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Rarely does a week in the off-season demand a second a second podcast later in the week but we live in interesting times and the Parramatta Eels are making all sorts of roster moves ahead of the commencement of the preseason. Sixties and Forty20 try to keep up with it all in a bonus edition of The Tip Sheet.
From the latest on Jonah Pezet, including comments made by Braith Anasta during the week, to the Daily Telegraph article today purporting that the Eels are ready to throw Nelson Asofa-Solomona a lifeline in the NRL – there is plenty to try and breakdown. Join the boys as they try to make sense of it all on a Friday night!
Catch the live stream from 7:30PM!
Please Mr Sixties 🙏 ,please don’t jinx any potential signings if you can by scooping them before they are announced. And now that Nelson Asofa-Solomona is on the cards please 🙏 Mr Sixties please try not to mention how many years or if or when he’ll be announcing.
The club can’t afford any or the slightest misfortune or bad juju by the way of predicting the future.
Please Mr Sixties. No more scooping.
Spud Carrol, I think, perhaps jokingly, said late last year that NAS was house hunting at Kellyville. Maybe that’s where it originally came from.
He’d be a pickup, but it would have to be for limited damage to the salary cap. His rep with refs is a real prob.
Agreed.
There’s media stories & rumours that the eels are always making r “bad decisions” during every of season ….
This is year no different:
I’m fully backing Jason Ryles on his decisions. NAS? Yep – Ryles would re-forge his tackle technique and trim him up to be playing more mins + less of a “impact player” and get him playing more minutes in less of a “bashing” role in our middle rotation.
Jonah? Yep. Good signing. Footy Dean is a gun back up #7 but doesn’t have the long kicking ability, hence the eels struggled for field position and won’t threaten for a title (or finals) with him as our #7 when Moses is out. Pezet has a kicking game which will see the eels become less dependent on Mitchell Moses.
Doorey exploring elsewhere? His trying to find more funds and sees De Belin (maybe NAS if he comes) AND Sam Tuivaiti ahead of him. I like Matt. But he sits behind all of those players. Unless there’s injury’s Matt may see less Game time in 2026. I back Jason Ryles decision to not increase his salary.
And for anyone saying we are cucks for Pezet. There’s no guarantees any of our halves in the top 30 are even capable of helping the eels become top 8 finishers in 2026 unless we can get a miracle and Moses plays 90% of games next year…
If you look at broncos who won the comp. There’s about 4-5 legitimate first grade halves on their roster who can do the job at high level. We currently one elite half and 2-3 reserve grade halves who are still finding their feet.
This 1 year deal increases the chances of the eels winning more games or at the bare minimum keeps the pressure off Moses to control all of the long kicking in 2026. He was told to not goal kick to protect his foot. Ideally having another half who can kick long and bomb (like Pezet) will not only take pressure off Mitch.. it may even help reduce the chances of Him getting injured again.
I felt like we had a good finish to 2025 but we are still massively dependent on Mitchel Moses and Jnr Paulo.
You take out Moses & Paulo in those last 4 games of the year. How many do we win? Maybe 1? Who knows.
De Belin and NAS… or Pezet. These guys add depth exactly where we are our weakest.
I’m of the belief our coaches know exactly why they are doing and we should all just buckle up and go do the ride with them.
Our coaching staff have shown themselves to be extremely competent. Especially regarding recruitment and retention.
I’m willing to back them and support them until they prove otherwise. All of their signings and internal promotions so far have been spot on. 👍
Fair calls Muz.
Good one fellas
Look I’m ok if we can snag NAS as long as it’s not too expensive it Parra won’t pay 💰 a
Motza if he does end up here.
I back Ryles here if this happens
I’m on board for the right price for NAS.
What Bus is that mate? Hope its not the Cleary one….
Tks guys. DeBelin and NAS are ‘mature’ aged but bring certain strengths.For one, both capable of hitting the defence strongly and getting to their feet quickly to get our backline into play with more time and space. We saw this style emerging late last season, and it looked promising to me. We’ve got a good spread of age in the forwards, a couple of old blokes to keep Junior company is not such a bad thing.
I think it’s time to turn our attention to outside backs. We need both depth and experience there.
On a venting side note;
Rugby league academias push to elevate Cleary’s credentials as a representative player is a shameful period in Australian rugby league history.
In the test match last night that I got up for Cleary had a game that had Mitchell Pearce had would’ve drawn criticism at every level.
Moses is clearly the player for that level. Every time he plays at that level he shines with or beyond the players around him.
When will this craziness end.
Ps what a low quality test match the Pommy referee presided over
I was reminded this week by someone whose footy IQ I respect that statistically Moses eclipses Cleary in SOO. I am talking here regarding Win/Loss.
Moses has won his last three SOO games. He was also a big part in NSW last series win.
Cleary has had his best results partnering James Maloney and Mitch. But hey, I am biased.
The Cleary glazing at any rep level is ridiculous.
How long is it going to take until people admit he is not individually as good as everyone thinks?
When has he ever played rep and been the stand out individual?
I’m yet to see it yet. He thrives at club level in a system which remains highly competitive without him even playing.
His father’s coaching and the Penrith system is obviously a very large part of his success.
Nathan is one of the best club level halves I’ve seen. But is he the best? His team for 5 years has been able to win while he is out injured.
You look at eels or storm. If their #7 is out the teams ability to win often goes straight out the window.
Not only that. You have seen how much impact Moses has at NSW level. Have we ever seen a NSW or kangaroos game and thought the same about Cleary?
I personally believe NSW will lose 2026 origin. And it’s NOT only because Daley is our coach…
I personally can’t see a Nathan Cleary NSW team offering up enough to make us beat QLD unless maroons are riddled with injuries.
Nathan’s a beast at club land. But maybe he isn’t as good as we think. His dad and that panthers team obviously deserve more credit for Panthers success than we give them. If it was largely Nathan’s doing, NSW & Aus would be almost invincible when he is playing #7.
At rep level?… it just isn’t the case unfortunately.
Well said Luke. I agree entirely on all points.
Nathan is outstanding at club level, but IMO has never dominated at rep level.
My theory is Ivan has built a squad and structured a game plan that complements Nathan’s skill set. That, and his own hard work, is why he dominates at that level.
Also remember Phil Gould worked hard to get their centre of excellence and also ensure players anywhere west of Penrith, i.e. the Blue Mountains and beyond, aspired to be a Panther player, enhancing their pipeline.
Take Nathan out of that structure and put him with in a rep team with players that have different skills, and in particular those with individual flair, and he doesn’t shine as much.
At least not yet.
IMO, Mitch Moses offers more at rep level. He can contribute at a team and individual level.
Can we please stop talking about how much better Moses is at Rep level than Cleary. As much as Rep level is what good players aspire Moses gets hurt in that sphere. Let Cleary play the big games, we want Moses out on the paddock for the Eels. We acknowledged we can’t do it without him so let’s drop the Rep games and leave it to the little master, Cleary. As for NAS how ironic he goes from the player we hate the most to possibly a loveable eel. We are truly a funny mob. Having said that NAS would be a great acquisition if, and that is a big if, he can control the thuggery part of his game. He is a monster with leg speed and he would bring an element of fear to the team. I think Doorey is looking to the future with maybe Perth in mind. Mr Sixties is correct we need some more experienced outside backs to compliment the few we have. Are there any out there?
Gents, good content as usual..
I don’t share your concerns re the Pezet signing.
Even if it is for one year that shouldn’t matter as we should be trying to run out the best team we can every season and having Pezet only strengthens us in an area we’ve desperately lacked depth in for years now
Just looking at our squad, and I’m counting Matto here, if Pezet signs we’ll have 2 free top 30 spots (assuming we keep one spot free) to fill.
If thats the case I would prefer the club to sign 2 outside backs rather than NAS. I wouldn’t object to NAS signing I just think we need more competition and back up for outside back positions. I’d say we’re stacked with middle forwards atm. JDB, Hopgood, Paulo, Tuivati, Doorey, Dylan Walker, Jack W, Moretti, Matto Thats 9 of our current 27 top 30 players being middle forwards.
I’d love for the club to sign (or even better swap Matto for) a promising young back and an experienced NRL back like Phillip Sami to put pressure on Penisini, and Simonsson.
Anyway I’m very excited for next year and will be curious to seeing Sixties pre season reports, it feels like there will be some healthy completion for positions.
Cheers Carl. I’m on board with signing backs as a priority. I might have to sit down to work out the top 30 situation now that we’ve had a bit of clarity. That coin for Matto is going to influence what Parra can do in the market.
Have the non-rep guys started preseason training?