Junior Reps Preview: Finals week two

Author: Brielle Sciacca
Timestamp: Thu 20 Apr 2023, 02:18 PM

The SG Ball Raiders side will be going into their first finals game on Saturday against the Parramatta Eels at Leichhardt Oval in Sydney.

The Raiders have had a two-week break going into the final after finishing first on the ladder, which coach Peter Marrapodi said was good for the team.

“Normally you wouldn’t like two weeks off before a prelim final, but it is almost what we needed,” Marrapodi said.

“We kind of limped into the finals rather than charged into the finals so it gives us a chance to get a couple of players back from injury as well.”

The Raiders only lost one game the entire regular season, leaving them on equal points with the Penrith Panthers.

Marrapodi put the winning ways down to the efforts that his team put in week in and week out.

“It’s the effort that I get really proud of and they have been working really hard for that,” said Marrapodi.

“But as they said at training last night, it’ all just a warmup for this time of year. This is the time of year that you want to be part of.”

The Raiders team has had two changes to the side since their last game with Elvis Nauer-Wood and Siamani Leuluai coming into the side to replace Atini Tuialii and Eddie Tiaina.

The last time the teams met in the regular season was back in round six, with the Raiders beating the Eels 42-18 on that occasion.

The Eels defeated the Western Suburbs Magpies in the first week of finals 18-10 to move into the semi final this weekend.

Parramatta have had one change since last week’s win with Samuel Squire coming in for Raffaele De Stradis.

The winner of the game will face the winner of the other semi-final which is between the Panthers and the Knights.

The clash will kick off at 5.45pm and their game will be live streamed from the NSWRL Facebook page.

Semi Final - Semi Final - Saturday 22 Apr

Full Time

Raiders

Eels

Team Lists

Backs

Fullback for Raiders is number 21 Chevy Stewart

Fullback for Eels is number 1 Te Hurinui Twidle
Winger for Raiders is number 1 Samuel Gash

Winger for Eels is number 2 Devonte Vaivela
Centre for Raiders is number 3 Jacob Iosefa

Centre for Eels is number 3 Richard Penisini
Centre for Raiders is number 4 Siamani Leuluai

Centre for Eels is number 4 Blaize Talagi
Winger for Raiders is number 5 Ryan Woolley

Winger for Eels is number 5 Mohamed Alameddine
Five-Eighth for Raiders is number 6 Jalen Afamasaga

Five-Eighth for Eels is number 6 Joshua Lynn
Halfback for Raiders is number 7 Keahn Skipps

Halfback for Eels is number 7 Ethan Sanders

Forwards

Prop for Raiders is number 8 Jake Clydsdale

Prop for Eels is number 8 Lance Fualema
Hooker for Raiders is number 9 Owen Pattie

Hooker for Eels is number 9 Matthew Arthur
Prop for Raiders is number 20 Elvis Nauer-Wood

Prop for Eels is number 15 Sam Tuivaiti
2nd Row for Raiders is number 11 Joseph Roddy

2nd Row for Eels is number 11 Domenico De Stradis
2nd Row for Raiders is number 12 Jaxon Lavender

2nd Row for Eels is number 13 Charlie Guymer
Lock for Raiders is number 13 Owen Hromow

Lock for Eels is number 10 Saxon Pryke

Interchange

Interchange for Raiders is number 10 Taulauniuotagaloa Mariota

Interchange for Eels is number 12 William Lewis
Interchange for Raiders is number 14 Ethan Alaia

Interchange for Eels is number 14 Sebastian Piukala
Interchange for Raiders is number 15 Jack Anderson

Interchange for Eels is number 16 Patrick Spence
Interchange for Raiders is number 18 Tahrell Feaveai

Interchange for Eels is number 18 Samuel Squire