2022 NRL Grand Final: Parramatta Eels Squad Breakdown
September 27, 2022
One of the most highly-anticipated Grand Finals of the NRL era will ignite on Sunday night between Western Sydney rivals Penrith and Parramatta. Both sides have endured vastly different journeys to get to where they are now: on the cusp of premiership immortality. Here is Parramatta’s 22-man Grand Final squad and a breakdown of how they got here.
1. Clint Gutherson (c) | 161 games for Parramatta
Parramatta’s co-captain and stalwart at the back, Gutherson hails from Sydney’s northern beaches and played his juniors for the Cromer Kingfishers. He debuted with the Sea Eagles in 2013 and made the switch to Parramatta at the start of 2016. Now 28, he has overcome early-career injury issues to represent his state and skipper the blue-and-golds to a Grand Final. Gutherson and co-captain Junior Paulo will look to join Steve Edge and Ray Price as the only men to skipper Parramatta to premiership glory.
2. Maika Sivo | 82 games for Parramatta
A native of Nadi, Fiji, Sivo burst onto the scene for Parramatta in 2019 and has scored 67 tries in just 82 matches. A late bloomer, he played bush footy out in Gundagai before working his way into the NRL. Sivo, who turns 29 next Monday, is set for an emotional Grand Final week reunion with parents Joeli and Mere who will make a mad dash to Sydney to see their boy for the first time in three years.
3. Will Penisini | 32 games for Parramatta
Cashing in expectation-shattering young guns is always a factor when it comes to building premiership contenders and, at just 20, Penisini fits that bill superbly. A Parramatta junior, Penisini spent his juniors at the Rouse Hill Rhinos before entering the Eels system at 14. An accomplished union player at The King’s School, he chose to pursue rugby league professionally and made his international debut for Tonga in June.
4. Bailey Simonsson | 19 games for Parramatta
The son of former-All Black Paul, Simonsson was born in Sydney and spent time in the Canberra and Canterbury pathways systems before representing the New Zealand rugby-sevens as a 20-year-old. He signed back with the Raiders ahead of the 2019 season and made his NRL debut that same year. He spent three seasons under Ricky Stuart in Canberra before linking up with the Eels prior to this season. He is one of only two Parramatta players to have played in a Grand Final.
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5. Waqa Blake | 69 games for Parramatta
Born in Lautoka, Fiji, Blake moved to Sydney as nine-year-old where he played juniors with the Brighton Seagulls before settling in Perth and spending time with the Joondalup Giants. Whilst a member of the West Coast Pirates S.G. Ball side, he caught the eye of Penrith scouts and made his NRL debut with the Panthers in 2015. He made the move to Parramatta midway through the 2019 season and has appeared in 69 games since.
6. Dylan Brown | 81 games for Parramatta
Brown hails from Whangārei in northern New Zealand and played his juniors with the Hikurangi Stags before linking up with the Eels as a 15-year-old. He made his NRL debut in 2019 and his international debut for the Kiwis earlier this year. He looks to join the legendary Brett Kenny as the only five-eighths in Parramatta history to win a Grand Final.
7. Mitchell Moses | 130 games for Parramatta
Born in Ryde, Moses played his juniors in the Balmain district for the Holy Cross Rhinos and the Carlingford Cougars. The nephew of Balmain great Benny Elias, Moses played his first junior representative fixtures with Parramatta before linking up with the Wests Tigers who he made his NRL debut for in 2014. Midway through 2017, he made a highly-publicised switch back to the Eels before making his international debut for Lebanon at the World Cup later that year. He looks to join Peter Sterling as the only number sevens in Eels history to taste premiership glory.
8. Reagan Campbell-Gillard | 68 games for Parramatta
Another former-Panther, Campbell-Gillard grew up in Mount Druitt and played his juniors for the Rooty Hill Dragons and Windsor Wolves before entering the Panthers system as a teenager. He debuted for the club in 2015 before joining the Eels ahead of the 2020 season. He has represented Australia and Fiji internationally and made his return to the Origin arena this year after a four-year absence.
9. Reed Mahoney | 100 games for Parramatta
Mahoney hails from Nambour on the Sunshine Coast and played his juniors with the Kawana Dolphins and Beerwah Bulldogs. He moved to Sydney to play S.G. Ball with Canterbury before the Eels snapped him up as a 19-year-old. He made his NRL debut with Parramatta in 2018 and played his 100th game for the club in their preliminary final win over North Queensland. He is set to play his final game for the Eels on Sunday after agreeing to a four-year deal with Canterbury from next season-onwards.
10. Junior Paulo (c) | 147 games for Parramatta
Born in Auckland to Sāmoan parents, Paulo moved to Western Sydney at a young age and played his juniors for the Cabramatta Two Blues before joining the Eels as a teenager. He debuted for the club in 2013 before defecting to the Raiders midway through the 2016 season. He returned to the Eels ahead of the 2019 season and was named co-captain prior to this season. He and Gutherson look to become just the third and fourth players in Parramatta history to captain the club to premiership success.
11. Shaun Lane | 98 games for Parramatta
A rangy edge forward, Lane grew up in Sydney and played his juniors with the South Eastern Seagulls in Malabar. He progressed through the junior ranks in Canterbury before making his debut with the club in 2013. He made his way to the Eels in 2019 after stints with the Warriors and Sea Eagles. His durability has been invaluable for Parramatta; the 27-year-old has appeared in 98 of a potential 101 games throughout his time at Parramatta.
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12. Isaiah Papali’i | 52 games for Parramatta
Hailing from West Auckland, Papali’i played his juniors with the Te Atatū Roosters and was an accomplished union player at Mount Albert Grammar. He came through the junior ranks with the Warriors and made his NRL debut in 2017. The Eels threw him a lifeline ahead of the 2021 season and he rewarded them with a pair of superb seasons having been named in the NRL’s Team of the Year last season. He has played for New Zealand and Sāmoa internationally.
13. Ryan Matterson | 58 games for Parramatta
The nephew of Broncos great Terry, Matterson was born in Greenacre and played his juniors with the Wentworthville Magpies and Bankstown Bulls before coming through the Eels system where he captained their under-20s side in 2014. He signed with the Roosters in 2016 and debuted for them on ANZAC Day that year. After coming off the bench in the Roosters’ 2018 Grand Final win, he linked up with the Wests Tigers before making a much-maligned switch to Parramatta the following year.
14. Nathan Brown | 108 games for Parramatta
Having not made an appearance for the Eels since early-July, Brown has been named to make a shock return off the interchange on Sunday night. Brown was born in Fairfield and spent his juniors with the Cabramatta Two Blues and Five Dock RSL before joining the Wests Tigers where he won an under-20s premiership in 2012. He played his first and only NRL game with the Wests Tigers in 2013 before joining the Rabbitohs in 2015 and eventually the Eels in 2017 where he would make his international debut for Italy and Origin debut for the Blues.
15. Jakob Arthur | 20 games for Parramatta
The son of head coach Brad, Arthur played his juniors with the Rouse Hill Rhinos and transitioned into the Eels system as a teenager. He made his NRL debut for the club last year and has played 13 games this season. They look to become the first father-son duo in club history to bring a premiership to Parramatta.
16. Oregon Kaufusi | 71 games for Parramatta
Born in Auckland and raised in Sydney, Kaufusi played his juniors for Wentworthville United before entering Parramatta’s pathways system. He debuted for the club in 2018 and has appeared in every game this season. He will hope to make his international debut for Sāmoa at the World Cup later this year before linking up with the Sharks on a three-year deal in 2023.
17. Marata Niukore | 95 games for Parramatta
Born in South Auckland, Niukore played his juniors with the Māngere East Hawks and came through the Warriors system before being scouted by Parramatta. He debuted with the club in 2018 and has represented the Cook Islands and New Zealand internationally. He will return home next season to play with the Warriors on a four-year deal.
18. Bryce Cartwright | 29 games for Parramatta
The nephew of Panthers great John, Cartwright was born in Penrith and played his juniors with the St. Mary’s Saints before entering the Panthers system where he played in the under-20s Grand Final in 2013. He made his NRL debut for Penrith in 2014 and spent four years with the club before taking up a deal with the Titans and eventually joining the Eels in 2021.
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19. Makahesi Makatoa | 29 games for Parramatta
A native of New Plymouth on the west coast of the North Island of New Zealand, Makatoa played his juniors with the Marist Dragons before linking up with the Bulldogs under-20s side in 2013. After labouring in the lower grades for several years, he spent a year with Championship side Featherstone before returning to Sydney to play with the Eels’ NSW Cup side. At age 28, he finally made his NRL debut with Parramatta six years after making his international debut with the Cook Islands.
20. Tom Opacic | 40 games for Parramatta
Born in Redcliffe, Opacic played his juniors with the Redcliffe Dolphins before being scouted by the Broncos where he played under-20s and made his NRL debut with the club in 2016. After three seasons with the Broncos and two with the Cowboys, he linked up with the Eels. He missed last week’s preliminary finals win with a hamstring injury and remains an outside chance to play this Sunday.
21. Ofahiki Ogden | 2 games for Parramatta
Born in South Auckland to Tongan parents, Ogden played his juniors with the Māngere East Hawks. He made his NRL debut with the Bulldogs in 2018 and spent four seasons there before linking up with Parramatta over the summer. His preseason was marred by legal issues and he has spent much of the year playing for Parramatta’s NSW Cup side.
22. Ky Rodwell | 5 games for Parramatta
Hailing from Bombala in south-eastern NSW, Rodwell played his juniors for the Bombala Blue Heelers before being spotted by the Rabbitohs as a 16-year-old. He made the move to Parramatta at the start of 2021 and made his NRL debut later that year against Penrith. He had an especially strong year in NSW Cup this season with the Eels and has appeared in four top-flight games.
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