The season might be over for the Eels, but it feels like there’s barely enough time, or space, in one column to wrap things up.
Reflecting back on the season was something that we particularly enjoyed doing with Bernie Gurr so I’ve given that podcast a bit of a plug. But there’s more that I want to dive into.
The awards nights have been conducted and no doubt Jason Ryles and key staff have already commenced if not completed their reviews. That said, there are big decisions still to be made about next year. More on that shortly.
Enough of the preamble. Time to take the first run in a while. Bumpers up!
Season Review Podcast
Our season review podcast with special guest Bernie Gurr landed this past week.
I recently caught up with Bernie for a coffee and as always found myself enlightened by his observations about our Eels, the credentials of various NRL clubs, and competition expansion. As I noted during the catch up, we needed to get it on tape for the TCT community. So that’s exactly what we did.
Bernie Gurr
The early feedback from phone calls and messages is that people regarded it as one of our best ever podcasts. From his visit to the Centre of Excellence, including his clarification about why the site at Kellyville was chosen, to his takes on the Eels players and coaches, Bernie provides a comprehensive run down on the 2025 Eels season.
What you will note is that Bernie still refers to the Eels as “we” and “us”. This isn’t just for the purpose of the podcast. It’s how he speaks whenever we catch up or message. He has both the Roosters and the Eels in his heart.
As usual, I reckon you’ll enjoy listening to his informative takes.
Ken Thornett Medal
I thoroughly enjoyed the 2025 Ken Thornett Medal evening. Hosted by Zac Bailey, the event acknowledged the contributions and achievements of players (and staff) across three grades.
The “Gongs” were as follows:
- Blue & Gold Army NRL Player of the Year: Isaiah Iongi
- Ray Price NRL Community Award: Jack Williams
- Brett Kenny Jersey Flegg Coaches Award: Domenico De Stradis
- Jersey Flegg Players’ Player: Josh Lynn
- Steve Ella Jersey Flegg Player of the Year: Matthew Hunter
- Geoff Gerard Knock on Effect NSW Cup Coaches Award: Saxon Pryke
- NSW Cup Players’ Player: Apa Twidle
- Bob O’Reilly Knock on Effect NSW Cup Player of the Year: Jordan Samrani
- Michael Cronin Club Person of the Year: Ashley Evans
- Eric Grothe Snr NRL Rookie of the Year: Isaiah Iongi
- Jack Gibson NRL Coaches Award: Junior Paulo
- Nathan Hindmarsh NRL Players’ Player: Mitchell Moses
- Ken Thornett NRL Player of the Year: Jack Williams
Of interest was that some lower grade awards went to players who are still to finalise their contract status for 2026 or are in fact departing the club. I regarded it as a nod to the authenticity of the awards that impending departures did not impact the selection of the winning award recipients.
Jack Williams, 2025 Ken Thornett Medal
To be honest there were no real surprises with any of the winners. As for Jack Williams being named Player of the Year, it’s difficult to think of anyone more deserving. Given the gap between Jack and the field, it’s seems like many others felt similarly.
NRLW Award Night
With a later finish to their regular season, the Eels NRLW team staged their awards night a week after their NRL colleagues. The recipients were as follows:
* NRLW Blue & Gold Army NRLW Award: Abbi Church
* NRLW Community Award: Elsie Albert
* Harvey Norman Women’s Coaches Award: Josie Lenaz
* Harvey Norman Women’s Players’ Player Award: Ella Carlisle
* Harvey Norman Women’s Player of the Year: Jessica Kennedy
* NRLW Rookie of the Year Award: Martha Mataele
* NRLW Coaches Award: Chloe Jackson
* NRLW Players’ Player: Martha Mataele
* NRLW Player of the Year Award: Abbi Church
Abbi Church
Once more there were very little disagreements about the award winners. And what can you say about Abbi Church, she is an elite player.
Forty and I almost picked the card on our recent podcast so naturally we’ll congratulate ourselves as well as the recipients. The one that we got wrong was Reuben Cherrington. We both thought she had a break out season and seemed certain for one of the awards.
Look out! Here come Martha
The easy pick was Martha Mataele as Rookie of the Year. Although there were other great rookies in Tess McWilliams, Ryvrr-Lee Alo, Fleur Ginn and Fontayne Tufuga, the barn-storming winger has become a match winning crowd favourite, and is incredibly popular within the squad. Watch out for her to go to another level on 2026.
Much like the men’s event, a departing player in Jessica Kennedy received a lower grade award. On the subject of those departing players, I must admit to being surprised by Tyla Amiatu moving on. Her 2025 season was ruined by injury but she has so much potential. I’m not sure whether she has secured a deal elsewhere but I am disappointed to see her leave.
NSW Cup
Congratulations to the Eels NSW Cup team on their third placed finish this season.
Lower grades across all clubs can be volatile with injuries and form impacting first grade, and the subsequent line up changes mean that maintaining anything like consistent combinations will be near on impossible.
This was definitely the case for the Eels. Players were lost to long term injuries, top 30 players were released mid season, and others became ineligible for NSW Cup due to their NRL appearances.
The result was the team that took the field in the preliminary final contained only four players with a top 30 contract, and instead was completed by SG Ball graduates and a couple of call ups from Ron Massey Cup.
Ronald Volkman was a key player in NSW Cup this season
It was always going to be a challenge to overcome the Warriors. Not only were they the run away minor premiers, they were also bolstered by inclusions from the Warriors NRL finals team.
Parra competed for most of the game but the turning point came during the second half when a Warriors defender executed a desperate swipe at Lorenzo Talataina’s arm as he was set to ground the ball behind the posts. The Warriors then went the length of the field soon after to score and from there the points flowed freely.
The final score did not reflect the Eels effort in the game or in the season, and there are a number of players who supporters should track going into next season.
Star Tracking The Next Gen
I don’t want to overly hype the players to watch for next season, but there are some players who might go close to an NRL debut at some point in 2026.
I’m not going to dive further down the pathways than NSW Cup at this point, so let me highlight some players who made a statement in Cup during 2025.
In the backs, there are already massive wraps on Lorenzo Talataina. Actually, if you haven’t heard his name, then you are probably a stranger to both TCT and Eels supporter social media. To be honest, he progressed to NSW Cup sooner than expected. I don’t think they’ll rush him next year, but he might get a taste. Renzo is fast, elusive and enjoys playing what’s in front of him, but the most pleasing aspect to his NSW Cup performances was his capacity to deal with the increased physicality of open age football.
Apa Twidle became a valuable spine player in Cup in 2025 with match winning performances with his attack and his goal kicking. His versatility adds another string to his bow as he can arguably play in every position in the backline. I’ve become very impressed with Apa’s playmaking skills, and this was evidenced by bullet-like cut out passes which created critical tries for Jake Tago in the Eels victory over the Raiders in this year’s final series. The young fullback’s defence probably needs further development but that will come in time in the NRL squad.
Apa Twidle celebrates with Sam Loizou
Richie Penisini might have gone close to a 2025 debut were it not for injury. His aggression and confidence on both sides of the ball leave him destined for NRL time. Some supporters might have forgotten that Richie made his NSW Cup debut way back in 2023 only to suffer concussion in the opening minutes. After missing all of 2024 with an ACL injury, Penisini had an impressive NRL preseason and was rewarded with a top 30 deal this year. He then made 12 Cup appearances, only to again have his season cut short by injury. A healthy 2026 will probably reap the reward of an NRL debut.
Araz Nanva is an interesting candidate. He has size, runs great lines and is deceptively fast. The big centre has become a fan favourite for those who follow the lower grades as he is probably the quiet achiever of the group. Like Twidle, he needs work in defence but he has the potential to progress further.
As far as the forwards are concerned, Will Latu is another whose year was curtailed by injury. I had rated the young edge forward as a genuine chance of an NRL debut in 2025. Instead the powerful back rower only registered eight NSW Cup appearances. He is a tackle breaker with an offload. He just needs to stay healthy in 2026.
Prop forward Ryda Talagi caught the eye in the latter half of the season. On the back of a solid first year in SG Ball, he was elevated to Flegg and his game went to the next level. Despite being one of the youngest on the field, Ryda made statement after statement as he imposed his aggression and physicality in the middle. The reward was a second elevation, and playing the finals series off the bench in NSW Cup. Such was his form, my colleague Forty20 has declared him as a genuine chance of making an NRL debut at some stage in 2026.
Ryda Talagi
Jezaiah Funa-Iuta has long been targeted as a player to watch for the Eels. In addition to his powerful frame and mobility, he is also an emerging leader, having captained sides during his journey through pathways. The edge forward already has some NRL preseason experience after spending the pre-Christmas period leading into 2025 with the NRL squad, and he looked like he belonged. Like Ryda Talagi, he jumped from Ball to NSW Cup in the same season.
Finally, Tyrese Lokeni was another forward elevated from Flegg to NSW Cup in 2025. The energetic back rower was a member of the Eels 2024 SG Ball team, and made 14 appearances in NSW Cup in 2025, starting in nine of those matches. With the bigger wraps coming for others he’s probably flown under the radar, but given he too was playing SG Ball last season, his rise up the ranks should not be ignored.
What’s Happening With Matto and Simonsson?
Whilst Brendan Hands is expected to remain with Toulouse, the futures of fellow 2026 Eels contracted players Ryan Matterson and Bailey Simonsson remain more clouded. I wish I had the answer to this. On the surface it would appear that both will be fronting to pre-season training in November.
Though many expected Ryan Matterson to remain in England after finishing the season with Warrington Wolves, this hasn’t eventuated with the ESL club uninterested in retaining his services. Unless another club comes along with an offer, Matto will be on the Eels books for 2026.
Bailey Simonsson
Bailey Simonsson is a little tougher to read. The fan favourite left Eels supporters confused by his apparent late season request for a release. However, without another club taking up his deal, he might also be on the Eels books next year.
Whether damage has been done with relationships inside the club is not known. Nonetheless you’d have to think that significant bridge repairs would be needed to get the preseason started.
The obvious consequence of such uncertainty is the impact on the 2026 roster. Not only will any decisions made impact the salary cap, they will also determine how many spots that the Eels have available in the top 30. So whilst supporters might be of the belief that there is a war chest available to the Eels, it might not be able to be spent until 2027.
Is Ricky The Coach of the Year?
I have to admire the loyalty that the Raiders and Ricky Stuart have for each other. It’s almost old school rugby league.
Stuart is coaching at the club he is passionate about, whilst the Raiders have one of their most successful former players in charge.
Clearly, the relationship isn’t entirely results based.
In Stuart’s 12 years at the helm, the Raiders have qualified for just six finals series, including one grand final loss. And in 2025, the joy about this season’s minor premiership quickly turned to despair with the Green Machine bowing out via a tough loss to the Broncos and a capitulation against the Sharks.
Ricky Stuart
A quick thought. Did Stuart do the wrong thing in resting the majority of the team in the final round and having sixty points put on them by the Dolphins?
I’m not sure that as a club that they had the runs on the board that Premiership winning clubs like the Panthers and Storm have established.
He’ll probably be awarded the “Coach of the Year” for the team’s regular season results, and he arguably deserves it. Mind you, the Raiders were only required to face other top 8 teams a total of 8 times during the season. In other words, they only played one top 8 side twice.
Without doubt it was a blessed draw, though to their credit they won seven of those eight games. The fact that they couldn’t get the job done in the finals probably won’t factor in the coach of the year award.
Based on the form of his young team in 2025, and a recruitment strategy which has targeted some of the brightest emerging stars, the Raiders should be able to take up residence in the top 8 for the foreseeable future.
However, Stuart’s current deal runs to the end of the 2029 season. If he sees that out without achieving Premiership success or even another grand final appearance, it will be an extraordinary outcome.
As it stands, he’d already hold the record for longest tenure without a title.
Which goes to prove that loyalty is still alive in rugby league, and who knows, it might still deliver success.
Who Takes The NRL Title?
This might not age well, and I hope it doesn’t, but I fear a five-peat for the Panthers.
I started writing this column on Tuesday and at that stage I believed that the Storm would dispose of the Sharks with ease (it was closer than I thought), and similarly I believe that the Panthers will be too strong for the Broncos.
All of this is very disappointing. Why?
To my mind there has not been a dominant side this season. The Raiders were an exciting and entertaining team to watch but they had the benefit of the softest draw in the NRL and escaped with a number of close victories. I was not surprised by the Raiders, and the Dogs, making early exits.
Which leaves the Panthers an excellent chance of making it five in a row despite this being their weakest team and season by far. Don’t get me wrong, they have been a generational, history making side over the previous years.
The Panthers were too good for Canterbury
However, if you compare their 2022 side that defeated the Eels in the grand final to the 2025 team, there’s a gulf in talent that has been created by salary cap forced departures.
I’ll go so far to say that the Eels teams from 2021 and 2022 would have easily dispatched the current Panthers team. It’s only conjecture and is not meant to be disrespectful, but again a look at the 2022 Panthers grand final team is evidence enough. And Parra defeated that team in both of the regular rounds in 2022.
The stars might align for Melbourne in the grand final. Their big names in the spine might produce the goods in the big dance. Would it be crazy for Eels fans to want the Storm to win the title?
Regardless, based on this season, the 2026 premiership could be the most open ever.
Stick With Us
Though the content will wane across other rugby league social media accounts over the offseason and pre-season, you know that there is no break on TCT.
Because we are primarily a website that focusses on a depth of coverage not found elsewhere, we pride ourselves on keeping Eels fans up to date for all 52 weeks of every year.
Ryley Smith in the preseason
In the last preseason, TCT provided the only coverage of the break out pre-season from Ryley Smith, the impact of the Foxx on the playing group, and the revolutionary preseason training. If you read about it elsewhere it was via content creators that found it first on TCT. Some acknowledged their source. Unfortunately, many did not.
Regardless, we will roll up our sleeves once more as the Eels team prepares for 2026. And don’t forget, that we have plenty of interesting topics coming your way in our podcasts.
Eels forever!
Sixties
The TCT coverage of the most recent pre season created fascinated interest, both for the changes implemented and for the quality of the coverage. This year it will be interesting to hear of the progress of those who debited in NRL this year and for the mergence of players both from Cup and maybe from younger grades. The players involved are too numerous to list, which is a remarkable exciting situation.in the meantime we have a great number of decisions to make prior to November 2. Will we try to tie Junior up for 2027? What are our attitudes to Ron Volkmann and Dean Hawkins, both NRL quality players who presumably will struggle to get a run in NRL if everyone is fit. They are both too good to be stuck in Cup in my opinion. What are our plans re Dylan Walker?
Giving everyone an opportunity, maybe in a few positions in the trials will be a mighty challenge.
Fascinating times ahead. We’re lucky to have TCT to cover it all.
Not sure if it would happen but could Hawkins be moved to 9 in the cup next year? If what you’re saying is true and Hands will be staying with his current club next year it means the eels will have abjt of a problem.
Volkman and Lorenzo paired well when they got together towards the end of cup and Lorenzo looks like he needs to keep playing at the nswcup level. A move for Hawkins to 9 would also give him valuable use off the bench as 14 in the top team being able to play 6,7 and 9.
Could a fullstrength cup spine look like 1. Twidle, 6. Talataina, 7. Volkman, 9. Hawkins and 14. Hudson? With Hawkins becoming a Penrith like number 14, a versatile half transformed into a 9.
It strikes me that Dean Hawkins has a superior football brain and is a very tough competitor. The current thinking seems to be Papaliii at 6 and no doubt he has great potential. It would be a great pity to lose Dean. I’ve raised the possibility of him becoming a 9/14; another subscriber suggested that the massive new defence load maybe a question. Still, the thought of him running the show with Moses is attractive. Maybe wait and see what injuries do to us.
Noel, as you suggested, injuries often dictate decisions every season.
Sebastian, as far as dummy halves are concerned, I think that Lachy Coinakis could punch up to Cup. If he’s kept in the system, Pat Spence could also do a job in Cup.i would t rule out your suggestion purely in terms of the number of halves in contention in Cup.
Cheers Noel. It was a fascinating preseason to watch unfold. It was made all the more interesting with the time I was afforded by the coaching staff. They allowed myself and others to come along for the journey with interactions and feedback as the preseason unfolded. Which also augers well for the upcoming preseason.
Thanks 60s and forty 20 I’ve said before but your efforts and enthusiasm are amazing and infectious. I’ve been a supporter for close to 60 years you blokes leave me for dead
Cheers Tanky. The kind feedback and the fellow supporters that introduce themselves to us mean the world – we are very grateful to the TCT community.
Tanky I’m 49 years in and I thought I was as hard core as they come until I came across this site.
These boys have taught me a lesson of what a hardcore supporter is.
For decades I focused on first grade, now I’m interested in the inner workings of our club and our pathway system. In the past I would have no idea who a debutant was and how they came to be, now thanks to TCT, I feel I know the players journey and why they are making their debut.
Thanks Joseph. By the way, I’ve met supporters that I call hardcore. People that never miss a single junior rep game no matter where they play. Others that follow the Eels interstate and to NZ in every season. The difference is that many of them aren’t on social media. Hats off to them. Having this site gives us the opportunity to get to know other supporters, which is an absolute joy.
Thanks for the year fellas great commitment and info as always.
Me personally I have a massive wrap on twiddle I just think his a real talent skill wise. My biggest question mark on him is his position I just don’t think his attributes suit the fullback role in first grade. From an overall package playmaking wise I think his got the potential to be elite his kicking game is great and passing is also very good. I think with some work in the front line he could easily make it as a centre,5/8 or lock but it would all come down to how he handled the defence side.
I think the club need to come up with a way to release/payout Matterson the club is on a new path now and Ryan just doesn’t fit the bill anymore.
1990, from memory, Twidle came down from Queensland (he’s originally from NZ) to our SGBall team with a background at 5/8, but we played him as a fullback with success. He has filled in as a 5/8 and centre in pathways since, though it appears he’s viewed as a custodian.
I’m sure that the club will look at all options re Matto.
Obviously Ryan Matterson doesn’t fit the style the coach wants to play so it would be better for all concerned if he could find a new home given that he’s on senior player money. Still, in my view, he remains a very skillful player. If he has to play Cup he’ll add a degree of class there and no doubt pass on some skills to the young men in the side; we certainly could have used him against The Warriors.
Change of topic
How great Penrith out if finals
If they don’t win another premiership they haven’t surpassed our run in the 80s.
I’ll take that!
A comment I haven’t seen made: in their last two matches of the season Penrith totally dominated the first half only to be outscored in the second half; some of their roster are young men; several of the super stars have got a lot of football in the legs. I won’t name people but it seems to me that a few of their stalwarts, while still very good footballers have slipped a bit from previous heights and can’t dominate for eighty minutes as once they could. Club leadership seems to me made up of ruthless chasers after victory; I think we’ll soon see a changing of the guard including some very big names. If I’m right I’d be cautious about picking them up.
I don’t think I could have lived with myself if Penrith……and Blaize, took the title this year! Didn’t feel so bad when he dropped the ball twice at pivotal points in the game. Maybe they would have won if Luai was there?
Great wrtie up 60’s, excellent insight as always and really looking forward to what you lads are cooking up over the offseason.
Tyla Amiatu leaving really stings, I thought a Forward foundation of her and Tess could be the bedrock of our front row pack for many years to come.
Excited about our pathways depth, always great to have a number of options
Thanks Mike. Yeah, I’m stunned by Tyla’s departure
Always enjoy the content of TCT and look forward to the preseason. Many thanks for your efforts in keeping us informed throughout the season.
As a side note we need another centre. Is there any reason why Twidle could not be a contender?
Cheers Glenn. He’s played there. I guess it comes down to whether he’d also have that ambition and whether the coaches would view him similarly. And if so, what is our back up fullback plan? I’m pretty sure he’s doing a pre-season.
Thanks Sixties for a very good summation. Fortunately your prediction didn’t age well! However, we still have a GF with two teams I dislike immensely. Fortunately I’m away in SA so will not have to put up with all the rubbish reporting in Brisbane this week!
The Matto/Simmo situations are perplexing as you suggest. I’d be happy for Matto to go, it’s obvious he’s not in our plans. Simmo, who knows what relationship damage has been done which is a shame as he is a competitor.
It will be interesting to what impact Mill’s departure has. As you may recall I was a little sceptical at season start but was shown up by our fitness levels. Obviously our new bloke will have his own ideas, hopefully they work as well.
For me Twidle is the player I’m most interested in seeing how he evolves. There seems potential to be a very handy player there.
Cheers and thanks for all the work.
Cheers Namrebo. I believe that there has been some bridge building with Simmo, so we’ll see what happens there. I was happy to be wrong about Penriths, but damn they went close. See my reply to Ham below about the Sixties curse coming to fruition.
Just want to say thanks for the year so far guys. I don’t always get to comment but love TCT during the season and even more in the off season. Go u mighty Eels!
Thanks Matt. We’ll keep it coming mate.
What a year it’s been so much changed with the on-field football operations. New coach, new captain, new spine, new defensive systems, new attacking structure. Looking after the first 2 rounds I was extremely disappointed with the Eels seemingly tethered to the bottom of the ladder. I couldn’t believe that after all the changes that we were still poor. I guess I needed to listen to the words of a former captain “Trust the process”. Over time the new and young players started to gel and by the end of the year we were playing some really good, and most importantly different, brand of footy from the rest of the competition. We weren’t setting out to be the storm, panthers or even the roosters, Ryles was making sure we were playing like the Eels.
Despite not wanting to put extra external pressure on the young players but the Eels won the NSWRL club of the year with every grade in both men’s and women’s competing in the finals series. That takes a huge effort from the administration, the coaching staff and all players involved. There’s some really good young players coming through, let’s hope we have them signed up and see them progress through the grades.
As for your GF prediction, somehow the 60s curse has affected a team other than the Eels! I won’t stoop as low as their “supporters” do when they play us. But I took a lot of pleasure in them losing on Sunday.
Hey Ham. I followed through with my podcast promise of putting coin on the Riff. The curse is real.
Ham I know you watch a lot of junior football. Of all the young kids out there playing for the Eels. Is there any out there who you think could be in line for an NRL debut in 2026.
Am I correct in saying that Lorenzo has a three year deal?
Tks sixties and TCT team. Moses out, Brown hitting the exit…what awaits us in 2026? We’ve had our share of the dark side, may the football gods smile on us.
Completely off-topic, I was having a bet with myself sixties that you saw Harry Grant slide into a try scoring opponent with his knees right out front, he was aiming at the ball and glanced the bloke”s arm…but not a word from officials or commentators. OK, no damage but my understanding is that it’s just not allowed, hit or miss.
Just on pathways 60’s, what are your thoughts on Saxon Pryke & Brock Parker ? Are they legit NRL prospects or are they going to struggle to reach that level ? I’ve always thought they were guys the club had huge hopes for.
Recruitment : Brent Maiden – any interest? I can see him as a significant addition if his diary expectations fitted in.
Recruitment : Brent Maiden – any interest? I can see him as a significant addition if his salary expectations fitted in.
It’s been better than expectedl this year, but I think we need further recruitment if we want to make the 8 next year. A lot of teams are making some good recruitment moves but so far we have not done anything other then sign an aging middle.
Fingers crossed.