After emerging from a turbulent 2016 NRL season with many of the same pieces of their low key impressive squad, Parramatta Eels will be looking to cash in this season. While they had a core #KiwiNRL group last season, they have added Suaia Matagi and young NZ Warriors edge forward Marata Niukore to their roster.

Matagi was a beast for Penrith last season and with James Tamou arriving at the Panthers, Matagi headed to the nearby Eels. When Matagi's move to the Eels was announced, I dropped a piece about him linking up with his former Auckland Vulcans comrade Manu Ma'u (they share the same well-told yarn) and it's safe to say that my anticipation for not only seeing Matagi in an Eels jersey this season, but also him taking his game to greater heights along with Ma'u.

Up there as one of - if not the - most impressive 'under the radar' #KiwiNRL forward in the NRL, Ma'u is a dynamic edge forward capable of playing 80 minutes. Those 80 minutes now come fairly easily to Ma'u and along with Matagi's ability to make big metres on limited carries, these two will ensure that not too many teams are able to dominate the Eels through the middle.

Peni Terepo will likely play his part in that as well, although he's working through some issues off the field. Terepo has the size/mobility combination of Jason Taumalolo, he just hasn't quite been able to stack consistent minutes up with the Eels and if he's able to find minutes this season, he could be someone to watch out for.

The arrival of Niukore boosts Parramatta's edge forward stocks and Niukore will probably have to sit behind Ma'u and Levin's Kenny Edwards, waiting for an opportunity. Ma'u never really put a foot wrong on the left edge last season and while he's got a tendency for off-field shenanigans, Edwards' ability to break tackles and offload made him a weapon on the right edge.

Niukore's chances of game time are also restricted by the return of Frank Pritchard. It's a bummer for Niukore, but a Parramatta team with Ma'u, Edwards and Pritchard as an edge forward rotation is going to be fun to watch.

Centre Brad Takairangi will add his own style to Parramatta's right edge as Michael Jennings' speed is the weapon on the left. Takairangi is a lanky centre, who is light on his feet and create via offloads etc.

Bureta Faraimo hails from Wellington and has represented American Samoa, earning a inconsistent minutes on the wing for the Eels in recent seasons. He's always offered bonkers power in his running and while the Eels are well stocked for outside backs, there's a fair chance that Faraimo makes an impression this season.

Keep an eye on Honeti Tuha as well. The winger joined Parramatta at the end of the 2015 season on a train-and-trial contract from Newcastle and has gone on to earn a proper contract. A Mangere East Hawks junior, Tuha made an impression in the lower grades at Newcastle and then in reserve grade last season so look for him to snap at any minor opportunity.