Sure we’re in the middle of the next week, but a win like that deserves some grades even if the team for next week has already been named. That was one of the best Eels wins in some time, and while it was helped along by a Roosters team that couldn’t get out of its own way, I’m choosing to believe you only play as well as your opponent allows you to, and the Parramatta Eels put a shut down clinic on last weekend.

The attacking footy and creativity was great, but the defence against an electric Roosters attack was by far the most impressive part of the win. It took some freak moments for the Parramatta line to crack, and the vaunted, massive Roosters pack was denied the ball, tired out and shut down by their humble Eels counterparts.

Sydney had everything to play for out there, and the Eels took it to them and in the end dominated the game. This win was one to warm your heart in those long, cold summer months without football. Enjoy it.

 

If we’re going to keep scoring tries in the corner then our goalkicking is going to start becoming a worry. Both Moses and Lomax are regarded as elite kickers, but neither has had the happiest kicking year. Maybe like quarterbacks, if you have two goalkickers, you have none. Still, if we’re going to win by 20 each week anyway, it’s a problem I can live with.

 

It feels wrong to single someone out in what was a magnificent team effort, but the MVP award insists on exactly that and who am I to argue with the rules? For the sheer joy of that runaway intercept try, the first 12 point turnaround play that I can remember in recent Eels history, then following it up with watching that Dylan Walker kick float gently into his waiting arms, I’m giving MVP to Josh Addo-Carr. He’s been more workhorse than thoroughbred sprinter this season, but it was great to see the Foxx in full flight. You da MVP, JAC.

 

 

 

Another strong performance from the rookie of the year in waiting, whose worst moment was caused by then rubbed from the board because of a messy kick contest. I can’t wait to see what he does with a full off season refining his line running and ballplaying. He’ll be an absolute weapon.

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How good was it to see the Foxx in open space on an intercept? I rode him home like he was a 100-1 winner streaking clear, and then minutes later we got that thrill of knowing a try was being scored well before there was a put down as that Dylan Walker kick floated across field into the wide, open spaces that Addo-Carr was patrolling. May we see many more to come.

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Willy P picked up the slack somewhat for Lomax, as well as getting a few offloads away and generally looking dangerous when given some space. It has been an up and down year for Will, but this was one of the up days. That half of his metres were post contact shows how tough the sledding was against the Roosters defence.

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It has taken a couple of weeks, but we might make a centre of Dylan Brown yet. He was given a bit more space and took full advantage, and he’s getting his line running right more often, even if it isn’t perfect. It hasn’t been a great farewell season for Dylbags, but at least he is going out on a high,

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A quieter workrate from an ill Lomax, who wasn’t his usual self in yardage but won some aerial contests that broke the game open in that first half. His runs to those bombs often look like somebody charging through the Tokyo subway crowds in peak hour, but this week he made that train to try town a couple of times.

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I was wrong about a lot of things in the preview (I’m getting used to that), but my doubt over the future of Joash Papalii in the halves was still the worst call in a prediction where I missed the final score by nearly 50 points. He’s not the finished product, but with a bit of room to move and some downhill running he was super dangerous all night long. He’ll create plenty on his own with that speed, but once we refine the line running around him to take advantage of the space that creates, that left side is going to be a lot of fun to watch.

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I’m buying one of those animated picture frames just so I can put that torpedo bomb on my office wall. What a thing of beauty. There is no feeling quite like the anticipation watching a towering bomb come off the boot with a spiral like that, knowing what is in store for the poor opposing fullback in about 4 seconds. It was one of several beautiful kicks from Mitch, who terrorised the Roosters back three with his aerial raid then rubbed salt into the wounds with an opportunistic grubber into an empty backfield for his own solo try.

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Tough yards, good tackling, a try, and most pleasingly, perfect discipline from J’maine Man, who continues to prove his worth as a pure middle. His passing game was used more often here, and his decision making was up to the task. There’ll be some tough decisions for Jason Ryles regarding his middle rotation for 2026.

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Ryley’s service here was fantastic, and it needed to be to enable the wide play the Eels used to get around and then on top of the big Roosters pack. His defence was great, that kick was a monster, and he played his role to perfection. His one-two punch with Da Silva is one of the more exciting prospects for 2026.

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Big Junez continues to put in the big minutes, and while he was outdone by his front row partner in this one he still played a vital role. One of the biggest surprises of 2025 for me is how Junior has not only played some of his better footy, but is doing so over massive minutes. He’s truly ageless.

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The big attacking plays continue to come for Kelma, who was in the right spot to ice some great work by Zac Lomax and perhaps just as importantly, absolutely steamrolled Sam Walker out of the game with a brutal charge. His defensive efficiency could improve, but I didn’t notice it as an issue here and when he’s making things happen in attack, he looks strong.

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Jack Williams was a battering ram in this one, touching the ball 23 times and running the ball 23 times. His metres return of “only” 144 shows just how tough the middle was against this Roosters pack, but he was effective defensively and error free, which is exactly what we need.

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The 250 game man might have had an unexpected break thanks to a HIA, but he was back on the field when it counted to set up Josh Addo-Carr and he remains the guy around which things just seem to happen. I’d love a breakdown of points scored with and without Walker on the field this year, I get the feeling there’d be a decent difference, and he’s building a reputation as the glue that holds this attack together.

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A shorter stint for Tallyn, who took advantage by looking for probing runs and trying to do a bit with his fresh legs. He didn’t do much wrong, but we’re all in a holding pattern with TDS, waiting to see what a full offseason can do for his development in this system.

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Big minutes as well for Matt Doorey, who was another that did some hard sledding and didn’t let the team down. He was the only Eels forward to not miss a tackle, he popped a few passes and most importantly, proved me right for saying we should get him more time on the park.

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Big Charlie was another whose numbers show just how tough it was in the middle and why the Eels looked to spread the ball wider when they could to break this Roosters defence down. 9 runs for 46 isn’t a line he’ll be telling his kids about, but his toe on for Samrani to score is one that’ll be coming out around the open fire time and time again.

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Mr. Opportunity finished off a couple of very sloppy plays to ice the contest, first diving on an off break from Charlie Guymer’s boot to seal the contest, then pouncing on a loose in goal pass to rub it in and ice an eventful 19 minute stint. His contributions in between were fine, but having a knack for being in the right place at the right time is a skill you can’t teach.

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It hasn’t always been easy to write the grades this year (which is they’ve been about as regular as bunker consistency this season) but this was a win to celebrate, to cherish. Only some individual brilliance from Mark Nawaqanitawase kept this one a contest for as long as it was, the Eels were in control from start to finish and that is a momentous achievement against a hot side with everything to play for.

We can’t deny the Roosters were very ordinary, but I’m going to choose to follow the old adage “you can only play as well as your opponent lets you” and give Parramatta credit for putting the Roosters on the back foot from kickoff and never letting up. There were several “effort sets” where the Roosters forwards tried to wrestle control back and pin the Eels deep, but we maintained composure, kicked clear and relied on our defence. When the Roosters made mistakes, they were punished.

Smart, effective football like that will win you plenty of games. I’m a bit over looking forward to the future at the moment, we’ve been asked to do that all season long, but there is no denying there is a high ceiling for this group. Let’s hope we can get it right, and luck falls our way with injuries and retention.

Until then, stay slippery, Eels fans.

Gol

Stats and images provided by NRL / Eels media