NRL Team List
Round 5 vs Wests Tigers, Monday 4:05PM, CommBank Stadium
The Eels stumble into their traditional Easter Monday clash against the Wests Tigers on the back of a brutal loss to the Penrith Panthers…but for all the heavy doom and gloom going around they still sport a 2-2 record. Even with an ugly early season injury toll, Parramatta have both the means and the opportunity to reclaim a winning record. They will need to skittle a plucky Wests Tigers outfit though with the joint-venture claiming a major scalp last week in the New Zealand Warriors.
Jason Ryles has more injuries to contend with this week with Isaiah Iongi expected to miss at least 8 weeks while Matt Doorey has unfortunately been lost for the remainder of the season. Naturally, Joash Papalii assumes the mantle of fullback for the Blue & Gold and gets a chance for a lengthy run at his preferred position. Charlie Guymer looks set to be the man to step in for Doorey and likewise gets a huge chance to carve out his own niche in the line-up.
Parramatta’s 6-man bench is rounded out by players at the opposite ends of the experience spectrum. Jack De Belin earns a minor reprieve this week as he figures in NRL calculations on the bench.
In contract, Apa Twidle finds himself catapulted into the backline utility role as Parramatta’s depth gets tested early in the 2026 season. While there were some blemishes defensively last week, Twidle was undoubtedly an electric presence in attack in the NSW Cup with the young back bagging four tries against the Panthers. Opportunity often maketh the man and while I think a Round 5 debut for Twidle would be dictated by a continuation of the catastrophic injury toll during the Monday contest, Apa is now in the box seat to be the crucial Mr Fixit for Ryles now.
Of concern is a similar formula being applied to the starting middle rotation. Ryles, by faith in his experienced forwards or by force of injuries, has elected to start Junior Paulo and Jack Williams in the front row. Dylan Walker has been a positive factor for the Eels but understandably many fans prefer him to be thrust into the game from the interchange.
While not solely at the feet of the ruck men, Parramatta’s slow starts have been in part at least due to a lack of traction in the middle in the opening quarter. Ryles does have the option to switch Walker for Guymer ahead of kickoff but would he be game for a double switch and also bring in Sam Tuivaiti for Paulo?
Beyond that the other area in which fans will have zero tolerance for is another sluggish defensive effort. They are credible arguments that Parramatta’s defensive struggles are not system based but if that is true then it means that individuals need to seriously pull their fingers out. Adam Doueihi has been on a bit of a tear to start the year while Apisai Koroisau always feasts on lax ruck defence. Both figure as massive threats on Monday given Parramatta’s defensive issues. Can the Eels run a tighter ship against the Tigers and limit their impact?
| Parramatta Eels | Wests Tigers | |
| Joash Papalii | 1 | Jahream Bula |
| Bailey Simonsson | 2 | Faaletino Tavana |
| Brian Kelly | 3 | Sunia Turuva |
| Sean Russell | 4 | Heamasi Makasini |
| Josh Addo-Carr | 5 | Luke Laulilii |
| Jonah Pezet | 6 | Jock Madden |
| Mitchell Moses | 7 | Adam Doueihi |
| Jack Williams | 8 | Terrell May |
| Ryley Smith | 9 | Apisai Koroisau |
| Junior Paulo | 10 | Fonua Pole |
| Kelma Tuilagi | 11 | Samuela Fainu |
| Kitione Kautoga | 12 | Kai Pearce-Paul |
| Dylan Walker | 13 | Alex Twal |
| Interchange | ||
| Tallyn Da Silva | 14 | Latu Fainu |
| Sam Tuivaiti | 15 | Sione Fainu |
| Charlie Guymer | 16 | Royce Hunt |
| Luca Moretti | 17 | Alex Seyfarth |
| Jack De Belin | 18 | Bunty Afoa |
| Apa Twidle | 19 | Jeral Skelton |
| Reserves | ||
| Ronald Volkman | 20 | Tristan Hope |
| Teancum Brown | 21 | Tony Sukkar |
| Araz Nanva | 22 | Patrick Herbert |
Injury Report
| Player | Injury | Return Date |
| William Penisini
Jordan Samrani Isaiah Iongi J’maine Hopgood Matt Doorey |
Groin Strain
Meniscus Tear Syndesmosis ACL Tear ACL Tear |
Rd 7
TBA (6+ weeks) Rd 13 minimum Season Season |
NSW Cup Team List
Round 5 vs Western Suburbs Magpies, Monday 1:40PM, CommBank Stadium
The injury carnage spills over to the NSW Cup this week where they not only feel the pinch of NRL promotions but are also reeling from the losses of Lorenzo Talataina and Jake Tago to concussion protocol. Nathan Cayless has scrambled to make do and has drafted in some Jersey Flegg talent. Devonte Vaivela and Ioane Lui have earned the call up and take over at centre and five-eighth respectively while Brad Avery turns out for his second cap of the year at fullback.
Parramatta squandered a chance to poach a win over the Panthers last week and had to settle for a 26-all draw. They now face the winless (0-3) Magpies in the curtain raiser on Monday.
| 1 | Brad Avery |
| 2 | Samuel Loizou |
| 3 | Devonte Vaivela |
| 4 | Araz Nanva |
| 5 | Mohammed Alameddine |
| 6 | Ioane Lui |
| 7 | Ronald Volkman |
| 8 | Uitoni Mataele |
| 9 | Kruz Niutili-Schmidt |
| 10 | Teancum Brown |
| 11 | Will Latu |
| 12 | Jezaiah Funa-Iuta |
| 13 | Saxon Pryke |
| Interchange | |
| 14 | Meni Luke |
| 15 | Damascus Neemia |
| 16 | Tyrese Lokeni |
| 17 | Max Tupou |
Jersey Flegg Cup Team List
Round 5 vs Wests Tigers, Saturday 2:00PM, James Hardie Centre Of Excellence
The changes trickle all the way down to the Jersey Flegg Cup where Dakota Kakoi and Harley Walker get starts at centre and five-eighth – something of a similar theme in the top-down impact from NRL injuries. Jack Hudson starts at dummy-half this week as the Eels head home to Kellyville to take on the Wests Tigers.
| 1 | Corey Leigh |
| 2 | Jeshua Maa-Nelson |
| 3 | Siamani Leulaui |
| 4 | Dakota Kakoi |
| 5 | Druzel Taula |
| 6 | Harley Walker |
| 7 | Kade Moujalli |
| 10 | Beau Lucien |
| 9 | Jack Hudson |
| 19 | Jordan Miller |
| 11 | Trace Beattie |
| 12 | Callum McMenemy |
| 13 | Zach Visconti |
| Interchange | |
| 14 | Noah Parker |
| 15 | Markkuz Ofanoa |
| 16 | Javahn Stevenson-Hala |
| 17 | Elijah Shane-Taupau-Taylor |
Kelma at backrow again? I have run out of words to describe in how many ways he is not a first grader, let alone a starter.
Ryles selections (at face value) seem to suggest he hopes we can score more points than opposition each week. Doesn’t scream a coach who cares about defence – all about attack.
Walker shouldn’t start; jdb should – that’s another head scratcher. I hope Ryles pulls some late changes
I’m a big fan of Jason Ryles but what can I say ?
Bittererly disappointed that there is no accountability.
You pick duds then don’t be surprised when they don’t perform.
Just disappointed.
Junior needs to start from the pine, why is Sam not starting?
What about Brown, this would have been a perfect opportunity for him
I’m expecting quite a few changes before the game
Jordan Miller in Flegg, has played NRL for Tigers
Could he boost Knock On Reggie’s ? Dropped some kegs, big man middle get some runs in the legs, he is big lad ay.
The future is Now…
Sam, Moretti, Guymer, Teancum, Latu, Lokeni, Funa-Luta, Mataele, Pryke, Miller, Samrani, Ryda
Twidle, Talataina, Joash,
Be good if Jnr 13.
Tuivaiti. 8
DeBelin 10
Twidle. 1
Joash 6
Williams. 11
Kautoga. 12
Walker 15
TDS. 14
Moretti 16
Guymer. 17
Teancum 18
Talataina. 19
You can’t expect knee jerk reactions and mass sackings based off of getting flogged by Penrith. Not gonna happen. Pezet will be given at least another month to improve his defence and then you may see a bit of a reshuffle with Joash to 6 and perhaps Twidle into the side until Iongi is back. As for the backrowers yeah they each have a defensive miss or two in them but they are big lads who offer punch on the edge and can play big minutes. Again Ryles would be loath to give up on either of them yet. 2 weeks ago Kelma won us the game v broncos.
T.C Brown should be on the bench with Walker.
Super Damascus will be looking to rip and tear in reggies.
Mel a is such a defensive liability and Williams is not a prop.SadlyJunior looks to be avoiding the collision while Smith is looking like he is injured. Our line speed is rubbish and the go forward from our middles is rubbish. Hopefully they can turn it around but as we say each season “there’s always next year.”.
Anyone calling for JDB to be added back into the starting line up has no idea.
We need Guymer at 13 as a minimum, and Tuivati in for Paulo. Aging middles are the reason for our slow starts and JDB was front and centre for that through trials, round 1 and 2.