the competition ladder, winning only a single game against the Cowboys in his absence.
However, some of their defeats have been troublesome, conceding 41 points to the Raiders and 44 to the Dolphins.
Outside of Moses’ return, Gutherson has reclaimed his No.1 jersey amid what was shaping to be a big headache.
Teenager Blaize Talagi has been the club’s in-form player since taking over at fullback, and many questioned why you’d ever move him.
Barrett made it clear that both players had a place in the 17 when speaking to media following Arthur’s axing.
“Moving forward you’d like to see us fit both in our team and we will be a better side with both of them there, but that’s not for me to worry about today,” he said.
He’s done just that, but instead of keeping both in the run-on team, Talagi will play off the bench.
It’s a big call as the Eels face a fight to keep the talented local product. According to Fox League’s James Hooper, Parramatta tabled a three-year deal well in excess of $1 million but Shane Flanagan and the Dragons are coming hard for him.
With Gutherson having battled knee problems, which eventually required surgery, there’s an argument to decrease his workload and move him to the centres.
However, his leadership is crucial for the Eels. So why not shift Talagi into the centres? He scored a try on debut in the position, and Parramatta look a better team when he’s got the ball in his hands.
Talagi also has a big contract decision to make, and will decide his future this season after turning down an option in his favour to stay at the Eels in 2025.
Parramatta to create coaching shortlist | 02:23
ORIGIN, INJURIES FORCE FLANNO TO TURN TO DRAGONS’ NEXT GEN
Dragons coach Shane Flanagan has had to make mass changes to his side off the back of Origin call-ups and fresh injuries.
But the silver lining is the club’s next generation of players – who have been banging on the door of an opportunity – will finally get unleashed.
Particularly the Couchman twins – Toby and Ryan – who have been named on the bench after Luciano Leilua and Raymond Faitala-Mariner were promoted to the starting side.
The 20-year-old twins have arguably been the two most consistent players in New South Wales Cup this year.
Toby, who has played prop and lock, has been averaging 161 running metres and 33 tackles per game at an impressive efficiency of 98 per cent. He’s coming off his most dominant performance too having notched up 210 metres – 108 post-contact – and 33 tackles with zero misses in Round 12.
Ryan, who has switched between second row and prop this season, has been averaging 145 running metres and 32 tackles per game with an efficiency of 96.7 per cent. He’s also coming off his most dominant performance of the season in which he punched out 80 minutes upfront and finished with 211 metres – 106 post-contact – as well as 44 tackles with just one miss.
Also getting an opportunity this week is 22-year-old Sione Finau, who will replace Zac Lomax on the wing.
He scored a hat-trick and ran over 200 metres in NSW Cup last week and will now have the important first crack at replacing Lomax long-term when he leaves at season’s end to join the Eels.
The Couchmans aren’t the only brothers in the Dragons’ line-up this week with the Feagai twins also being named for their first NRL appearance of the season.
Mat has been named on the wing, with Mikaele Ravalawa dropping to the reserves. It’s a great reward for the 23-year-old, who has had to spend majority of this season playing fullback in NSW Cup out of necessity.
Max replaces the injured Jack Bird in the centres after scoring a try and setting up two more in NSW Cup last weekend.
Meanwhile, late-bloomer Jesse Marschke will fulfil the role he was recruited to the club for – in the halves. The 26-year-old played three NRL games earlier this year but one was at hooker and two were off the bench. He plays his best footy in the halves and will get a chance to show what he can really do while donning Ben Hunt’s No.7 jersey.
Marschke has two tries and nine try assists in seven NSW Cup games this season. He’s also been averaging just under 100 running metres per game.
Walsh explains special bond with Slater | 09:45
PAYTEN’S SHOCK TAUMALOLO MOVE
Jason Taumalolo’s still couldn’t win the No.13 jersey, despite Cowboys co-captain Reuben Cotter being away on Origin duties.
With a heavily depleted Cowboys team, missing six Origin stars, travelling to Sydney to take on a strong Roosters outfit, coach Todd Payten has opted to keep the former Dally M Medallist on the bench, with Tom Mikaele replacing Cotter at lock.
There’s been no secret about Taumalolo’s injury struggles this season, with his minutes managed throughout this season due to “some degenerative cartilage in his knee,” as Payten explained after his side’s Round 3 win over the Dragons.
Across 12 appearances this season, the 2015 Premiership winner is averaging 38 minutes per game, just over 10 minutes fewer than last season and 16 minutes less per game than in 2022.
Yet, knee issues aside, many would’ve expected the 264-game veteran to at least be his side’s second choice lock forward, a position he made his own for the Cowboys in the past.
Of course, in the modern NRL bench forwards are often used in a similar way to starters. However, Taumalolo’s minutes this season suggest Round 13 will be a continuation of his decreased involvement, which could significantly hinder his side against a Sydney Roosters pack containing Terrell May and Jared Waerea-Hargreaves.
Given another three years remain on the mammoth 10-year deal the forward signed in 2017, it begs the question — Can the Cowboys sustain paying upwards of $1 million for their third choice lock?
Dogs dirty over Burton’s unavailability | 05:18
THE DEBUTANTS
The Panthers have been forced into mass changes this week with five stars thrust into the Origin arena.
Isaah Yeo, Jarome Luai, Liam Martin, Brian To’o and Dylan Edwards all will play for the Blues, meaning Ivan Cleary had to dip deep into his squad to fill the gaps.
The Panthers have nurtured countless stars to the top level, and two more get their chance to showcase their skills in Preston Riki and Trent Toelau.
Toelau has been the club’s NSW Cup halfback in recent weeks and was this year upgraded from a train-and-trial deal to a full-time contract.
Toelau previously told foxsports.com.au he’s been soaking in every piece of information he can from Nathan Cleary, and who better to learn from.
“He’s obviously the best number seven going around in the world,” Toelau said.“Just watching him every day, you pick up little things that he does before games, after games, recovery. You can’t be behind a better number seven at the moment.”
Toelau came through the Melbourne Storm system and won the club’s Jersey Flegg Player of the Year in 2019. He then made the move to Newtown and ultimately St Mary’s in the Penrith competition.
He’s impressed since arriving at the Panthers, and has won the utility spot over players like Soni Luke and Luke Sommerton who have featured in the past.
Riki, 26,has been another who has impressed in recent years, being handed a contract upgrade for the 2024 season earlier this season.
He was also extended until the end of 2025, having made the move to Penrith in 2022 after three seasons in the Warriors NSW Cup side and one for Redcliffe in Queensland Cup.
Whilst in New Zealand, he was awarded the club’s Jersey Flegg Player of the Year award in 2018.
He’s since gone on to play 41 games for the Panthers reserve grade outfit, scoring 12 tries.
Riki has also represented the Maori All Stars in 2023, and now gets a chance to showcase his skills on the big stage.
For the Cowboys, young forward Jamal Shibasaki has been named to make his NRL debut. Shibasaki, whose brother Gehamat plays for the Rabbitohs, is capable of playing on an edge or through the middle.
Cowboys coach Todd Payten praised the young forward as having a “great football understanding in terms of having a natural awareness of where to be and what to do.”
Shibasaki, who was the 2023 Mal Meninga Cup’s (the QLD under-18s comp) Player of the Year, has shown his try-scoring knack across 10 Queensland cup appearances this season.
His seven tries place him equal fourth on the competition’s try scoring standings after 11 rounds.
Yet, his goal line threat tells half the story. In Queensland Cup this season, the younger Shibasaki averages 83 running metres, with a season high of 151, while boasting an impressive tackle efficiency of 90.9%.
In Payten’s eyes, Shibasaki could “potentially be a long-term first graders for us.”