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It feels odd to say we have reached a lull in off-season because well…it is the off-season but with the announcement of the PNG Chiefs and the Prime Minister’s XIII games behind us we do have something of a down week in an otherwise frenetic off-season.
The Tip Sheet still rattles on without any brakes to cover the latest from Parramatta and the wider NRL. How did the representative Eels fare on the weekend? With junior and senior talent in action across both Australian and Papua New Guinean squads. Was Mitchell Moses able to navigate a shock late call up (down?) onto the PM XIII bench? Jonah Pezet is the hottest name on the player market right now after activating a clause that makes him a free agent. Where exactly do Parramatta fit into the frame with the Melbourne playmaker?
The action does ramp up on the weekend thankfully with the first round of the Pacific Championships. How does each side shape up? Meanwhile there have been some player and coaching transactions across the NRL as teams look to rebuild, reshape or reload ahead of the 2026 season.
Catch the live stream from 7:30PM on YouTube!
If the rumours end up all happening and lomax leaves and we get pezet, simonson would get that right wing and joash would play FB in cup.
Could twidle end up on the wing next year? There are too many halves for joash to play 6 in cup and twidle will be too old for flegg. Going off our current squad you’d assume out of the regulars tago would be on a wing and maybe miller-stephen since he wasn’t farewelled? Just a thought i honestly don’t know how well he’d go on the wing but I’d like to still see him around the club.
Miller-Stephen got a game on the wing in the trials this year and looked very good, big, strong and very fast. The issue of course is how much his injuries will affect his speed. If he comes back as confident and fast as ever he can make a contribution, no question
Another great show gents.
Forty you are spot on, two five eighths never work, just ask the Bulldogs. Moses does play like a hybrid half, should Pezet sign, we may see Moses in the open field more often.
Pezet would be one of the very first wanted players to leave the club, that’s why I’m not getting too excited. It doesn’t happen to the Storm often but the connection with Ryles may pay dividends again as it did with the Foxx.
Sixties, I can’t blame you for being apprehensive, like you said, we had Galvin all but signed but I can’t help but feel we were played by Gould, Lachlan and his dad.
Messing with another club would be nothing for this trio, look what they did to the Tigers and their coach.
Many are saying that you can’t blame Lomax for leaving if the money on offer is true. Would they be as sympathetic if the offer was coming from another NRL club? I would think not. He committed to our club long term, no one had a gun to his head. It seems to be a pattern with some players, it’s never good enough. And some would argue that clubs move on contracted players but not without paying them first, what do we get if Zac breaks his contract? We get nothing other than losing a representative player we can’t replace in the short term. It stinks and it’s poor form from Zac and his management. I’m even more disappointed if the club is considering a release.
I predict Galvin wanting out when Gould realises he hasn’t signed the best young talent since Dally Messenger. He’s young and may turn out to be a very good footballer but prodigious he is not. Off the cuff players never are. Which is why your comments about Pezet excite me, he’s everything Galvin is not.
Happy that Bailey is staying, like you both said, it’s not easy replacing NRL quality players.
Regarding Galvin and Gus, you don’t have to look too far to see this.
Gus promised the absolute world to Reed Mahoney, the club captaincy, Gus influence to SOO selection etc etc.. and Reed fell for it hook line and sinker.
Yes, Reed went in with his eyes open but Gus is a master bullshitter and Reed won’t be the last player he does this to.
I’m told that whilst he will always love the Bulldogs and the players, he’s very dirty with Gus and Ciraldo.
IMHO I believe the Bulldogs were specials to at least make the GF this year before Gus turned it on its head by putting Galvin in there and forget about Ciraldo saying it was his call – nothing gets done at the Bulldogs without Gus directing. Ciraldo just does as he’s told.
There are a lot of bulldog fans that believe that it was a lost premiership.
As for us, I hope Moses goes back to 6 if we get Pezet. The game has evolved so much since he played there and a 6 is your runner which is one of Moses strengths.
Can you.imagine having Moses on one side and Pezet on the other ?
Poor Tallyn won’t know which way to turn !
Spark, I dare not dream. Landing Pezet could be the most significant signing since Moses.
And lol, Tallyn won’t know which way to turn.
Image having Pezet, Moses, Da Silva and Walker on at the same time “I think it moved”
The Bulldogs won’t win a thing while Gould is there, signing Galvin did screw their season and screwed their team for seasons to come. They literally created a problem they never had. Their original plan was to promote Woods to play with Burton in 2026. Now Gould announces that Woods and Galvin are their future halves. So what do they do with Burton? I would argue that Reed is a better dummy half than Hayward and they disposed of him. They’ll miss his motor and passing game, add Galvin’s erratic passing game, a fullback with hands like feet and a Rookie halfback and there you have a recipe for the most disjointed spin in the comp.
And you’re spot on, this is all Gould’s handy work, he must drive Ciraldo nuts.
Watching the Eels progress was my obvious highlight but boy, watching the Dogs bow out in straight sets came close. Ciraldo rushing Reed and Sexton back into the team when it was too late was gold.
Few moving parts here – and hopefully long term the cards are falling in parras favour …
– Gutho & Blaize leaving ended up good = we got Iongi instead who’s a better fullback for us long term
– Galvin rejected us to the dogs and it’s flopped so far AND he is a legit 5/8’ NOT a genuine halfback (which Eels need more so)
– Dogs mistreatment of Reed, seemingly mismanagement of Galvin and (possibly more to come) = may result in the Eels having more chances to win signings as players REALISE Gus / Dogs is a poor destination and Gus is full of it and untrustworthy
– I know this one up in the air but with NRL declaring 10 years banning from NRL if you join R360 … you can probably expect Lomax to stay and Bailey Simmonson is good but too Injury prone, we ideally NEED Lomax in 2026
– Last but not least PEZET’s father having played for the EELS in the 90’s will mean Pezet will have a legitimate soft spot (or) connection to our club with the history of his dad playing part of his career with us
On to a potentially negative outcome:
Should we not get Pezet? … should we lose Lomax? Should nobody take Matto?…
I’m still optimistic this team will be better from the experiences this season and a lot of our younger players will be better in 2026 with the NRL experience they got in 2025
We have a lot of good young players both getting NRL experience in 2025 but also a few really high quality future first graders who are waiting for their chance
It’s still my prediction that the Jason Ryles’s tenure will hit full peak (or) close to its full potential in year 3 of his career as Head coach of the eels
My guess on this is because this fits in with the timeline of Mitchell Moses still being a elite halfback, and a few of our young guns hitting close to their peak NRL years
We realistically need a shot at the premiership within 3 seasons – you simply cannot replace or improve upon a Mitchell Moses in your team
There’s 3 true elite halfbacks in the whole game – Cleary, Hughs, Moses… we ultimately need to go for a shot at the title while Moses is still young enough. You can’t just buy a player like him. He is the best #7 at parramatta since Peter Sterling in the 1980’s in my opinion.
Our premiership window is open until 2026-2028 in my perception. Beyond that there’s little hope of us winning a GF unless we can sign players like say Pezet and build another tier 1 Hapfback.
Are you aware that Troy Pezet was only 24 when he retired?
I remember making the trip to watch the Eels play the Crushers back in the day at Suncorp and Pezet tore us apart with his sidestep and speed off the mark.
(Looked it up March 1996.. Crushers 24-20 Pezet 2 tries)
Makes me feel old now that I’m watching Troy’s son run around.
If it’s a ‘business’ as many say, contracts have break clauses which usually includes penalties. Why should a player get a locked in commitment over a term, on field or not, but just say ‘see ya’ and walk away without penalty. If it’s to get a better deal, at minimum they should be made to buy out their contract (maths boffins can calculate the present value as a starting point).
$BW when he simply walked out on the Dogs to take up a contract with the All Blacks. Was taken to court for not honouring his contract.
He was forced to pay $450,000 damages to the Bulldogs.
And his lawyer’s invoice probably made his eyes water.
I think so. lol.
According to Paul Kent he was paid $450,000 by Nine to do a couple of commentary appearances.
When he returned to the NRL he went to the Roosters. Citing a promise to Politis prior to defecting as the reason for going to the Roosters.
What’s the chance Pezet end up in Wales?
“Whales” lol?
I have no idea on anything here – if Lomax stays and Simmo how do we fit in Pez? Matto leaves?
I really think we need another experience type forward with some NRL bench experience. Like a Jack W.
I can see us being ok for a few yrs as long as we continue to invest in youth and balance it well.
Ryles next two yrs will see how this pans out. We have to hold our nerve and stay on track….
As for C’bury tbh I never thought they’d get to the GF. Solid team and that’s it for me. Gould will be Gould and they messed with the spine too much…
Personally I would have been ok if Ricky won – he brought in some kids and they did well.
Glad the Riff bowed out tbh
Sixties the Galvin call wasn’t your biggest miss. I do recall that we had a little conversation where I said that I was told that Dylan had gone to Newcastle and you dismissed me saying that you were assured that he was staying.
Never trust a footballer ….
Just having fun mate..
Anyway here’s another I have heard.
If Canberra grab Pezet, who is thier first choice and they are going real hard for then Sanders wont be held to his contract.
Raiders are not sold on Ethan Sanders.
Eels are monitoring the situation and may bring Sanders home if Pezet goes to the Raiders.
Ethan Sanders won’t stay at the Raiders to play back up to Pezet.
Canberra pulled out a month ago according to Anasta
That’s not my strong mail mate. There is plenty going on in the background.
Sticky wants Pezet but they have to shed some freight.
It can be done and they are trying their best.
Eels are still in front but Sticky selling the dream.
Don’t believe what you hear, The Raiders are still in there.
I think lomax stays and for us to be a serious threat we need him. He probably didn’t finish the season as strong as he started it but Zac at his best can take us right up the ladder. Bailey is not a bad player but his not in the same mould as Lomax.
Pezet will be a great signing if we do land him but it does create a big overstock of haves
Talataina
Volkman
Hawkins
Papali
Pezet
Moses
I’d probably be looking at trying to move Volkman on to create a roster space I don’t think he’ll be in the future plans
Parra 1990 I don’t disagree with what you’re advocating however it must be remembered that Lomax was playing injured at the back end of the season.
He seemed at the backend to be missing some of those catches that he was swallowing earlier.
It could also be that teams are double teaming him in those situations.