Rugby League: Eels face battle to get out of mire

By PETER JESSUP

The Parramatta Eels will come to Auckland with replacement centres and a utility at five-eighth, and those are the positions where the Warriors will have to apply pressure at Ericsson on Sunday.

The Eels, who have not won in five games, will be without Kiwi centre David Vaealiki and Kangaroo prop Michael Vella, who are both suspended.

Adam Dykes has a shoulder injury after the loss to the Sharks on Sunday and Michael Buettner shifts infield, with rookie Willie Tonga named to start at right centre.

The Eels have been unsettled by the opening of the transfer market. Several of their players have been forced to look elsewhere because the club could not keep all of them under the salary cap. Like Brisbane, Parramatta have been a victim of their own success.

Halfback Andrew McFadden and lock Andrew Ryan continue to tout their wares, but the Warriors have backed away from Ryan because of his asking price.

Fullback Adam Mogg is said to be about to sign with Canberra, and the Raiders yesterday announced the signing of Eels hooker Brad Drew, 26, on a three-year deal. He will leave Parra after one season, claiming he needs revitalisation.

Eels second-rower Ian Hindmarsh will also play out of the Australian capital - capital the word for their shift.

By comparison, the Warriors are settled and look to have recuperated somewhat after the week off for a bye.

Back from injury are Logan Swann (ribs), Richard Villasanti (concussion), and Lance Hohaia (leg).

The only change is at wing, where Vince Anderson gets a start. The 23-year-old did enough in a bench run against the Sharks, particularly on defence, to take Henry Fa'afili's spot.

Curiously, the last game played by both of Sunday's teams was against the Cronulla Sharks, the Warriors losing 36-24 at Cronulla and the Eels downed 25-24 on their own ground.

On that basis the Warriors would have to be favourites - it's the old story, turn up to play and they should win.



Meanwhile, the Kumuls yesterday cancelled their planned one-test visit to New Zealand, which was to have been the build-up for the locals a week out from the one-off test against Australia.

Papua New Guinea officials gave no clues to the reason, but it was obviously a combination of poor management and financial constraint.

The New Zealand Rugby League is looking to keep the ground booking and arrange other opposition.

Warriors: Ivan Cleary, Vince Anderson, John Carlaw, Clinton Toopi, Justin Murphy, Lance Hohaia, Stacey Jones (capt), Jerry Seuseu, P. J. Marsh, Mark Tookey, Ali Lauiti'iti, Awen Guttenbeil, Kevin Campion; interchange: Brent Webb, Justin Morgan, Richard Villasanti, Logan Swann.

Eels: Adam Mogg, Scott Donald, Willie Tonga, Luke Burt, Pat Richards, Michael Buettner, Andrew McFadden, Nathan Cayless (capt), Brad Drew, Daniel Heckenberg, Nathan Hindmarsh, Ian Hindmarsh, Daniel Wagon; interchange: Andrew Meads, Daniel Irvine, Andrew Ryan, David Solomona.