Welcome to my first post under the banner of “Off The Cumberland Fence”.

After putting a couple of articles under my belt, the first on the departure of Gutho, and the second about the jersey release, future columns will feature my takes on a variety of topics.

Let’s face it, there never a shortage of topics to write about. Even now, in late November, Rugby League continues to prove that it’s the gift that keeps on giving by dominating sports headlines

Since the end of the season in early October, there has been a never-ending news cycle of player movement, international football, rugby league romance, off season scandals (thankfully not for our players), jersey releases and now the 2025 season draw. The off season has never felt shorter for diehard league fans.

So… just like kids writing their letters to Santa, let’s tear open the draw, look what’s inside, and create our own wish list by circling some notable games that cannot be missed.

The 2025 Season Draw

The only way to properly assess the draw is to narrow your eyes, squinting to protect against the sun, grimace slightly and give the schedule a stern Clint Eastwood style once over. In that vein, let’s break it all down in a way that would make ‘The Man with No Name’ proud.

Let’s take a good look at the draw together…

The Good

• With the Tigers and Panthers both bringing their home games against Parramatta to Commbank Stadium, the Eels will play 13 of their 24 games in Parradise in 2025. This is despite taking their round 6 home game against Canberra to Darwin (more on this later)
• Parra have seemingly got a reasonable start to the season, with most games appearing winnable across the first 3 months of the season. These include two games against the Tigers at Commbank, as well as home games against Canterbury, Saints, Canberra, the Dolphins and Manly.
• Our Magic Round game will be played on a fresh Suncorp Stadium in the first Friday night kick-off this year. In five previous Magic Round games, Parra have played the Storm (twice), the Warriors, Easts and the Titans for only a single win against the Warriors in 2021. By contrast, we feel like a reasonable chance against Cronulla in 2025.
• Vegas is back baby! Although Parramatta won’t be playing in Vegas next season, it’s great to see the game’s US expansion back for a second year. 2025 will see a beefed up schedule with two NRL games, a UK Super League game and a women’s international featuring the Jillaroos. I was fortunate enough to attend the 2024 event and will also be in attendance in 2025. There’s something surreal about walking up the Vegas strip and seeing a sea of footy jerseys. It’s understandable to wait for Parra to feature in a future season before flying over for the game but I would strongly recommend people making the pilgrimage at some stage if you have the means to do so… It’s worth it.

The Bad

• The round 6 game against Canberra in Darwin. The dreaded NT home game where we give up our significant home ground advantage in front of crowds where support can often be mixed at best. The only thing stopping this from being in the ‘ugly’ category are two things; 1) This is finally the last game of the Eels NT agreement and 2) For the first time in a few years they are not playing a Queensland team in a climate that always appears hotter than the face of the sun. There are few things as sweet as Ricky Stuart’s tears and these were in abundance during the week as he complained about his side’s ‘unfair’ treatment with their upcoming scheduling. Good luck going from 3 degrees Celsius in chilly Queanbeyan to 34 degrees and 100% humidity in the Top End, Sticky!

The Ugly

• The round one game against Melbourne, in Melbourne. The draw has clearly been manufactured to provide as many rivalry games as possible. Examples of this in round one include Jason Ryles coaching against his old mentor (Craig Bellamy) and Wayne Bennett returning to Suncorp to take on the Dolphins. The unfortunate part of this is that Coach Ryles now has the unenviable task of trying to snap Melbourne’s 22 year, round one unbeaten streak on their home turf. Full credit to our Coach during the week, he said all the right things and seems to be relishing the opportunity to launch his first grade coaching career against one of the greatest to have ever done it.

Five Key Games Not To Be Missed

Please note that I am only going to call out five notable games, however my expectation of any reader of the Cumberland Throw is that you are almost certainly going to watch all games on either TV or at the game, with a fairly large percentage of these games being watched at the stadium. Clearly all games are important in the NRL but given my fingers would start to cramp if I tried to preview all 24 games, I will try and pick five which jumped out to me.

* Round 1 vs Melbourne in Melbourne (Sunday 2pm)

I can understand the scepticism of this game being included in the list. After all, the boys are going up against one of the competition heavyweights on their home patch with a 22 year, undefeated round one streak behind them. But… you’ve just got to believe. After a full off season, we will finally get to see what Jason Ryles’s new look side looks like on the park and what better test?

* Round 5 vs St George at Commbank (Saturday 2pm)

In previous years, a Saturday arvo against the Dragons in April wouldn’t have been likely to get the blood pumping. This year is different though. In blue and gold we will have Parramatta’s superstar new signing, Zac Lomax, competing against his old club and launching high above the pack to catch Moses bomb after Moses bomb. There will be a tinge of sadness though when we see the King run out on our home field in the unfamiliar colours of red and white. I am sure the Parramatta faithful will respond accordingly and give a tremendous servant of the club the ovation he deserves. Here’s hoping for a Lomax hat trick, a great game from King Gutho and a comfortable Parramatta win.

* Round 7 against Wests Tigers at Commbank (Easter Monday 4pm)

Every year the Easter Monday game is a personal favourite of mine. This will undoubtedly be played in front of a packed house of two massive Sydney supporter bases. This game has always had its share of fluctuating results and incredible excitement. Memorable games have included the opening of Commbank Stadium in 2019 with Mitchell Moses running riot in a 51-6 demolition job, and the scarcely believable 2022 one-point win for Wests, with Jackson Hastings kicking an unlikely field goal from seemingly 65 metres out to steal a win for the lowly Tigers. With plenty of player movement from both sides in the off season, I wouldn’t expect this game to be any different.

Moses scores the opening try at BankWest/CommBank Stadium

* Round 12 against Manly at Commbank (Friday 8pm)

Any game against Manly is a must watch game in my mind. This logic could also apply to rivalry games against Canterbury, Penrith and the Tigers as well, but to me, there is nothing sweeter than beating those dirty Silvertails when they have to cross the Spit Bridge and venture out to the golden west.

* Round 27 against Newcastle at Commbank (Sunday 4pm)

I can hear a few cries of scepticism from the Peanut Gallery but just hear me out! Why should people get excited about the last round of the season against Newcastle on a Sunday afternoon? Well here’s why… this will be the game where Parramatta wrap up the JJ Giltinan Shield for Minor Premiers of 2025. Make sense now? Of course it does! I’m looking forward to seeing a packed house at home celebrating Parramatta’s first minor premiership since 2005. HEAR ‘EM SHOUTING… PARRA… CHH CHH CHH…PARRA…CHH CHH CHH… Ohhhh GOOD OL PARRA TO WIN!!!

See you out there in 2025!

Chris Ricketts

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