2011 NRL Previews - Parramatta and Penrith

Except for my favourite club, Manly and the NRL getting into a petty slanging match about the comparative punishments of Brett Stewart compared with those of Todd Carney and Benji Marshall following their respective preseason ‘atrocities’, today was relatively quiet on the rugby league front. I’m not going to write much about the Manly-league stoush, except to say Manly are wrong to chip headquarters. Look after your own backyard, boys. Carney is alleged to have been .002 over the limit of a full licence holder and has told that he will be gone for good if he slips up again. Benji has been accused of bopping some drunken muppet in the mouth after a tasteless, race-based tirade.

Those alleged offences are not in the same ballpark as what Stewart was accused – and acquitted - of.

Manly have already claimed they want to be the most hated team in the comp and paraded their players in front of slick cars last week to prove it. Sooking about stuff that should be dead-and-buried might help the mighty maroon-and-whites get the hatred they crave, but it doesn’t do the team or the club any good.

All the clubs officially named their round one sides today, except for the Show Ponies South Sydney, who unveiled their team last week. Here are all the squads for the first weekend of the long-awaited 2011 season.

Today, I look at two clubs from the game’s western Sydney heartland – two sides that are fierce rivals and boast proud histories. However, I fear the most these sides – Parramatta and Penrith – can hope for this season is local bragging rights.

Parramatta Eels

Home Ground: Parramatta Stadium

Coach: Stephen Kearney

Premierships: 4 (1981, 1982, 1983, 1986)

2010 finish: 11^th

First five rounds: Warriors (a), Panthers (h), Rabbitohs (h), Cowboys (h), Storm (a)

IN: Brad Murray, 20, halfback (Sydney Roosters), Carl Webb, 29, prop (North Queensland Cowboys), Casey McGuire, 30, hooker (Catalans Dragons - Super League), Chris Hicks, 33, wing (Warrington Wolves - Super League), Chris Walker, 30, centre/wing (Catalans Dragons - Super League), Eni Folau, 18, centre/wing (Easts Tigers - Queensland Cup), Jordan Atkins, 27, wing (Gold Coast Titans), Paki Afu, 20, prop (Canterbury-Bankstown), Paul Whatuira, 29, centre (Huddersfield Giants - Super League), Reni Maitua, 28, back row (Suspension).

OUT: Nathan Cayless (Retired), Eric Grothe (Retired), Feleti Mateo (Warriors), Krisnan Inu (Warriors), Kris Keating (Canterbury-Bankstown), Jonathan Wright (Canterbury-Bankstown), Timana Tahu (Released).

Why they can win it: Jarryd Hayne. Daniel Mortimer, if he can recover from his crippling case of second year syndrome. Looked the team to beat before a ball was kicked last year, but were disappointing. 2011 is the year to atone.

Why they can’t: Look at their recruitment – it looks like a 2005 NRL reunion show! Most of the players the Eels have brought in were at one stage gun, or at the least very good, NRL players. Now, the Eels camp resembles a place where NRL careers come to die.

Prediction: 9th

Penrith Panthers

Home Ground: Centrebet Stadium

Coach: Matthew Elliott

Premierships: 2 (1991, 2002)

2010 finish: 2nd

First five rounds: Knights (h), Eels (h), Sharks (h), Broncos (a), Raiders (h)

IN: Arana Taumata, 21, five-eighth (North Queensland Cowboys), Coedi Towney, 19, fullback (The Entrance - Bundaberg Red Cup), Dayne Weston, 24, back row/prop (North Queensland Cowboys), Michael Worrincy, 24, back row (Bradford Bulls - Super League), Nafe Seluini, 20, utility (Warriors), Brendon Gibb, 22, back row (Norths Devils - Queensland Cup), Junior Paulo, 27, prop (St George Illawarra), Tim Winitana, 23, centre (Canterbury-Bankstown), Yileen Gordon, 23, centre/back row (Canterbury-Bankstown).

OUT: Wade Graham (Cronulla), Frank Pritchard (Canterbury-Bankstown), Gavin Cooper (North Queensland Cowboys), Josh Bateman (North Queensland Cowboys), Maurice Blair (Melbourne Storm), Daniel Penese (St George Illawarra).

Why they can win it: Penrith will be keen to prove last year’s second-placed finish wasn’t a flash in the pan. Lachlan Coote and Michael Jennings are dynamic. Petero Civoniceva remains the biggest, baddest bopper in the game. Luke Walsh has a decent kicking game.

Why they can’t: Frank Puletua’s defection has robbed them of a potential match-winner. They were brutally exposed at the end of 2010 when they went out of the play-offs in straight sets. Many, many people have written them off after attracting a bunch of cast-offs, head cases and plodders for the new season. I concur.

Prediction: 15th