While I may have my holidays mixed up, this Easter I’m going to be thankful for a week of off-field insanity that has left me with zero room to focus on the performance of the Parramatta Eels. Last week was yet another embarrassment in a chain of them running back far too long to recall without drifting into deep depression. Luckily the Tigers imploded and we might be getting their young star half as a result, so let’s focus on the good things.
All of the speculation about the next big thing has taken some of the gloss off the return of the Eels’ current big thing, Mitchell Moses. Is he being rushed back to save a dying season? Perhaps, but given the attacking struggles of the Eels his return will be a sight for sore eyes come 4PM. Between that and another clear out of underperforming forwards that saw one step aside from football and the other flee the country, Parramatta fans can dare to hope for change on Easter Monday.
This is one of those games that will be decided on intangibles, on how our opponents react to a week of turmoil. The result could be anything, so let’s try and break it down as best we can. On with the preview!
Game Info
Date: Monday, April 21, 2025
Venue: CommBank Stadium, Parramatta
Kick-off: 4:00PM AEST
Referee: Liam Kennedy
Bunker: Adam Gee
Weather: Warm, slight chance of rain
Broadcast: Fox League, Kayo
Sixties Speculates (Odds quoted are NSW TAB)
The longer this week has gone on, the shorter the Eels odds have become.
After starting the week at around $3 for the win, the Eels are now approaching even money, with the latest market offering $2.15 with a line at +2.5 points.
There’s been the circus around Lachlan Galvin’s decision to leave the club at the end of 2026, followed by the return of Mitch Moses. Can the Tigers stay focussed? Will Mitch Moses make that much difference?
Where Moses might make a huge difference will be in creating space for Isaiah Iongi. Consequently, I’m going to tip him as an anytime try scorer, which is currently offering $2.50.
But as always, keep it fun.
Happy, responsible punting everyone.
Sixties
Teams
Parramatta Eels
1. Isaiah Iongi 2. Josh Addo-Carr 3. Will Penisini 4. Sean Russell 5. Bailey Simonsson 6. Dylan Brown 7. Mitchell Moses 8. Jack Williams 9. Ryley Smith 10. Junior Paulo 11. Kelma Tuilagi 12. Gideon Kautoga 13. J’maine Hopgood. 14. Dylan Walker 15. Luca Moretti 16. Matt Doorey 17. Sam Tuivaiti 18. Ryan Matterson 19. Joash Papalii.
Mitchell Moses is of course the big in this week, returning a couple of weeks ahead of schedule or a week behind it depending on which medical report from the club you chose to put the most faith in. It’s a good result regardless, as we desperately need him in the side. Dean Hawkins has done a solid job in relief, but he’s no Mitch.
In the pack Joe Ofahengaue was dropped and subsequently released to English Super League, while Shaun Lane was dropped and has stepped away from the game for personal reasons. Jack Williams returns from injury to take a spot in the front row, where we’d better see more shoulder and less arm grabbing in his on line defence. Kelma Tuilagi gets a recall in the back row, and while I’m not ready to forgive him just yet, I’m sure a big effort here could change my mind. On the bench, Ryan Matterson’s one week cameo is done, with Matt Doorey returning in his stead.
Wests Tigers
1. Jahream Bula 2. Sunia Turuva 3. Brent Naden 4. Starford Toa 5. Luke Laulilii 6. Jarome Luai 7. Adam Doueihi 8. Terrell May 9. Apisai Koroisau 10. Fonua Pole 11. Samuela Fainu 12. Alex Seyfarth 13. Alex Twal. 14. Tallyn Da Silva 15. Royce Hunt 16. Jack Bird 17. Sione Fainu. 18. Tony Sukkar 19. Heath Mason.
We’ve all heard enough about the Lachlan Galvin situation, so I’ll just say that the Tigers dropping a half who has had several ripper games against the Eels is a good result for us. Adam Doueihi has himself challenged the Eels a few times, but that is mostly with his boot rather than his playmaking. Brent Naden and Luke Laulilii come in for Doueihi and the injured Jeral Skelton. No other changes to the Tigers side that beat the struggling Knights last weekend.
Breathing Life
Welcome back, Mitch
The Eels have been a brutal combination of inept in attack and incompetent in defence for most of 2025, but the return of Mitchell Moses should at least spark the side with the ball in hand. Moses does offer some improvement in defence, and the combinations that trained through the pre-season together might actually come together for the first time this year which can only help things. It is the improved long and short kicking games that will be the biggest difference maker, reducing the amount of good field position the Eels need to defend while hopefully providing more points from our own good ball. It should also remove the predictability of many of the Parramatta pet plays; hitting back rowers short or sort of digging into the line then flinging the ball out wide to an easily marked half or centre. Moses will be a running threat as well, though more about picking his moments than through sheer volume like his halves partner.
The other hope is that taking the weight off the shoulders of Dylan Brown will free him up to play some football. He’s allegedly got a good combination with Isaiah Iongi if pre-season work is to be believed, but up until this point we’ve barely seen it. Moses should also be able to link better with the fullback, unlocking what will hopefully be a legitimate third option in the spine much like Clint Gutherson was for so many years. A better Brown, a controlling Moses and a more confident side should lead to much better results in attack, and given the only team worse with the ball this year is a Knights side that has scored exactly one try before the 70th minute in the last month of football, that will be a much needed improvement.
Trouble in Tiger Town
Seriously, welcome back buddy
While a week like the one the Tigers have just had can go both ways, I unfortunately expect the playing group to be fairly fired up for this one. Galvin didn’t appear to have too many friends in the side, especially among the new recruits that are driving the change in culture at the club. What that culture is changing to may be questionable, but right now the group is being told to put their money where their mouth is, and I think Turuva, Luai, May and co. will stand up and be counted here
In saying that, it isn’t like Jarome Luai is having a huge year. One try assist, no tries, a lot of missed tackles and now a coup against his junior halves partner. He might be bringing energy and belief to this side, but he isn’t bringing a lot of attack. Galvin’s numbers left him for dead, and while Doueihi can probably match those running metres, he’s still a centre with a kicking game more than a half.
Sadly for the Eels, the Tigers won’t need to be on point with the ball to find weakness. If the Parramatta forwards can’t commit to contact and really match this Tigers pack, it will be another long day at the office for them. So many weak tries have been conceded around the ruck, so much arm grabbing and back pedalling when defending the line. Nobody has showered themselves in glory this year, and every starter needs to lift in this one. Kautoga and Tuilagi have left their outside defenders high and dry plenty of times, both need an injection of energy into their defence and need to find the desire to cover from the inside when under fatigue.
The Game
No, I really mean it. Welcome back.
I just want to see us compete here. If the Tigers are fired up then I want the Eels to match them, play like they give a damn instead of this meek submission we’ve seen time and again this year. There are patches of commitment, sure, but where is that from the start? Does this team want to win? Arm grabs and lazy defence in the opening ten minutes suggests they don’t care enough, or aren’t good enough, or both.
We’ve gone full blown rebuild now, with a pack that would be lucky to have two players crack the starting side of most teams. There isn’t a lot of talent left knocking on the door behind this lot, so they stand up or this long year stretches out even further. I’m hopeful of a good effort and a Tigers collapse, but I ain’t tipping it. Given I’m tipping sub-50% this year maybe that’s a good thing for our chances, but unfortunately there has been one constant in this topsy-turvy season: the Eels are not good. Maybe Mitchell Moses changes that, and I expect improvement, but we’ve a long way to go to become even a half-competitive side.
On that delightful note, go you Eels!
Prediction: Tigers 28 d Eels 16
Man of the Match: Terrell May
Gol
Well I understand your pessimism but today things will be different. The Tigers will come out hard and fast to prove they don’t need Galvin. With Mitch back – the boys will be fired up for a big win. Mitch will be directing the attack and defence. Bring Dylan Walker on early and it will be a master class. Parra 32 Tigers 12.
I agree tigers will try to come out hard and fast like other teams have as we leak soft tries in the middle early in last games. I think Mitch will make the forwards work a lot harder too with his ability to steer them and direct them.
Campbell-Gillard, Mahoney, Kaufusi, Stone, Papaliii, Nikore, Offahangouie ,, Itoikamanu – it’s not that we haven’t had access to elite forwards. We need to understand why our retention has been so poor.
Ofahengaue been average, Kaufusi, Nikore and Papalii big losses, even RCG not so much
We kept old players and let go of the younger ones, we went for instant gratification over delayed gratification.
The forwards we got left with only maybe 1-2 of them would get a game at any other nrl club unfortunately.
Very poor roster management, but it looks like we’ve improved going off our new recruitment decisions, so far all of them have been consistently our best players, in both cup & NRL.
So I think the coaches have done good with the signings so far for what was available. No duds thus far.
A pretty accurate preview Gol. Moses return must surely improve us. It’s a simple game. Catch, pass and defend with effort for 80 minutes. Is that to much to ask. I feel up about this one.
I agree with your statements regarding full rebuild comments. The issue is partly that (as has happened for a few years now) senior players, and several long term eels only choose to turn up when they feel like it.
This is partly due to age. But also the culture that’s developed. You could turn up every second or third game before and you kept your position. We had a culture & reputation known NRL wide as being probably the most inconsistent side in the nrl, nobody could understand how we were able to beat Storm or panthers then lose to bottom placed sides the following game.
I think that we either go out there today looking like a completely different side, and pile on pressure and points against the tigers.
Or we just go out there and quit if guys like paulo have 2 runs in the first half and that’s no platform laid down.
Our 1-7 is now strong enough to hold us competitive, I feel the variable is that if our forwards “don’t show up” we get flogged.
My only optimism on all the senior players “turning up” is Moses will verbally attack them demanding them where to go and what to do.
Moses yells and screams at his forwards at times like a cattle dog directing the cattle.
I think with how inconsistent and sometimes lazy our forwards have been Moses barking at them might be the difference.
But if paulo comes out and has 2 runs again or even 4, we will stand absolutely no chance. If your props don’t make hit ups you can win literally Zero NRL games.
Muz, sure we have kept some forwards too long, but we are forgetting the fans demanded certain ones, who were hunted by the dolphins, be retained and they negotiated four or five years. Then the game changed. Someone mentioned Kaufusi who had potato hands with limted minutes off the bench. Ryles is doing what he can to unwind those blokes and some have gone. We still want that old experience to help the younger ones coming through. I won’t use the word patience but clearing out old wood takes a little time otherwise it descends into chaos. We have new systems in place and missing key players with injury. For third successive year starting the season with suspensions and injuries. The fortunes that comes with football luck has deserted us in many ways. The clock keeps ticking and always comes back around and so our time is in motion, we are just not yet there before it again becomes our time.
Zero we’ve definitely been given poor injury & suspensions luck 3 seasons running to kick start each season.
But once Ryles gets all the forward pack revamped and refreshed we should look a lot better. Our guys who are paid to be starters (many) are stuck in cup, off for a break, or just left for cup.
While teams we face have all their highest paid forwards starting or sitting on the bench, we have a big disadvantage most weeks in this regard, but no doubt Ryles & co are working hard to fix this.
Just left for super league * lol
Moses can certainly take some pressure off with his kicking game. This will help our attack and defence.
Our forward pack is weak to say the least. Dylan Walker needs to come on early, and Paulo needs to step up and take some more runs. Jack Williams should also help.
Surly our players want this win. Like they must want to win so badly. They need to find that passion, or drive. If we find that then this game is definitely one we can win.
I often watch Parramatta play and wonder if they have a sports psychologist, to help players find that passion, drive ect…?
Great read Gol
I look forward to an improved effort. Darwin is at last behind us.
Mitch might just be the tonic the Dr ordered.
I know it wasn’t at the same ground but NSW Cup Eels 22 defeated West’s 10. That’s good news. This is something we have needed for a long time. A successful reserve grade team that can be a conveyor belt towards first grade.
The worst kick chase in the comp by some way. You give teams broken space and confidence on kick returns they speed up ruck and we fold like cards
This has to be dumbest pair of second rowers in the comp. Katonga is so so dumb.
Agree mate please no more
Fortunately for us, toss agreed like milk!
😀
Great great win!
It is clear that playing in Darwin was so
draining that players came to dread going up there, so that we were beaten before we started. Against opponents gorr whom the experience was freshh and a one off
The West’s match + Luka Moretti and Sean Russell had their best games for the club; each has developed into a valuable first grader.
Addo Cart and ,Somondsen look likely to develop into one of our best ever wing pairings.
Moses one point two million, Brown one point three + somebody’d crazy.