This week, the boys academy teams enjoy a break with the bye, whilst the girls are at home (Eric Tweedale Stadium) to take on the Bears.

The Eels Lisa Fiaola Cup team are in imperious form in an undefeated early season run. There are a number of changes to their team this week as the extended squad all gain valuable match experience.

As for the Eels Tarsha Gale Cup side, they are warming into the season with recent wins after kicking off their 2026 campaign with a loss to the Tigers. With two wins to their name, the Bears will be tough to beat.

It’s a relatively early start today with the Lisa Fiaola match kicking off at 10am. I’ll cover the Fiaola Cup then Forty will take over for the Gale Cup.

 

Lisa Fiaola Team List

 

24	Ruby Enosi Tuipulotu
2	Shayla Curtis
21	Hine Rikiti
4	Marlie-Jay Paranihi-Tagoai
5	Taylah Barr
6	Sienna Manuo
7	Temieke Withers
8	Zhra Tautai
9	Armanhi Cook
10	Taylah Meagher
11	Zara Khouri
12	Kaizen Morgan-Pritchard
13	Isabella Bell
Interchange
15	Laura Gardiner
16	Chelsea Falls
15	Kaveinga O’Callaghan-Ahio
19	Rylee Cash
18	Ta’alili Tuivaiti

 

Updates

A few late changes to the starting 13. Hopefully I’ve got those changes correct.

First Half

Eels kicking off running north. The bears receive a penalty late in the set around halfway, now another late set penalty in front of the sticks. Parra’s defence folds too easily to concede a pushover try a few metres right of the sticks.

Conversion successful

Bears 6 Eels nil after four minutes.

Easy metres through the middle for the Bears but they spoil the good work by kicking out on the full on the last.

Parra get expansive early and shift left to Khoury who puts Curtis on a run down the wing. The play is centred, then the right shift is on. Tuipulotu links as the ball finds its way to Barr who continues her try scoring exploits by crossing in the corner.

Conversion misses

Bears 6 Eels 4 after 7 minutes

This time the Eels receive the piggyback penalty after making great metres from the kick off. The play goes left to Pritchard and now second phase sees the ball moved left to Rikiti who gets on the outside of her opposite and accelerates for the try.

Conversion misses.

Eels 8 lead Bears 6 after 11 minutes.

Superb charge from Bell after the kick off. Now play advances to the quarter. Right now and Tuipulotu again chimes in and feeds Paranihi-Tagoai with a lovely pass and the centre crashes over.

Withers converts

Eels 14 lead Bears 6 after 14 minutes

I can barely keep up as Parra again tear the defence to shreds to get back to the red zone. Withers dances her way around defenders before linking with Paranihi-Tagoai who gets the ball to Barr for her second of the day.

Conversion misses

Eels 18 Bears 6 after 18 minutes.

The Bears finally get possession back as they field Parra’s last tackle kick five out. They struggle to get towards half way and an awful pass forced an ordinary kick to Tuipulotu who gets back over halfway. Back to the red zone. Withers deftly pokes a grubber on the last to the in goal but it evades the chasing Curtis brushing her hands for a 20 metre re-start.

Parra now pay the price of a missed opportunity as the Bears break down the left wing and the Bears player is too fast for Tuipulotu and beats her to the corner.

Conversion misses

Eels 18 Bears 10 after 25 minutes

The metres are again too easy through the middle for the Bears who again get a late set penalty. Lucky call as a pass goes off hands and is ruled backwards. Not so lucky as it’s a simple knock on on Parra’s quarter line next play.

Hige break by Pritchard takes Parra down to Norths quarter. The ball comes left via a cut out from Manuo to Rikiti who unselfishly passes to Curtis for the try out wide.
Conversion misses

Eels 22 lead Bears 10 and half time will sound before the kick off

Half time Eels 22 lead Bears 10

 

Second Half

Bears kick off. Early set penalty to Parra. Falls surges through the middle and attempts a tough offload as she goes to ground. The try was on if it was taken but it was just too low for the support runner.

Bears scrum and now penalty around half way. A couple of tackles and the ball comes free thirty out.

Parra drive through the ruck for the first three tackles. Left now and Khoury splits them. She comes to the fulllback with support streaming through, but a simple feign to pass puts the fullback off and Khoury runs past her to score between the sticks.

Withers converts.

Eels 28 Bears 10 after 36 minutes

Great carry from Falls from the kick off sets the platform for this set. Left again to Khoury late in the set but the defence holds on. Withers dabs the ball towards the wing where it’s regathered by Curtis but she’s tackled a metre shy of the line.

Another late set penalty to the Bears. Down to the quarter and they shift the ball skillfully to the left and I think it’s the fullback cutting between our centre and winger to score.

Conversion unsuccessful

Eels 28 Bears 14 after 42 minutes

Bears fail to complete the set as Falls cleans up a dropped pass. Down to the quarter and Parra explore the left side with Curtis again going close. Back to centre field then left again as Khoury links with Rikiti for the try.

Withers converts

Eels 34 Bears 14 after 46 minutes.

Great leg drive from Bell who refuses to be tackled and advances play into Norths half. Eels penalty. 25 out. Strong charge from Cash who gets close to the line and in fact the ref points to the spot!!!

Conversion unsuccessful

Eels 38 Bears 14 with ten minutes to go

Short kick off works for the Bears who regather it easily. They advance to the red zone and go back to the left side well. The Eels are waiting for it this time and the cover forces a lost ball. Eels scrum ten out.

Parra penalty on the 40. Now again 25 out. Touch found 15 out. It’s all too easy now as the play goes through hands from the right wing to the posts and a gap is opened for Cash to stroll through next to the posts.

Withers converts

Eels 44 Bears 14 five minutes remaining

Pritchard fields the kick off and is tackled on the forty. Last tackle kick is fumbled by the Bears and somehow Curtis is held up. A player goes from dummy half and scores can’t quite make out who maybe Rikiti but I’ll update it when I do.

Conversion misses

Eels 48 Bears 14 with two to go

Pritchard takes a spectacular catch from the kick off. Can they get 50? Play quickly advances to the quarter. Great line from Pritchard who busts the defence and brushes away the fullback to crash over to the right of the posts

Withers converts

Full time Eels 54 defeat Bears 14

 

 

Tarsha Gale Team List

 

1	Kiana Vatubua
2	Zyon Ligaliga
3	Billie Va’a
4	Jessamine Aloaii
5	Freedom Crichton Ropati
6	Sammy-Lee Gunn-Tauai
7	Aaliyah Soufan
8	Taylah Falaniko
9	Ava Jones
10	Alana O’Loughlin
11	Tia Matthews
12	Fontayne Tufuga
13	Khyliah Gray
Interchange
16	Leonia Vei
18	Mitzy Cairns
19	Alissia Misa
20	Shire Thocolich
15	Sualo Lafoga
22	Catea Duff

 

Updates

 

Eels look to be as per program.

 

First Half

 

The Eels will receive the ball to start this game.

Alana O’Loughlin is the first player to rip in today as she returns the kickoff. Kyliah Gray and Taylah Falaniko follow her up and a strong charge from Zyon Ligaliga carries the Eels well into the Bears’ half. The attacking bomb goes up as Parramatta’s left edge gives hot pursuit. The ball is allowed to bounce and takes a kind turn for the Bears as it rolls dead with a number of chasers closing in.

Nice reply set from the Bears. They focus on working it through the ruck and carve out a good tract of territorial gain before hoisting it high on the last. A momentary miscommunication between Vatubua and Ligaliga almost leads to an error on the clean up but Vatubua comes away with it at the end.

Shades of their first possession here from the Eels are they again rumble into North Sydney’s half and position for an attacking kick. Aaliyah Soufan rolls it along the deck on the last but again the ball has an inclination to traverse over the dead ball line.

Solid sets from both teams from there as both the Bears and Eels roll up their sleeves and work to their kicks. Good standard of play to start this contest.

There goes O’Loughlin! Good shot! Strong contact from the prop forward there and it forces an error. First time either team has blinked early on.

Parra set the scrum on the Bears’ 30m line as Tia Matthews flies in for the run from the scrum win. O’Loughlin next before Gray takes the play wide right to her five-eighth Funn-Tauai. Ligaliga nearly breaks through on the switch back to the left and on the next play Gray is held up over the line! Oh dear I thought she was going to score for all money but she just couldn’t get the ball down! The Eels run it down their right on the last but I think it was Billie Va’a who couldn’t reel in a tough pass with the defence closing in.

The Bears get it wrong out of dummy half and tip the ball forwards to give the Eels a second shot here. Parramatta work it to their right with Va’a who wants to offload but can’t find any support and settles for taking the tackle. O’Loughlin brings play back to the centre and the markers are slow to align themselves from her carry. That springs Ava Jones free from close range and she knifes over for the first points. Jones goes on to convert her own try for maximum points.

 

Try scored by Ava Jones. Conversion successful by Ava Jones.

Eels lead 6-0

12min gone

 

Clever work from Gray. She weaves and steps her way through the ruck defence of the Bears and sparks an explosive play down the Eels’ left edge as Vatubua is released for a nice gain before she earns a penalty. Not sure if that was a high tackle or a crusher.

Matthews gets us back underway as the Eels build to their right. Falaniko has a good run in that building process and wins a penalty for a slow ruck. She goes again from the tap restart as Soufan uses Matthews to the left next play. Jones fires a pass right to Soufan who then links up with Sammy-Lee who then uses Ligaliga who is tackled. The Eels continue to play right using the shortside but the pass from Tufuga is tipped by a defender and the Eels get a scrum.

Aloalii gets the call for the first tackle as Gray goes next. Parra stack their numbers to the right and sharp hands allow Fontayne Tufuga to win the outside shoulder on the defender opposite her as she storms over amidst a random siren ringing out. It is not half time I assure you but Tufuga has earned herself an orange slice for that effort!

 

Try scored by Fontayne Tufuga. Conversion unsuccessful by Ava Jones.

Eels lead 10-0

17min gone

 

O’Loughlin stays busy this set as the Eels hustle their way to centrefield before they get penalised in possession! I am not sure what the call was there. It was a slow ruck off the back of a good run from Shire Thocolich and she tried to play-the-ball with a defender occupying the space. I am a bit confused by the whistle but the Bears make the most of the chance in the next set. A crisp left edge movement from the visitors sees their winger Timeka Collins burst into open space and go on to beat Ligaliga in a difficult last ditch tackle attempt on the goal line.

 

Try scored by North Sydney. Conversion unsuccessful.

Bears trail 4-10

21min gone

 

The Bears make a meal of the kickoff to put the Eels right back on the attack. Tufuga looks to be hit high early in the set but the referee says play on and ultimately the Eels fail to complete their possession as Ligaliga tries to fight through defenders down the left edge and the ball pops out just short of the goal line.

Momentum with the Bears as they pick up a penalty and work into Parra’s half. Matthews makes a crucial tackle on her opposite to save a certain try and Vatubua then does brilliantly to not only field a grubber kick but get back into the field of play! Two massive defensive plays down the left edge.

A delay in the game here with the Eels looking to work out of their defensive quarter. It is for a downed Bear who thankfully looks to be alright after getting attended to by the trainer. Leonia Vei is called upon on the restart of play and has the ball forced out of her grasp after a long wrestle. The call goes against the Eels but that felt like a real 50/50. Ref let the defender wrestle for a long time after the held call there.

Critical set in defence for the home team now. North Sydney threaten down their left edge late in the count and the Eels barely hold on to bring up the last but it unravels from there. An excellent grubber kick from the visitors finds space in behind Soufan in the front line but before Vatubua I think it is at the last line and their chasers and perfectly positioned to take advantage of it as they pounce on the bouncing ball and score just before half time.

 

Try scored by North Sydney. Conversion successful.

Bears lock the scores up at 10-all

 

Half Time

Parramatta Eels 10 tied with the North Sydney Bears 10

 

 

Second Half

 

Eels kicking off.

Parra have an early chance to score in the second half but the Bears are able to repel them with a good goal line stand. North Sydney cough the ball up on halfway in reply. Freedom Crichton Ropati has a terrific burst from the scrum win as the Eels keep playing right where Gunn-Tauai has a nice surge down the sideline. Parramatta want to centre the ball from there to give themselves options but Gray it met heavily on the goal line as she tries to secure a pass and knocks on.

Strong tackle from Misa and Vei there as it curtails a pretty solid set from the Bears. Their combined driving tackle pushes North Sydney well back from halfway and paves the way for a good kick return from Vatubua. The Eels work it into the attacking quarter from there but can’t break the goal line defence of the Bears – even running it on the last. Ligaliga nearly fights her way through the defence as she sorties down the left edge but the Bears hang on grimly for the turnover.

The Bears are helped out of danger with a penalty against the Eels for taking someone off the ball as they march downfield on the back of the whistle. Their attacking kick is too heavy though and bounces dead in-goals fairly comfortably as Parramatta win back a penalty of their own. Tap and go for Misa as Parramatta begin to rumble up the middle. Gray has a big gain through the ruck before Parra spin left to Vatubua on the wing. She heads back infield for a good gain and sets up a shift to the opposite side of the field. Soufan uses a wide running Ava Jones, cool little wrinkle in the attacking alignment, who then finds an even wider running Sammy-Lee Gunn-Tauai who makes full use of the extra space as she cuts back off the right foot against the sliding defence and scores!

 

Try scored by Sammy-Lee Gunn-Tauai. Conversion successful by Ava Jones.

Eels lead 16-10

44min gone

 

More clever work from Jones now! She plunders over 20m from dummy-half running the wake of Gray as the Eels pour on the pressure. A towering bomb from Soufan falls just inside the field of play as a spirited chase from Tia Matthews wins the drop out!

Big chance here for the Eels. They play from right to left as Matthews and Soufan test out the right-edge defence of the Bears before Thocolich centres the ball for Parramatta. Billie Va’a! BILLIE VA’A! WATCH OUT! She leaves defenders strewn in her wake here as she thunders through edge and ruck defenders alike powering from the right edge back to the posts. She must have skittled three separate defenders before burrowing through the last line to score an incredible solo try!

 

Try scored by Billie Va’a. Conversion successful by Ava Jones.

Eels lead 22-10

48min gone

 

A bit of confusion on the kickoff as the ball falls between Sammy-Lee and her running option. Sammy-Lee manages to field the bouncing ball without issue thankfully and the Eels put together a solid set after points before winning a late penalty. Big momentum surge now. Cairns and Tufugua take the early runs before O’Loughlin smashes over the ad-line and draws a penalty. She wants more too as she takes the tap restart carry. Left to Soufan who brings Aloalii back underneath to the posts. Jones goes to Soufan right now as the spine combines with Sammy-Lee getting involved. They push the ball all the way to the right sideline with Crichton Ropati but the Bears jam her in limited space and she loses the ball fighting to stay in play.

Big shot from Falaniko there! Draws raucous approval from the home crowd. The Eels are on top in the territorial battle as Ligaliga easily fields the clearing kick with interest. Freedom provides a great run out of dummy half before getting the whistle as the Eels settle down and take the tap restart. This time it is the Bears with a bonerattler as Alana O’Loughlin is hit heavily in a clean shot. Falaniko puts the Eels right back on track though with a bustling carry to the goal line and it is clean, crisp hands from there as the right edge all play their part en-route to Freedom Crichton Ropati dotting down in the corner untouched! Lovely footy!

 

Try scored by Freedom Crichton Ropati. Conversion unsuccessful by Ava Jones.

Eels lead 26-10

55min gone

 

Falaniko and Gray lead the way early in the following set. Jones has a scurry and looks for passing options before settling for the carry herself. Tia Matthews carries Parramatta 12m into the Bears half before Ligaliga just explodes through the middle! The Bears are obviously fatigued here and some clever ball-playing from Kyliah Gray plays on that as she turns the ball back inside for her fullback who does the rest! Cover defenders come at her before the goal line but Zyon is too strong and scores a cracking try!

 

Try scored by Zyon Ligaliga. Conversion successful by Ava Jones.

Eels lead 32-10

57min gone

 

The ball spills backwards from Sammy-Lee’s hands on the kickoff but she retrieves it without incurring an error. Falaniko continues her excellent second half with another punishing carry before the Eels look to open the Bears up around the ruck. Gray gets in behind the markers and makes a half break before passing to O’Loughlin in support but the pass traveled forwards and the officials make the right call.

Credit to North Sydney here, they don’t lie down and use the turnover and the spare 30sec on the clock to trouble the scorer a final time. Their concussion reserve Hailey Wheatley it looks like has been thrown into the game as she bursts through the right edge defence of the Eels to score as the siren rings out.

 

Try scored by North Sydney. Conversion unsuccessful.

 

Full Time

Parramatta Eels 32 defeat the North Sydney Bears 14

 

Sixties