What a win! It’s hard to believe the team that went out and dominated Manly on Friday night is the same side that started the season like the starter’s gun had been aimed at their right foot when it fired. The forwards were powerful, the youth movement is reaping rewards and that it was all done with the two best players in the squad out on Origin duty has me quietly nodding along thinking Jason Ryles might have this coaching thing figured out after all.

The Sea Eagles weren’t great with the ball, but some of that absolutely has to be credited to the Parramatta defence. Manly certainly didn’t beat themselves, completing at 87% and holding a slight majority of possession, but the Eels repelled several key attacking raids and adjusted well down a makeshift right edge that was targeted successfully in the first half. Just quietly, the Eels have conceded 12 points per game over the last three and haven’t given up more than 28 since the Darwin incident at the start of April. Maybe things are turning around.

 

Beating, nay, dominating Manly at home, there is no bad about that. It’s a shame the noise around contract sagas immediately overtook the discourse, but that’s rugby league. For my two cents, I think a player that sooked his way out of a contract by disrespecting his coach and an administrator who couldn’t lie straight in bed deserve each other. Mitchell Moses is good enough that we should be able to go with a solid, affordable option at five eighth and spend in positions of real need; the middle and edge.

 

It’s not often that those who step into the shoes of Mitchell Moses can light up the stage, but Dean Hawkins had an absolute blinder in relief this week. Four try assists, a controlling performance and solid in defence, the Origin period suddenly doesn’t look so intimidating if Hawkins will be playing like this. You da man, Dean.

 

 

 

One of several in the side to put on their best performance in first grade, Iongi had a monster workrate, some deft attacking touches, showed off his own running game for a try and most impressively made a couple of big tackles as the last line of defence. He was basically mistake free, too. Rookie of the year rumblings are starting, but you know Iongi has truly arrived as the backtracking “maybe the Eels were right letting Gutho go for this kid” articles started trickling out. I miss the King, but Iongi has delivered everything we hoped for and then some.

---

The action was on the other side of the field this week, but the Fox was still solid under the high ball and worked hard in his limited opportunities. The club taking up his option for next year was an absolute no-brainer move, on and off field he is huge for the club.

---

Tough night for Will to both get knocked out and to miss such a great win. Hope he’s okay.

---

Russell continues to be Mr. Reliable filling in across the backline, juggled between wing and centre as needed and improving in both roles. He even slotted five of six off the tee, which might be the most pleasing aspect of all.

---

That try might have looked as graceful as a giraffe tying its shoelacess with its teeth, but it required plenty of awareness and acrobatics from Jordan Samrani to get the ball down. His future might not be out wide, but knowing Samrani can slot into the backline mid-game if needed should finally stop my recurring nightmares of Izack Tago versus Kelma Tuilagi.

---

I can be a lot more forgiving of Dylan being Dylan when the junior half he defers to plays like Dean Hawkins did. To be fair to Brown, he prioritised his playmaking, tallying his lowest total metres for the year, and delivered what the team required. His defence was absolutely sensational as well, especially lined up against a beast like Olakau’atu.

---

Career night for Footy Dean, with four try assists that ran the gamut of skills; a precise snap kick, one of the most beautiful “from the knees” passes you’ll ever see and hitting Jack Williams running a superb line off his shoulder. His kicking game was top notch and the side played with a level of control rarely seen this season. I couldn’t be happier for him to shine on the big stage like this, and a well deserved maximum grade.

---

Jason Ryles may have played some tricky buggers with his team naming, but Jack Williams simply has to be on the right edge for the rest of the year. That line run for his try was absolutely sensational, seeing a defender shooting up and angling perfectly behind him. He’s making huge metres, playing big minutes and taking a giant chunk of my heart every week.

---

Good service, huge defensive numbers and being a kicker’s worst nightmare each and every set, it is very easy to forget Ryley Smith hasn’t cracked a dozen first grade games yet. The only thing I might have in common with an NRL first grade coach is that we both love this kid.

---

200+ metres for Paulo from 63 huge minutes of football, Junior made a big impact in his 250th first grade game. The only thing that could have made it better would be a 45 metre field goal, but Junior chose discretion over valour and didn’t join the illustrious ranks of front row field goal kickers.

---

Another big attacking burst for Moretti with nobody there to follow him. One day the support will be there for you mate, one day. Moretti is shining in every role we have for him, whether it be starter taking the sting out of the game or bench impact weapon. He’s one of my favourite stories of 2025.

---

I was still wiping yolk off of my forehead from last week when Kitione Kautoga lined up another dozen eggs and fired them straight at my beak. I hope he didn’t pick them up from the club kitchen, they are so expensive now they might class as a lavish gift and need to come off the cap. Kautoga’s realised how big and strong he is and is dominating defenders accordingly, and the defensive lapses haven’t been seen for a couple of weeks now. Just goes to show that writing off players after five games is for guys who write about football, not guys who coach football.

---

This was likely Hopgood’s best game of the year, with a huge defensive workload and no missed tackles, along with being in the right spot for the crazy deflection try that iced the game. Still a couple of errors, all the more noticeable when the team is otherwise so clean, but he’s finding his spot in the Ryles system.

---

The long break was a highlight, but one of the big difference makers this season is the playmaking dimension Dylan Walker adds to the middle of the field. He’s another option that needs to be closely watched, and we’ll see plenty more clean breaks if defenders have to keep so many variables in the back of their mind.

---

Good impact stint for Kelma as well, who I feel far more comfortable with in short bursts than as an 80 minute player. Hard runs, no errors in defence, nothing to complain about.

---

What a debut for Joash, who was thrust into action probably an hour before he expected but thrived in a position he hasn’t played any football in all season long. His enthusiasm and effort areas were incredible, leading to being up with the play to score an opportunistic try and set up another. Then there was the try-saver in the corner, an effort Eels fans just haven’t seen too often in recent years. He looks every bit the special talent we were promised, and good luck to Jason Ryles finding a way to keep him involved for the rest of the year, because he very clearly deserves the chance.

---

Matto is looking solid as our middle option off the bench, making no mistakes, running hard and not overplaying his hand. For a guy on the outs he’s certainly playing pretty decent footy.

---

What a win, an unexpected surprise in what was shaping to be a tough month of footy ahead. The continued collapse of Penrith and the ups and downs of the Bulldogs have certainly put wins in play over the next two weeks, and if we play like this every week then I’d be backing us for the upsets in both.

In a turbulent season, wins like this are to be cherished. That this one came against one of our great rivals makes it all the sweeter. 2025 may have started poorly, but even if finals football isn’t on the cards this year there is still plenty to be gained for the Blue and Gold. At the rate they are improving, this rebuild won’t be taking very long at all.

Until next time, stay slippery, Eels fans.

Gol

Stats and images provided by NRL / Eels media