Heads roll after the side’s last start 32-point loss to the Panthers.
Parramatta Eels coach Ricky Stuart has put the cleaners through his side ahead of their clash against the North Queensland Cowboys, with five changes made.
Two of those omissions are due to injuries to Tim Mannah (broken leg) and Jacob Loko (knee) while the rest are due to poor form.
Stuart could not stand by and watch his team’s NRL title aspirations take another hit, after their embarrassing 44-12 loss to the Penrith Panthers last weekend.
Ben Smith, Ben Roberts, Cheyse Blair all felt the selection axe as they were dropped to NSW Cup in favour of Api Pewhairangi, Kaysa Pritchard and Peni Terepo who will all make their first grade debuts this weekend.
Despite flashes of brilliance in the first half against the Panthers from Chris Sandow and Jarryd Hayne, the Eels were never in the hunt.
They let in seven second-half tries, including soft efforts which allowed the Panthers to score from more than 70 metres out.
The Eels sit second last in the competition and will have a tough task in adding to their win column, with the Cowboys, Brisbane, St George and the Titans all before them in the next month.
The Cowboys have named a relatively unchanged side with Dallas Johnson (concussion/illness) and Ashton Sims, who was 18th man on the weekend, returning to an extended side.
EELS: Jarryd Hayne (capt), Ken Sio, Ryan Morgan, Api Pewhairangi, Vai Toutai, Luke Kelly, Chris Sandow, Mitch Allgood, Matt Keating, Fuifui Moimoi, Reni Maitua (capt), Kelepi Tanginoa, Joseph Paulo. Interchange: Kaysa Pritchard, Darcy Lussick, Peni Terepo, Matthew Ryan.
COWBOYS: Matthew Bowen, Ashley Graham, Brent Tate, Kane Linnett, Kalifa Faifai Loa, Johnathan Thurston (capt), Michael Morgan, Matt Scott (capt), Rory Kostjasyn, James Tamou, Tariq Sims, Glenn Hall, Dallas Johnson. Interchange: Ray Thompson, Gavin Cooper, Scott Bolton, Joel Riethmuller, Ashton Sims, Jason Taumalolo (two to be omitted).
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