Last week saw both the Lisa Fiaola and Tarsha Gale Cup squads in action against the Cronulla Sharks. Fast forward to today and it is more of the same as the Harold Matthews and SG Ball Cup teams face off against their Shire-bound opponents. Any hit out against the Sharks tends to be a quality one and this will give the Eels a really look at their in-house talent as they shape their Under 17s and Under 19s squads ahead of the regular season.

We all remember the heart break of the SG Ball Grand Final loss in 2025 and the Eels will most certainly be looking to go one better in 2026. That journey takes a significant step forwards today. So too for the Harold Matthews, who despite their considerable talent, stumbled early in the finals series.

As with last week, you will need to bear with me given the probable lack of team lists for both games. I will do my best to identify returning players but with a significant influx of new names and faces it gets tricky to keep up with who is doing exactly what beyond the numbers on jerseys!

Updates will commence later this evening around 6:00PM!

Harold Matthews Cup

 

Match Updates

First period

Damn it’s hot here. Need a hat in the early evening sun.

The Eels kick off and earn a line drop out. The ball is soon back into the red zone and in front of the posts. Great dart one pass off the ruck (can’t see the number but he slices through for the try.

Eels 4 Sharks nil after 2 minutes

Eels make good metres after the restart. Late in the count the ball goes to the left winger who surges 20 metres to the Sharks 40. Parra run it on the last for zero ground.

Sharks error mid set 30 out from Parra’s line. Parra make good ground but the Sharks hold on..

Awful last tackle kick from the Sharks and it’s a seven tackle set for Parra. High shot on the Eels half just over halfway. Penalty. The Eels number 3 (right centre) is a unit and is causing problems with every carry. The nine gets held up late in the count and then the Sharks field a cross field kick.

Skipping forward a few sets after a succession of errors. I’m also trying to escape the heat.

Parra has a set in the Sharks red zone and it’s a simple try from dummy half.

Eels 8 Sharks nil after 17 minutes

Eels knock just outside their quarter in the kick off set but they don’t pay the price as the siren sounds

End Of first period Eels 8 Sharks nil

Second Period

Unlike last week they are continuing the play as it just ended so it’s a Sharks scum. Eels defend it and a Sharks pass is knocked down late in the set. More defence coming.

This time the Eels can’t hold them out. Though they should have. The ball comes wide left to the Sharks centre and he’s well covered. However three Eels miss the tackle on him and he crosses.

Eels 8 Sharks 4 after about 3 minutes second period.

Heavy defence from the Eels after the kick off and they force the error. Scrum win to them and it’s close to a full set in the red zone. Left now and the edge forward or centre unfortunately drops the ball with the line open.

Sharks penalty. Good metres this set and they set up for a play in front of the posts but the dummy half goes on his own and is easily wrapped up by the Eels defence.

Eels get to their kick which goes deep into the Sharks quarter to complete a very solid set.

The sides trade sets but the Sharks come out on top as the Eels give them a seven tackle set. Oh they’ve butchered their chance with an error on the first. Parra returns the favour with an error on the second then gives away a penalty.

The mistakes are flowing in the heat as the Sharks cough it up mid set. Oh dear, now the Eels immediately gift it back 30 out from their own line.

Penalty Sharks for a second effort in the tackle to drag the winger into touch. Parra defends this set superbly but Sharks earn a line drop out.

Eels go long and it goes 50!

Sharks left centre has some ability and he goes close to setting up his winger this set. Eels hold on and field a kick in goal and get into the field of play.

Number 25 is at fullback for Parra and he’s huge! He fields the last tackle kick and almost breaks through.

Parra squander a chance by offloading to a Shark but the Sharks immediately cough it up. The siren sounds to end the second period.

Second break – Eels 8 lead Sharks 4

Third period

Sharks kick off. So this was treated as a full break. Looks like quarters this week.

Lots of changes and jerseys with high numbers!

Eels squander a chance in the quarter with a simple drop. Big line break from the Sharks takes them to Parra’s red zone but the defence regroups and holds them out.

Bad error from the Sharks 35 out and the Eels are launching a left side attack and the 25 throws a superb cut out to his winger (14) for the try.

Eels 12 lead Sharks 4 after 7 minutes of this period.

Massive charge from big 16 off the kick off and he busts tackles then gets the offload. Well done. Over halfway and towards the red zone this set but a poor pass on a right side shift brings it undone.

Sharks make an error late in the next set. Eels scrum mid field.

Another Eels error in the red zone but the Sharks throw a forward pass almost immediately. Eels scrum now penalty. Another dropped pass brings that to nought.

What a counter attack as the Eels back three take the ball from the back corner to the quarter. It all now comes unstuck two tackles later with a misdirected pass with the line open.

But all that is no problem as the Eels again hit their left side next set and the number 18 scores at centre out wide.

Eels 16 Sharks 4 end of quarter

Final Quarter

Eels survive early pressure and advance play to the quarter. More possession follows and the dummy half takes advantage of a slow and tiring line to scoot over from ten out.

Eels 20 lead Sharks 4 after four minutes.

Sharks kick off and the Eels split them and play smart by not pushing the pass. Left now and there’s a huge overlap as the ball goes through quick hands to the winger (5) and he dives over for the try.

Eels 24 Sharks 4 after six minutes

Lost ball late in the kick off set as the forwards were tearing through the middle. Sharks fail to complete their set so it’s an Eels scrum on the quarter.

Back to the red zone and it’s as simple as a try from dummy half by someone on the edge.

Eels 28 Sharks 4 maybe five minutes remaining (no scoreboard)

Awkward tackle on the Eels 5/8 as he went to hoist the kick earns a penalty. Siren goes

Full time in Matts – Eels 28 defeat Sharks 4

 

 

 

 

SG Ball Cup

 

First Quarter

It’s my understanding that a few players will miss this trial but play in the second trial. Both sides trade a set to start the match then a sharks error on halfway sets up a period of possession in the red zone for Parra. The Eels put pressure on with a grubber under the posts but it just rolls dead.

Another error for both teams in a scrappy opening to the game. Sharks scrum.

Sharks penalty for a strip. Eels defend this set superbly then the dummy half splits the Sharks and is supported by the half. The play falls apart next ball and now the Sharks are back in the red zone.

A dangerous right side shift to the winger by the Sharks goes very close to the line but he somehow slides his foot into touch in the tackle. Another Eels error gifts the visitors a full set ten out and this time it’s a straight forward pass and run to cross – though the ref looked like signalling held up before changing his mind.

Sharks 4 lead Eels nil after about 14 minutes

A couple of sets follow the kick off before the siren goes to end the quarter.

Second Quarter

Sharks kick off.

A couple of sets in and the Sharks make an error. Parra work play to the posts. The grubber is kicked on the last and it takes a fortuitous deflection straight to the chaser (number 8 prop Nunn ?) who crosses between the sticks

Eels 4 Sharks 4 after three minutes

Sharks again make a crucial error followed by an Eels error and then soon after by yet another Sharks error. Parra finally get close to completing a set and work play into the red zone. A Sharks deflection gives them six again but they don’t have the polish to get the points this set.

Both teams trade sets between the quarters. The pattern is broken as the Eels make a long break down the right wing. Now a big shift left and an ordinary bouncing pass turns to gold as the Eels player on the left edge steps back infield against the grain of the defenders and sprints about 15 metres to score.

Eels 8 Sharks 4 with about two minutes left in this quarter.

Eels are clicking into gear now as they immediately drive play down to the Sharks quarter. Right side now and the fullback (Riley Davis?) evades the defence to score as the siren sounds.

End of second quarter – Eels 12 Sharks 4

Third quarter

Back to back Sharks penalties from the kick off. Great trap, scrap, kick ahead and chase from the quarter that forced a Sharks knock on. Eels scrum 40 out. Looks like a well timed grubber and chase on the last but ref calls off side.

Oh that’s amazing work from Erls fullback Davis. First he makes the tackle on a run away Sharks player. He then chases from marker. Finally it looks like it’s Riley that gets across in cover to hold the player up over the line when a try seemed certain.

Parra take advantage of that as they advance play downfield then hit the right side for a the winger McCloskey to score

Eels 16 Sharks 4 after about ten minutes

The Sharks cough up the pill in their next set to gift Parra more possession. Parra use it for all of two tackles and the Sharks make them pay by scoring in the next set.

Eels 16 lead Sharks 8 with about five minutes remaining

A big collision from the kick off and it’s an error from the Sharks ten out. A couple of questions to the left now it’s set for the big right shift. The ball goes to the centre who doesn’t need his winger as he cruises to the corner to score.

Eels 20 Sharks 8 with about 3 minutes to go

Eels complete their set after points albeit with an awkward pass and improvised kick. Siren sounds during Cronulla set

Third quarter Eels 20 lead Sharks 8

Final Quarter

Eels error in their quarter but they defend it. They get to the kick and then the Sharks are penalised in possession.

Great crossfield kick on the last to the left winger who catches in the in goal and scores.

Eels 24 lead Sharks 8

Great individual try from a Sharks outside back as he steps his way through defenders to score on the right edge.

Eels 24 Sharks 12 with just over ten to go.

Sharks penalty after the kick off. Fast play the balls this set as the Sharks march down to the quarter. The dummy half jumps out quickly to the right and the visitors have gone back to back to make it a contest in the closing minutes.

Aggressive defence from Parra’s winger and fullback in the kick off draws a Sharks error.
Some scrappy errors this set and the sound of thunder in the distance and by my calculations time is called a bit early.

Eels 24 defeat Sharks 16