EELS A REAL SMOKY FOR 2016 FINALS
2015 was another year to forget for Parramatta but don’t let the disappointing campaign fool you. This was their first season without Jarryd Hayne and will be so much better for it going into 2016. They’ve also signed Manly superstar Kieran Foran to help run the show with Corey Norman. Here is a possible Parramatta line-up: Michael Gordon, Semi Radradra, Will Hopoate*, Brad Takairangi, John Folau, Corey Norman, Kieran Foran, Tim Mannah, Nathan Peats, Danny Wicks, Anthony Watmough, Beau Scott, Tepai Moeroa. Bench: Manu Ma’u, Pauli Pauli, Isaac De Gois, Junior Paulo.

 
INTERNATIONAL FOOTY ALIVE AND WELL
Congratulations to England who have beaten New Zealand in their three test series 2-1 with victory on the weekend. The Kiwis were missing some of their biggest names but you can only beat who is in front of you and the English did just that and will only be stronger when Sam and George Burgess rejoin the squad. It is a very interesting time for the international game with the Kangaroos preparing for a transition period after three consecutive losses to the Kiwis who are ranked number one in the world.

 
MUNDINE RUNNING OUT OF HEADLINES
Former St. George star and boxing champion Anthony Mundine has thrown out a few shockers in his time but nothing quite beats this. Mundine recently said Johnathan Thurston was “like him but way slower”. Let’s set it straight. Mundine was a prodigious talent on the football field and could win you a game on his day with his natural flair. But Thurston brings so much more and his overall repertoire dwarfs Mundine’s talent. If you were picking your footy team, I wonder how many would have ‘Choc’ ahead of JT.

 
PANTHERS HAVE SOME TOUGH CALLS TO MAKE
A few questions here for Panthers fans. Is Peter Wallace/Jamie Soward still your best halves pairing? Is Dallin Watene-Zelezniak wasted on the wing? Should Matt Moylan play five-eight? If Moylan is shifted to the halves, who gets the punt, Soward or Wallace? An intriguing situation coming up for new coach Anthony Griffin who has already sacked Wallace once when they were both at the Brisbane Broncos. There’s no doubt Moylan and DWZ and young guns Nathan Cleary and Te Maire Martin are the future so where’s that leave old heads Soward and Wallace?

 
JAMAICA’S WORLD CUP DREAM
Rugby league minnows Jamaica are using gofundme.com to help them in preparation for their World Cup 2017 qualifiers in Florida in December. The Jamaicans play the USA on the 4th of December and Canada on the 8th. All monies raised will go toward travel costs for the fledging nation. You can help by donating here: gofundme.com/ucaezkjg.

 
HODGES STRAIGHT INTO TV
Congratulations to newly-retired legend Justin Hodges who has been announced as one of the hosts for NITV’s new show League Naton Live beginning in February. The show will run for 32 weeks throughout the NRL season.

@woodward_curtis