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With the NSW Cup and Jersey Flegg Cup back from global byes, the Preview Podcast is also back in full stride as Sixties and Forty20 are joined by Chris Ricketts to analyse the upcoming round from top to bottom.
Coverage starts with the Flegg where the Eels welcome back Australian Schoolboy representative Cameron Bamblett and have a new face debuting in Lorima Rokosuka. The Eels are looking to keep touch with the Top 4 in the stretch to the finals and take on the Rabbitohs at Kellyville.
The NSW Cup also face South Sydney and have a debutante of their own as Lorenzo Talataina continues his exciting progression in 2025 while the Eels field their strongest line-up in some time as Bailey Simonsson, Kelma Tuilagi and Jordan Samrani add some serious oomph to the squad.
Can the HNWP make it three games on the trot? They have a derby match with the Panthers on Sunday and will be looking to catapult themselves up the ladder with a third straight victory. A bounceback win is the goal for the NRLW in Round 5 though and they get star forward Kennedy Cherrington back on board as they look to slay the Dragons in Magic Round.
Jason Ryles has named an unchanged team in Round 22 as the Eels face the Storm head on. It will be a daunting task as Melbourne welcome back Ryan Papenhuyzen and Cameron Munster but the Southern outfit have lost Jahrome Hughes.
It’s interesting Hands is going off to France.
Didnt we extend this guy in the pre season?
I’m liking the fact Jason Ryles is seemingly cleaning out all of the players who he either doesn’t see can improve, or those just not good enough to make us into a top NRL quality side.
I like hands and wish him all the best. He did look good coming off the bench at dummy half especially in attack.
Was he unable to play the fast line speed and defensive focused game Jason’s trying to convert our team to be?
One thing’s for sure Ryley smith is fitter than gutho (possibly the fittest ever parramatta eel of the modern game), so it’s hard to imagine Hands could offer Ryles what young Ryley smith can offer in terms of upside potential + elite fitness (that can not be taught).
We saw guthersons fitness make him parramatta’s most consistent eel for years largely due to his insane fitness levels. If Ryley smith is as fit as peak gutherson than I can see why Ryles bravely gave him the priority opportunities over hands.
One thing that seemed strange though is he fell down the pecking order when below Lussick. It’s possibly hands lost his hunger or desire. Or didn’t fully buy into Jason Ryles agenda like the other players who have also been pushed out.
Regardless, we must respect Jason Ryles for his proactive decision making. He is obviously clearing space in our top 30, he has a war chest.
We ultimately need to sign 2-3 more NRL quality* players to be more competitive in 2026. Forwards especially. Rumours have obviously indicated we are after back rowers and middles.
The reference to Ryley smith & gutho is referring to him beating Guthos records in the pre season. Not indicating he has the match fitness or same expertise yet obviously.
As good as hands was at times, I don’t think ever he had those elite fitness traits like a Ryley smith for example has shown even as a rookie.
Hey Muz. This news about Hands explains his absence from the team lists this week. To be honest, I hadn’t heard any whispers about a departure during the season, though being released at season’s end did seem on the cards given the acquisition of Da Silva and given how Hands fell below Lussick in the pecking order.
Ryley Smith has proven how critical elite fitness has been, because Hands himself is quite fit. Smith has proven time and again during matches that he can make the effort on effort plays that can be match defining. When the Eels take the next step as a team – to be a finals contending outfit – those kick pressure moments, or chases, or hustles to support, or scrapping for loose balls will be even more important.
You put it perfectly 60’s mate
Those effort on effort or 1% areas are match defining in crucial or tight games
Smiths elite fitness already puts him in the top tier levels in regards of effort plays
When have we had kick pressure like this? Ever?
You saw it VS Adam Reynolds…
In years gone past he had all the time in the world to kick us to bits with his kicks and time to perfection
Our kick pressure from Smith and others made broncos (and many other teams we faced this year) rush the kicks, and ultimately that directly even won us games.. like against dragons when kick pressure made Ilias kick the ball out on the full at the end of the game
Regardless I like hands and wish him the best – but we are in a type of rebuild and bottom of the ladder, we cannot accept just “good” we need to chance excellence if we want to climb up the ladder 2026-2028 obviously
Muz,
Yeah, very interesting. I note, same as with Matto, the Eels have stated Hands is still contracted for 2026. Are we hoping both enjoy their time o/s and elect to stay? Was agreeing to keep 2026 extant just a way to get both of them to leave early? Are we hoping they learn more to the craft and come back better?
Personally, I liked Hands. Like all players he has flaws but I thought he was always committed.
It’s interesting mate. One positive thing is we aren’t paying big money to off load these blokes (from what I’ve heard so far)
Jason’s obviously using this strategy to help our cap and open up top 30 spots
I think it’s the first step in full departure. The only thing is their contract money can’t be spent until they do exit.
Thanks fellas,
Another interesting chat.
Wondering who the Newtown player from the footy card on Chris’s shirt is? The face was blocked out by Chris’s name on YouTube.
I agree that we are probably better off with Ryles instead of Bennett as coach. Bennett is a master coach but I think the Eels needed something a bit different. Ryles seems to be that at present.
Agree the Storm will be hard to beat. Hughes out improves our chances but as stated Wishart is a very capable player. I hope we get the opportunity to hammer Grant on the odd occasion. While he is a very good player he annoys me. He learnt well from Cam Smith the role of player/referee. I hate the way he will stand with ball demanding a penalty rather than play the ball. Not even faking injury, just demanding a penalty..
Thanks again. Enjoyed the show.
Storm are grubs mate, as bad as it sounds to just say it
They milk penalties off us every time and somehow do something dirty to gain advantage
They also get away with laying on players for longer while parra gets penalised for the trying to do the same thing
Hence we end up giving them a fast rolling ruck & play the ball
Because we ultimately get penalised if we try to play by the same rules / tactics
Anyway, it will be a good test and god forbid the refs & bunker have a good night for us
Moses long kicking game and patience will immediately 2x our chances and that at least gives us some hope we show up respectably
Nothing I can argue with there!
I think it’s the first step in full departure. The only thing is their contract money can’t be spent until they do exit
Good to know, well hopefully they do well then the boys and we are able to eventually get them off our to open up that additional probably 900k just in Matto and hands
900k buys you a tier 1 forward
Tks guys. The NRLW is a bit of a head scratcher, the team has ability all over the park but we’ve seen this hot/cold performance level. The Knights defended their line in the first half simply by marking up and the second half by scramble and aggression (attitude), we just seemed unable to come up with the right plays to break them down, even when we busted them open, as sixties mentioned, it was individual with no back up.Hopefully some basics have been addressed and Kennedy Cherrington can lift the application and effort to best show the ability.