The Parramatta Eels head to Camden for Round 1 of the Junior Reps in 2026 as they face the Wests Magpies and Wests Tigers in a quadruple barrel gauntlet at Kirkham Oval. As always, Sixties and Forty20 will cover each and every junior rep game with a blow-by-blow, set-by-set, try-by-try recount of the action but you can also catch the games live streamed on BarTV Sports – although that does require a paid subscription.

Today’s action starts with the Harold Matthews as a very young Eels team looks to carve out their own path under coach Josh Hodgson. Keen eyed fans will spot a handful of returning players headed by halfback Caleb Leiataua, prop Curtis Brown and lock Hayden Bell but it is otherwise an exciting team filled with new prospects.

They kick off at 10:30AM and are followed by the SG Ball at 12:00PM. It is a formidable outfit the Eels have assembled in this grade. Between returning talent from last year’s heartbreaking loss in the Grand Final, graduating talent from the Matts and some outstanding recruitment – the Eels have assembled one of the premier rosters in the competition this season. The only real question now is – can they put it all together on the field?

Harold Matthews Team List

 

1	Liam Martin
2	Leonard Salter
3	Tyler Lama
4	Lorima Seuseu
5	JaydenTapuai
6	Levi Perrett
7	Caleb Leiataua
8	Christopher Suaalii
9	Flynn Manu’a
10	Curtis Brown
11	Jake Capovilla
12	Khan Jackson
13	Hayden Bell
Interchange
14	Spencer Sorenson
15	Tyson Puleitu
16	Thomas Jackson
17	Winston Tahi
18	Nixon O’Connor
19	Elijah Alzahim
23	Danny Abuhamed

 

Match Updates

 

Late Mail

 

First Half

Forty and I are sharing the call here. I’ll take the Matts and Ball then Forty will add the class with his detailed play by play description.

Eels kicking off. Magpies explore their right early and kick down that wing on the last. Eels in yardage. Bell leading a couple of nice plays down the left and Leiataua kicks on the last. Magpies penalty now for a high shot. Physical stuff down the middle from Wests and as they get close to the red zone the pass from dummy half is forward.

Nice footwork from Seuseu starts a foray from Parra’s end all the way to Wests line this set. Last tackle kick gets a handling error from Wests and another set. The Magpies will do well to hold them and they can’t as Caligula gets over. No the ref rules he lost it in the grounding.

Wests split the Eels defence through the middle and Martin does well one on one. An escape for Parra with an errant Wests pass.

Bell again on fire this set with another big carry. Penalty to Parra in the red zone. Big left shift and Martin throws the cut out to Tapuai who beats his opposite and dives over. No! The ref again rules lost ball. Two missed chances here. Wests advance to Parra’s red zone and earn a penalty. And the Eels have fallen to a dummy from the dummy half Speechly who crashes through defenders to score.

Conversion successful

Wests 6 lead Eels nil after 14 minutes

Wow, a huge hit from the Eels defender there has jolted the ball loose. Now a penalty as the Magpies react. Parra go horribly close as the Magpies tenaciously defend. Big shift right from the Eels but the ball goes down. Wests return the favour. Left now from Perrett to Seuseu who delivers the money ball to Tapuai who grounds it safely in the corner.

Conversion unsuccessful

Wests 6 lead Eels 4 after 21 minutes.

Parra complete the set after points but the hard work is let down by a penalty to Wests mid set. The Magpies are in Eels quarter within two tackles and they go left and the home side’s three quarters are too evasive for the Eels defence and the winger crosses in the corner.

Conversion unsuccessful

Wests 10 lead Eels 4 after 25 minutes

Great completion after points by Wests as Martin has to take the last tackle kick on his line. A much needed Eels penalty follows. Another penalty on the 40 follows.

Seuseu is unleashed by Perrett and he nearly does it all himself as it takes a second effort to bring him down a metre or so out. The Eels pepper the left and I’m sure they are continuing to look for their powerful centre. Khan goes close then the next play sees Perrett’s pass for Seuseu knocked down by Wests. Less than a minute for them to survive after the scrum and they do as the Eels lose their way a bit in keeping the play on their right. The siren sounds with a couple of tackles unable to be used.

Half time Wests 10 lead Eels 4

Second Half

Wests to kick off.

Huge charge from the kick off! Was that Winston Tahi? Wow! Almost to halfway before they could take him down. The Eels advance to the red zone and Perrett hoists the high kick to the Wests right corner and the Magpies winger is tackled in the air. Penalty. Early lost ball and a Parra scrum in Wests red zone. Oh no, Eels error with a pushed pass on the first. Wests get to the kick, a shallow one taken by Seuseu.

Parra complete the set with a kick then Wests winger Ratu splits Parra in yardage. He goes about 40 metres then loses control of his pass.

Down to the red zone with a bit of no mistake footy. Now second phase from Bell sets up a left side shift and Seuseu steps accelerates then powers through the last line of defence to touch down in the corner.

Kick unsuccessful

Magpies 10 lead Eels 8 after 38 minutes

This is a good set after points as Eels drive through the middle. Oh no it’s been knocked on at dummy half on Wests 40. Penalty to Wests follows after the scrum.

Six more as the Magpies hit the red zone. Massive left shift and the runner takes a line against the grain but the ball goes down.

Eels penalty after the scrum. Second phase around halfway and the ball finds Bell who weaves to the left. Quick hands to Seuseu who’s away. He surges to the quarter, and what a left foot step to beat the defender as he dives over just left of the posts.

Salter misses a close range attempt.

Eels 12 lead Magpies 10 after 45 minutes.

High kick on the last as the Eels complete the set after points and Wests put it down. Scrum ten out. Seuseu!!! The Eels centre comes in towards the ruck to take the run and he will not be denied as he carries defenders over the line.

Liam Martin takes this close in conversion and nails it.

Eels 18 lead Magpies 10 after 49 minutes

Another good set after points. This time they explore the right as Salter is released down the wing but he’s bundled into touch on the 30.

The Magpies must have got six again that I missed as they set up camp in the quarter. More possession as Parra lose possession first tackle. The defensive load eventually takes its toll as the home side go right to Hopoate to score.

conversion is a ripper

Eels 18 lead Magpies 16 with five minutes remaining

Big defence off the kick off but the ref penalises Parra. Hopoate hits up the tap kick after the touch finder but his offload goes down! Eels scrum forty out from their own line.

Theres feeling in this game and the tension is rising. Parra complete the set with a kick in the 20 by Perrett. Wests get the scraps then a penalty. This might be Wests last set. Huge tackle with Bell central to it. Big left shift by Wests and the ball sails over the sideline. Parra in possession 40 out and only need to complete this set. The siren sounds in what has been a quality opening round game.

Full time Eels 18 defeat Magpies 16

 

SG Ball Team List

 

1	Cameron Bamblett
2	Lorima Rokosuka
3	Nathan Howlett
4	Kordell Pritchard
5	Cyrus Bloomfield
6	Talen Risati
7	Lincoln Fletcher
8	Steven Nunn
9	Jireh-Trey Stewart
10	Ryda Talagi
11	Michael Nauer
12	Stirling Faumui
13	Jackson Koina
Interchange
15	Wesley Pakoti
16	Maison Ong
17	Nicholas Kotarac
18	Billy Fanene
14	Riley Davis
19	Christopher Petrus
22	Viliami Fifita

 

Match Updates

 

Late Mail

 

First Half

Magpies kicking off. The ball to Nunn goes down and Wests get possession in the red zone followed by a penalty. The Magpies earn a drop out with a last tackle kick.

Big cut out pass left to the winger who’s unmarked but it’s called forward. Eels scrum.

Set completed and Fletcher sends the kick high and deep and the chase is great. Magpies start this set deep in the red zone. They complete the set then Bamblett shreds them. Next play to Bloomfield who drives into the quarter but throws an ill-advised pass which hands over possession.

Wests get adventurous next set but the pass goes over the sideline. Eels ball.

Oh it’s the big one two as the Eels get to the red zone. Huge charge from Talagi goes perilously close and it’s followed up by Nunn ripping in on another crash ball and he’s over for the first try of 2026.

Conversion from Fletcher

Eels 6 Magpies nil after 10 minutes

Massive tackle from Magpies gets the error again from Parra in the kick off set. Parra knock down a pass to force a scrum. Wests go left then back right as they test the defence. And now the try comes with a quick dummy half effort beside the posts.

Conversion successful

Eels 6 Magpies 6 after 14 minutes

Wests complete the set and Rokosuka takes the awkward catch around the 20. Good dart from Stewart late in the set. The kick goes up on the last and it’s an Eels penalty for contact on the kicker as a drinks break is now taken with Parra preparing for a set in the red zone.

Nice exploration behind the ruck by Koina is followed by a short left side play as Bamblett finds Faumui running a superb line for the try.

sideline conversion from Fletcher

Eels 12 Magpies 6 after 21 minutes.

Great charges from Rokosuka, Nunn and Talagi  get this set off to an exciting start. Bamblett splits them through the middle and has the old spiders on him as the Magpies struggle to contain him. Right now to Pritchard who stretches out to try to ground the ball but it comes loose.

It’s firing up here as Parra are penalised for a late hit. Touch finder gets a tap on the Eels 40.

Wests opt for a couple of crash plays but Nunn and Talagi meet fire with fire and the ball comes loose.

Parra are pinged for a forward pass out of dummy half and the players again fire up. The Eels don’t pay the penalty as this time shot from Koina forces the Magpies error.

Eels penalty and Fletcher finds touch 40 out from the Wests line. What a run from Fletcher as he cuts through the defence to score. No he’s held up. Now the last tackle kick from Risati. Howlett flies high to take the catch and score. Hang on. The officials confer and find him offside!!!

Hmmmm

Wests penalty. Hey complete the set and Bamblett fields the high kick. A good run this set from Howlett as he drives over halfway. The high kick again heads to the left corner and Bloomfield is airborne as he takes the catch and fights his way over to ground it. The officials take an eternity to point to the spot but it’s definitely a try.

Fletcher converts from the sideline

Eels 18 Magpies 6 after 33 minutes

Brilliant outside/inside ruck play involving Fletcher and Bamblett who streaks through the gap with Fletcher in support. The fullback decides to take on his opposite and runs around him to score under the posts.

Fletcher converts as the siren sounds

Half Time – Eels 24 lead Magpies 6

Second Half

Eels kick off. Been a six again this set. Wests advance to the Eels red zone a shift left on the last but the ball goes astray and the Eels have picked up the scraps.

First Eels set now. The Magpies doing a good job to restrict them and a poor pass out of dummy half on the last is picked up by Ong who’s tackled 40 out from his own line. Wests get back to the red zone and explore the left late. The grubber kick comes and Bamblett slides to clean it up.

Eels complete their set with a kick from Fletcher. Wests reply in kind. The Eels outside backs are bending the defence in yardage. They cross into Wests half and head left. Fletcher gets free of the tackle and finds Risati who is too fast and elusive for the defence as he plants the ball over the line.

Fletcher converts from the angle

Eels 30 lead Magpies 6 after 43 minutes

The Eels don’t complete their set set after points as the ball goes down near halfway but Wests return the favour early in the next set.

Eels are getting quick play the balls and Kotarac takes play into the red zone. Last tackle kick by Fletcher is an awkward grubber for the Magpies fullback. He loses the ball and a Parra chaser has grounded it. It could be Pritchard.

Fletcher guides the conversion through the sticks

Eels 36 Magpies 6 after 49 minutes

Big kick on the last in the set after points and Parra might have scored. No it’s a penalty to Wests for possibly pushing the player away from the ball.

Bit of loose play between Bloomfield and Bamblett is followed by an obstruction call against Parra on the next play. Quite a few calls seem to be going against the Eels.

Drinks break. Magpies keeping the ball alive this set but Parra stand firm and what a tackle by Nauer this set!

Eels penalty follows for a shot on Rokosuka. Into Wests half now but Bamblett tries to get a bit too cute with a flick pass which goes astray. The Magpies try to immediately go onto the attack but make an error. No advantage taken.

Down to Parra’s quarter this set and the Eels defence is stretched to the limit. Parra barely hang on in front of the posts but the left side shift comes up trumps as the Eels are done for numbers.

Conversion successful

Eels 36 Magpies 12 after 58 minutes

Kotarac puts on a big shot in the set after points and it’s an Eels scrum. Look out, it’s that man Nunn again as he charges fearlessly into the defence and grounds the ball down just to the right of the posts. Try double!

Conversion from Fletcher successful

Eels 42 lead Wests 12 with 8 minutes remaining.

Talagi then Nunn then Kotarac now Nauer get the dirty yards done after the kick off. Kick comes and Nunn is penalised for a crusher

The Eels are defending with a player down as Wests hit the quarter. Grubber to the corner but Bamblett swoops and goes the length for the try! Wow!

Fletcher converts his 8th goal

Eels 48 Magpies 12 with four minutes remaining

Big charges from Ong this set. An error from Nunn as he’s hit in a big tackle in Wests quarter. A kick and chase from Wests earns a line drop out with about a minute remaining. A Wests kick to the corner as the siren sounds.

 

Full time Eels 48 defeat Magpies 12