Sixties has been doing a typically excellent job keeping us all informed of the happenings out of Kellyville in one of the most important preseasons for club in a long, long time. Amidst all of his reports has been the presence of a class of rookies that ripped into Jason Ryles’ preseason program with gusto. With NRL trials just around the corner, now is the perfect time to look at the players who have progressed through the pathways at the Parrmatta Eels and what 2025 holds for them.

Note; While I expect that Joash Papalii and Jordan Samrani are very strong contenders to make their NRL debuts this year, I will be focusing on players that were in Parramatta programs in 2024.

With a whopping 13 rookies or prospects to profile, this will be a two-part endeavour that splits forwards and backs. In light of that today we start in the engine room as we look at young men in the forward pack.

Brock Parker – Lock/Prop

Readers of TCT (and listeners of The Tip Sheet) will already know that Brock Parker was a highly consistent performer for the Eels last year in the NSW Cup. With good size and a big motor, Parker is an industrious worker around the ruck. That reflected in his Cup number where he averaged an impressive 28.2 tackles per game at an equally impressive 93.6% efficiency. Offensively he was solid, averaging 82m a game from a tick under 9 runs a game with a roughly 50/50 split between games as a starter and playing from the bench.

Realistically he is buried deep down on the depth charts at the club but he is still set to be a valuable contributor to the Cup in 2025. Interestingly though, there is a reasonable argument that Brock is the sort of player that profiles well for the Melbourne Storm. Over the years players like Josh King, Alec MacDonald, Tim Glasby and Tom Eisenhuth have carved out niches at the perennial contender on the basis of being tough, hard-working and consistently doing their job solidly.

Given Jason Ryles’ strong ties to the very same franchise, it isn’t a big stretch to consider that he would value such traits. It certainly doesn’t put Parker immediately into the frame for the NRL but perhaps he could just be the right guy at the right place and time at some point in the future should opportunity come knocking.

Jezaiah Funa-Iuta – Edge

The youngest forward on this list, Jezaiah has been an impressive participant in the 2024/25 preseason in spite of his eligibility for SG Ball this year. This comes as little surprise mind you given that Funa-Iuta has put stellar results on the board across the Harold Matthews, SG Ball and the Jersey Flegg in the space of just two years. His athletic profile is excellent but equally importantly he plays with the intent and aggression you want to see from someone who checks all the physical boxes for a modern edge forward.

I obviously have big wraps on Jezaiah as a prospect but the big question for mine is what grades will he play for the Eels in 2025? He was recently announced as part of the SG Ball squad and would be massive boon to their title push but given his success in the Jersey Flegg last year there is a strong argument to start him in that grade and perhaps even push for more from there.

He is definitely a name to jot down in the little black book though and I am tipping him to don the sky blue for NSW in the Under 19s Origin this year.

Ryley Smith – Dummy-Half

Nothing says you mean business like breaking a preseason record held by Clinton Gutherson and on that basis Ryley Smith is all business. As detailed by Sixties recently on The Tip Sheet, Smith toppled the King’s record in the Bronco Test (1.2KM shuttle run) by an impressive 8 seconds to cap what has been an outstanding preseason for the young dummy-half. Elite fitness is certainly not a guarantee that any player will cut it in the NRL but it does show that Smith is driven and has determination and mental fortitude in spades. Certainly not a bad foundation to work from.

Smith has also impressed on the field since being acquired from the Penrith Panthers a little over a year ago. Playing the majority of his minutes in the Jersey Flegg in 2024, Smith was a tireless presence around the ruck. His elite fitness levels allowed him to shoulder heavy workloads in defence while staying tidy and efficient through his offensive duties. While I wouldn’t categorise him as a dynamic attacking threat, he consistently kept his team on time and on schedule which is exactly what you want from your dummy-half.

Those efforts saw Ryley rewarded with three caps in the NSW Cup where he also acquitted himself well. Easily the pick of his efforts was a cracking solo try against the Newcastle Knights in Round 17 where he scored from 30m out after punishing some lax marker work.

As it stands, Smith will be splitting the ruck responsibilities in the Cup with Joey Lussick but the opportunity to climb the NRL depth charts is ripe for the taking. Brendan Hands is undisputedly the #1 dummy-half at the club but a strong 2025 could see Ryley stake a claim to be his deputy.

Sam Tuivaiti – Prop

It feels unfair to label a year in which he earned NSW Under 19s selection (for the second year running, no less) as only decent but that is my honest evaluation on Sam Tuivaiti’s 2024 season. Truth be told though, it is a reflection of the esteem in which I hold this young bookend that the mantle of expectation weighs so heavy.

Tuivaiti has been a class above in the Junior Representatives. From his debut in his junior year of Harold Matthews eligibility right through to starring as a starting prop in the 2023 SG Ball premiership winning side – again in his junior year of eligibility for the grade. Last year, a season in which he fully skipped SG Ball for the Jersey Flegg, he was in no way poor…it was just the first time he had not been utterly dominant.

Which is why I am tipping him for a massive 2025.

Armed with all the physical tools you want in a modern prop, Sam is every bit the offensive weapon you would expect from a dynamic young bookend. He consistently wins at the point of contact and is surprisingly light on his feet considering he stands at 191cm and weighs in at 118kg. With that said, there are plenty of young props across the code that shine with the ball in hand. What has always impressed me with Sam is the aggression in defence. There is venom in how he hits. A real thumper.

As said at the top of this article, it is going to be a tough proposition for any young forward to crack the grade at the Eels this year – there are just so many senior players competing for spots. Even so, Sam Tuivaiti has the frame, the skills and the temperament to put himself in the conversation for a debut at some point this year. Before that however, he will need to force his way into a highly contested NSW Cup squad and put the numbers on the board.

Saxon Pryke – Lock

One of the games move overt trends in recent seasons has been the transition towards smaller lock forwards. With an emphasis on speed and agility around the ruck alongside a strong work rate, it has become both an in demand and demanding position. The Eels are already very well served in the role with J’maine Hopgood, Luca Moretti and Charlie Guymer inside their Top 30 but Saxon Pryke gives them another young development prospect in the pipeline.

The rugged backrower has been a standout for the club through the Harold Matthews and SG Ball care of his aggressive and uncompromising style through the middle.

Now entering his final year of Jersey Flegg eligibility, Pryke has the chance to build on the lessons from 2024 – a season where he earned 7 caps in the NSW Cup. His mandate this year will to be dominate at Flegg level and force his way into that competitive Cup line-up.

Toni Mataele – Prop/Edge

Some truly horrid injury luck dogged Toni Mataele in 2024 and quite literally hamstrung his ability to make a push for his maiden NRL cap. I have written about Toni in similar preseason articles and everything posted back then stands true.

Mataele has the size and power to make it to the NRL for the Eels but now he needs a bit of good luck with injuries – especially given how competitive the Cup squad will be. Last year he looked to be transitioning from edge to middle but his ability to cover both roles does give him a leg up when it comes to staking a claim in the team against his peers.

Will Latu – Edge

Like Brock Parker earlier on this list, Will Latu was a very consistent presence for the Eels in 2024. Whereas Parker did his work in the Cup, Latu got stuck into the Jersey Flegg while also dipping his toes in reserve grade across 5 caps. Now graduated from the Flegg, the well-rounded backrower finds himself as part of the mad and wildly competitive scramble for a berth in the Cup team.

Winning a place for Round 1 will be a tough ask but certainly not impossible for Will. Again, Like Parker has already shown, he is the sort of player that can add value to reserve grade if the opportunity comes his way.

The universal laws of form, injury and suspension should see him get a look-in at some point in 2025 and when that chance comes he won’t let the Eels down.

That wraps up the forwards. Stand by for Part 2, the backs, coming soon.

Forty20

If you liked this article, you might consider supporting The Cumberland Throw.