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The TCT Watch Party precluded any real chance of an extended reaction podcast so Sixties and Forty20 have reconvened with the chance to sleep on the epic victory and share fresh thoughts on the win. Additionally, they review a painful loss to the Newcastle Knights in the NRLW where the Eels were left to rue a raft of botched second half opportunities.
I’m gonna share an alternative / bold statement here:
We probably haven’t seen / had any fullbacks at parramatta since Hayne run the ball back and make defenders grasp at thin air like Joash Papalii’s first kick return at fullback.
Joash Papalii (and I also thought this before he played a single eels game yet) is probably the most talented young player on the parramatta roster.
He might even be more talented than a young Dylan brown. The difference is brown was larger and hit his prime / developed very early and probably stopped progressing 2-3 seasons ago. He peaked early.
Joash hasn’t got the physicality or size of Dylan so I can’t see him hitting first grade and having all parts of the game sorted ( eg defence, or physicality) like Dylan did very quickly coming up into first grade.
What Joash offers is an elite level of talent where he can run the ball something like a young Ben Barber, or young Hayne, and you can tell he just has that natural ability and footwork you just cannot teach.
Joash is not a yardage & huge gas tank fullback like Iongi, but he is actually more talented. If Joash stays healthy and keeps progressing he will be one of parramatta eels best players inside 3-5 seasons.
I’m personally of the belief Joash might end up a star and that Joash may just need one mor season of back up first grade duties Mixed in with NSW cup.
Look at how well Iongi is doing. He had a very extensive NSW cup career. He WAS NOT rushed into first grade. I think Joash will be elite in 2-3 seasons. But like Iongi playing cup for a bit longer, Joash will end up a better player in the long run by having his career progression and timing managed in a non rushed way.
Iongi could even end up at 5/8. I’m a fan of him at fullback. But if Joash ends up progressing at an even better rate than Iongi. Ryles will be forced to consider adjustments. Both Iongi + Joash are not only elite “eels” these are both top 1% caliber players for their respective ages & experience levels.
We’ve somehow gotten two of the best young talents from two of the best defensive clubs in the game of recent times. Both Iongi and Joash were the best players in their teams at bulldogs and panthers many would argue.
Hopefully we can keep them both. Our parramatta eels will be in a very good place inside of 2-4 seasons if we can keep the bulk of these young elite players who are showing signs of being NRL stars in the coming season.
Joash also played an important part of our attack VS bris. This is a kid who has so much talent that we need to incorporate him. Just do not think 5/8 is his best suited position. He’s an out and out fullback. And he could end up one of the games best players in the future.
Joash, seems to have the quick feet. His first run was good. He’s still very young so we’ll see how he develops after another off season. Further to that, we have Hawkins, Volkman and Hunter all halves backups. We’ve never really had quality depth in the past. Think Rankin, Jathur and Asi in halves and nobody as backup fullback. How can you win a comp so skinny in depth?
If we look at Hughes at storm. He was a fullback that became a half. Joash may well become a 6? Whichever way you cut it we have a young exciting spine. Iongi, Joash, Ryley and TDS. Then Moses the experienced leader. This will be similar to how Raiders have developed.
Ryles has shown he will make courageous
calls that are best for the long term and not the quick fix band aid approach. He told Dylbags if you stay past June 30 you may not play at 6. He told him upfront. He’d given Dylbags every chance to succeed. People saying he should just keep picking him for the sake of it are probably eating humble pie this week. Ryles made the call for the long term not the quick fix.
Is there a world where hopgood stays at 8 and Williams goes to 13 in a full strength side? With the amount of ball playing ryles has his middles doing I don’t think it would change their roles that much but could it be a mental thing with the role the number on their back plays that could be affecting hopgood this year? Trying to do too much with the 13 on his back but the simplified role of a prop streamlines his focus.
Will be tough next year with who pairs kitione kautoga in the second row and what middles make up the bench, especially with the inclusion of de Belin somewhere in the pack, next week is already a somewhat difficult decision with Williams probably moving back to the middle for kelma, who on the bench has to make way? Alot more difficult after dooreys last few games.
Hopgoods played really well at prop and getting through loads of work.
We must remember Hopgood had limited games last year, and I believe a limited pre season, he may be better prepared to share lock duties in 2026.
We must also consider injuries. There’s a low chance that all of our best forwards will always play. If there’s no spot starting for guys like Williams, he will play a bench role like he did at sharks maybe.
It’s better to have the problem of having too many good players to name them all each week. Guys like Kautaga, Guymer, even Sam TUIVATI and Matt Doorey are less experienced players and will be more prone to injuries or HIA’s at times as they are still developing into seasoned first graders.
There’s rumours we (obviously) have a huge amount of cap room, and are after a few gun forwards. David Fifita is potentially one we are looking at. If Ryles can trim 5-10kgs off him like he did with Jnr paulo. He may rejuvenate his career much like he has done with Paulo.
If Jnr and Williams go down we literally don’t have any experienced middles. We ideally get another versatile forward besides De Belin, and a big signing that will bolster our bench or starting forwards pack.
De Belin can also cover lock. So he could even be included on the bench as Walkers back up, and Hopgood remains in the prop rotation.
De Belin is ultra good defensively stats wise and still fast. Not a big body / power prop. Plays lock good for saints. I think he slips into our roster pretty nicely considering our forwards are now being used differently than BA era forwards. De Belin is only like 250k as well, so Ryles will have loads of cash on hand if any marquee opportunities arise.
I think we’ll have to see alot more movement in other players before ryles entertains moving Williams out of the starting pack, he became an instant leader at the club and is the modern build of a prop with great fitness and leg speed. Personally I think there is a good chance if the eels start to improve on the ladder in the next season you shouldn’t be surprised if he comes off the bench in origin.
I reckon the bench next year will be TDs/smith, Walker and de Belin with one of the other young props taking the final spot in a healthy side.
Tks men. Yep, saw the same things in NRLW. The Knights just seemed more connected and threatening, Our first half red zone attack was basically catch, pass and throw in a kick. I was waiting for a play where one of our proven tackle busters was launched at a gap wider of the ruck, we saw them in the second half causing mayhem (Albert, Murphy, Cherrington) but from their own effort and energy, rarely from engineering their strengths into breaking down the Knights who to their credit made more last gasp saves than I’ve seen in all games this week. As you mention however, you can see we have the ability to be much better than a loss like that.
Totally agree on Sean Russell.
He’s always struggled in a confused defensive line.
Now that is more settled, he is powering through defence and attack.
If he watches old footage of Ella and Grothe there is a next level of ball play for him and JAC.
Re the NRLW game, I reckon you are being a bit harsh. We were close on being good. Plenty played pretty well.
That said, my perspective is that we have been slow in defensive leg speed all season long. Perhaps we were actually a bit better in this today.
I thought Rachel was a little below her best. I reckon we don’t use our wingers well enough Zali in the air and the female semi- trailer running the wrecking ball line close to the line.
Abbi needs to develop a pass.
Rory needs to be fed more ball.
I reckon that the new, young girls will be match winners.
Please take dooreys ballplaying license away.
Run doorey run.
You shall not not pass.
Addo car needs a break.
Simondson can relieve him and help fox into old age gently.
Thanks for the bonus podcast gents.
Entertaining as always, I wish I could have attended the watch party. It was clearly a great night. I was at 90th birthday party yesterday and I met a young chap, he had just turned 70. He told me I’m going through a “sandwich” stage in my life where I’m caring for children and elderly parents. Recreational time is rare luxury at the moment but I’ll make it my mission to meet up with you boys before the season ends.
Sixties, my family and I are thinking of you and were really happy to see you with a smile on your face.
Forty, I did get a much needed laugh after you mentioned my comments.
It’s been a strange season, it’s one of the best bad seasons I can remember, there’s so much to build on it’s ridiculous. And we have spending money.
Bring on 2026, top 4 baby and a shot at the title.