NRL Team List
Round 7 vs Canterbury Bulldogs, Sunday 4:05PM, CommBank Stadium
So the injury fallout from Sunday’s horrific loss was even worse than we initially thought.
What else is new with season 2026?
Say good bye to Kitione Kautoga (MCL, Round 13) and Sam Tuivaiti (Concussion, TBC) for a while. Kelma Tuilagi (Concussion, Round 8) will miss a game but the statuses of Jonah Pezet (Hamstring, Round 13), Jordan Samrani (Meniscus, Round 13) and Apa Twidle (AC Joint, Round 15) have all been downgraded into essentially worst case scenarios.
Jason Ryles confirmed that Junior Paulo is deal with an ongoing knee issue in the presser on Sunday. Mitchell Moses is clearly carrying a groin niggle from Easter Monday and Ryley Smith looks anything but 100% currently while Josh Addo-Carr’s ribs are still rattling around from two weeks ago.
To loosely quote an internet classic, there is a point where this all needed to stop and we have clearly passed it…but let’s keep going and see what happens anyway.
Sean Russell is back. That is a legitimate boost to our back line.
The forward pack is a mess of reshuffles and patch-work fixes. Luca Moretti will start opposite of Junior. Charlie Guymer and Jack Williams divert to the edges to cover for the dual losses of Kautoga and Tuilagi. Toni Mataele is in line to play his second ever NRL game and is joined on the bench by Saxon Pryke – who is set to make his first grade debut. Teancum Brown is also a very reasonable chance at making his NRL debut for the second round running but given he is also named in the NSW Cup it looks like he will play behind Mataele and Pryke this week.
Araz Nanva rounds out the 6-man bench after debuting against the Titans last week.
It is, to be put mildly, dire.
Canterbury finds themselves at the other end of the spectrum as the finally welcome back marquee recruit Leo Thompson while Stephen Crichton appears to be an outside chance of making an early return from an AC joint sprain. Must be nice.
| Parramatta Eels | Canterbury Bulldogs | |
| Joash Papalii | 1 | Connor Tracey |
| Brian Kelly | 2 | Jacob Kiraz |
| Will Penisini | 3 | Enari Tuala |
| Sean Russell | 4 | Bronson Xerri |
| Josh Addo-Carr | 5 | Marcelo Montoya |
| Ronald Volkman | 6 | Matt Burton |
| Mitchell Moses | 7 | Lachlan Galvin |
| Luca Moretti | 8 | Samuel Hughes |
| Ryley Smith | 9 | Bailey Hayward |
| Junior Paulo | 10 | Leo Thompson |
| Charlie Guymer | 11 | Viliame Kikau |
| Jack Williams | 12 | Jacob Preston |
| Dylan Walker | 13 | Jaeman Salmon |
| Interchange | ||
| Tallyn Da Silva | 14 | Kurt Mann |
| Saxon Pryke | 15 | Sitili Tupouniua |
| Jack De Belin | 16 | Harry Hayes |
| Toni Mataele | 17 | Jake Turpin |
| Teancum Brown | 18 | Jonathan Sua |
| Araz Nanva | 19 | Lipoi Hopoi |
| Reserves | ||
| Lorenzo Talataina | 20 | Josh Curran |
| Jezaiah Funa-Iuta | 21 | Alekolasimi Jones |
| Mohamed Alameddine | 22 | Stephen Crichton |
Injury Report
NSFW/NSWFL
| Player | Injury | Return Date |
| Richard Penisini
Kelma Tuilagi Jonah Pezet Jordan Samrani Isaiah Iongi Kitione Kautgoa Lincoln Fletcher Apa Twidle Sam Tuivaiti J’maine Hopgood Matt Doorey Bailey Simonsson Ryan Matterson |
Bone Bruising
Concussion Hamstring Meniscus Tear Syndesmosis MCL Hamstring AC Sprain (Grade 3) Concussion ACL Tear ACL Tear Ankle Concussion |
Rd 8
Rd 8 Rd 13 Rd 13 Rd 13 Rd 13 Rd 13 Rd 15 TBC Season Season Season Indefinite |
NSW Cup Team List
Round 7 vs Canterbury Bulldogs, Sunday 6:30PM, CommBank Stadium
A stack of changes in the Cup this week. Jake Tago finally returns from a nasty concussion and reclaims his place on the wing. Max Tupou and Tyrese Lokeni move into the starting pack while a trio of Jersey Flegg forwards find themselves on the bench. All three of Trace Beattie, Zack Visconti and Jordan Miller have been in excellent touch for the Eels in the Under 21s and regardless of the circumstances this week all should be seen as worthy selections for reserve grade.
| 1 | Brad Avery |
| 2 | Jake Tago |
| 3 | Devonte Vaivela |
| 4 | Araz Nanva |
| 5 | Mohamed Alameddine |
| 6 | Lorenzo Talataina |
| 7 | Joseph Nohra |
| 8 | Teancum Brown |
| 9 | Kruz Niutili-Schmidt |
| 10 | Max Tupou |
| 11 | Will Latu |
| 12 | Jezaiah Funa-Iuta |
| 13 | Tyrese Lokeni |
| Interchange | |
| 14 | Meni Luke |
| 15 | Trace Beattie |
| 16 | Zack Visconti |
| 17 | Jordan Miller |
| 18 | Samuel Loizou |
Jersey Flegg Cup Team List
Round 7 vs Canterbury Bulldogs, Saturday 2:00PM, James Hardie Centre of Excellence
Kordell Pritchard finds himself in the Jersey Flegg this week after starting the year in the SG Ball. Congratulations and best of luck to the young centre on Saturday.
With three forwards called into the NSW Cup there are some changes in the pack. Javahn Stevenson-Hala starts in the front row with Beau Lucien while Noah Parker and Markkuz Ofanoa are starting in the back row against the Bulldogs. That brings Coby Raven and Hayden Brown onto the bench while Maddox Wright slots in at 18th man.
| 1 | Corey Leigh |
| 2 | Jeshua Maa-Nelson |
| 3 | Siamani Leulaui |
| 4 | Kordell Pritchard |
| 5 | Druzel Taula |
| 6 | Harley Walker |
| 7 | Kade Moujalli |
| 10 | Beau Lucien |
| 9 | Jack Hudson |
| 19 | Javahn Stevenson-Hala |
| 11 | Noah Parker |
| 12 | Callum McMenemy |
| 13 | Markkuz Ofanoa |
| Interchange | |
| 14 | Coby Raven |
| 15 | Elijah Shane-Taupau-Taylor |
| 16 | Lennox Risati |
| 17 | Hayden Brown |
| 18 | Maddox Wright |
Yep – that’s about all that can be done. I’d say Mr Kelly is a little lucky but with Penisini to face the judiciary, Nanva may come back in anyway.
Backrow actually doesn’t look any weaker really. Still think Walker should start from the bench, even if it means starting JDB. Get 15 minutes out of JDB, bring Walker on for the last 65 and use JDB in a prop rotation if required.
I said in the post game thread, if Pezet is out 5-6 weeks Talataina needs to play and here’s why.
Anyone who saw the Broncos the other night and hadn’t seen Duffy play before, now has. If he gets more games (and he will with Reynolds body failing) the Broncos could well be looking to back out of their Pezet deal. If that is the case, Parra needs to know if they need Pezet beyond 2026 and would be willing to negotiate, or if Talatania is ready.
It’s not ideal for a young half with our forwards in ability to make anything that resembles inroads, but I say, throw the kid in and see if he has the potential to make the jump in the long run.
That’s probably harsh on Volkman who wasn’t the worst last week. But there is no way (surely) he is the long term plan. Maybe leave him out this week for the Dogs, but we need to be planning what this roster will look like for 2027-2030
Totally agree abt the pack with JDB BA Sports. I thought he did well
Tbh last weekend in a poor pack.
I also feel JR wants to bring Renzo in when we are stronger on paper but I could be wrong
Volkman played decent imo too.
I actually think our edges seem better defence wise this week. Time will tell.
We can definitely surprise them.
How is Lorenzo on defence?
Hard to see us coming within 20 of the Dogs our pack is dreadful
Can we just hand the dogs the W and forfeit, I feel like made from glass Moses is close to copping an injury
The club needs to resubmit their request for salary cap dispensation, this is just crazy
Forties, if you are going down to training this week let us know if Ryles is walking around with a baseball bat or if his demeanor is sterner
Lucky our recruitment has been so strong we will be able to cover for these injuries!
Sorry couldn’t help myself poor recruitment (worst in league) combined with injuries means we will be on track to beat the magpies for most points conceded ever.
MON will be able to get a plaque and put it in his office next to the spoon for this year.
Go eels. As we always say ‘there is always next year!”
Honestly you have to laugh it is a train wreck you can’t look away from. Comedy gold.
I know the club won’t say much here but surely we are trying to get Sua’ early?
Reports today that Saints have another player who wants out…Pacifica? Any idea..
Wow, if Canterbury don’t win by 70, there is something seriously wrong. I have seen seen a season which decimated our entire squad in so few weeks.
We are cooked there’s no way around the fact.Russel returning is a great boost though in my opinion. Ps how stupid are we for letting our best centre go. We NEVER replace good players with a better player, 9/10 we downgrade 😩
How’s it looking now losing brown & Lomax?
Would we look this dire had we retained them? 😳
I stand by statement upon BA sacking that “success starts at the top” and any new coach would struggle here
But even I am shocked how bad it has been really the best singings had luck involved (walker, fox, Lomax) in recent years
And I’m starting to doubt if Jason ryles will hang around this club long term if the front office cannot sort 3PA’s or something like dogs, chooks, etc do
Because if Jason ryles cannot get talent here – his coaching career might end up toast if he gets a wooden spoon or two awful seasons at the eels from 26-27’
I thought ryles signed some good / valuable players when he first arrived and I saw hope, but now after missing every good player we attempted to sign – I can’t help but feel Jason ryles coaching career might be shambles if he stays here long term and the club cannot help him sign any high calibre players from open market
Really challenging times ahead it appears unfortunately and only a few months ago we all expected to potentially make top 8 – hard to imagine it now at this stage
Look, I agree with what you have said, but we took Wests right to the 80th minute just a couple of weeks ago, and they are sitting at the top of the ladder. We were dreadful last week, but it’s certainly reversable. The main problem is mental, and last week’s game would have delivered a real blow to the team. If they can’t lift from here, then it’s a massive problem.
If I’m completely honest this is the strongest our back row has looked all year. Looking away from kelma and Gideons brief moments in attack they are both absolutely poor defenders who get exposed regularly with next to no line speed.
Sam is a big loss but kelma and Gideon glad to see someone else get a go they haven’t earned there jersey at all this year
Loko Pasifiki tonga is reportedly requesting a release he has a higher ceiling then Sam I believe if your going to pull the trigger on a rookie forward he is the one. Regularly runs for 200 metres in nsw cup
Agreed here abt the backrow. Wish JDB would start. We’ve lost games because of some poor errors and defence for me.
I don’t see us not being fit – it’s more the errors and defence.
I am keen to see how they go.
Moses and Paulo have to lead and be positive. Moses took some ‘options’ last week that didn’t pay off….meed to get off to a good start.
Spot on Parra 1990.
At least Tonga would be a player where his best is still ahead of him. Problem is there will be a competitive market for him and we don’t tend to land those players.
Seriously, i don’t know the last time the Eels landed a player when there were other serious clubs in the market.
A poor game. A hard game. A challenging game.
I view it as an opportunity for the players and team to grow
Same for the coach – who I think is here for the long haul.
They all become more valuable by showing how they dealt with adversity, as opposed to giving up or leaving and then being cursed with that label.
So I’m backing them to turn it around, regardless of how ugly it gets.
With this injury toll it’s highly unlikely we are going to win games. Even Penrith wouldn’t win with what 8 or 9 of their first choice 17 out. They probably wouldn’t get flogged by the Titans but they wouldn’t win many. Souths had a similar issue last season and they went from being a top 4 contender to easy beats before they got a couple of players back at the end of the season. The teams are way too evenly matched – particular after Penrith and Brisbane and probably the rorters in terms of squads to lose that too many top line players and win games.
I don’t know what ladder the eels walked under but since 2022 we’ve been absolutely cursed. I think the stat was that between injuries suspension and off field indiscretions at least part way into Ryles tenure we hadn’t been able to have our best 17 on the field since before the 2022 GF. Not sure if that changed at the back end of last year we may have had our best 17 on the field for a couple of games at the end
At full strength we wouldn’t win this game.
We aren’t that Good.
I don’t mind the change to the back row it’s our weakest position we don’t have 1 1st grade standard 2nd rower hence the Sua pursuit.
Despite all the injuries I can’t find a justification for playing Kelly the guy is useless.
The way way the season is going is very Parramatta bit of hope then falls apart we as fans have blue and gold glasses and we don’t we see past the club but when you look at it objectively we are not a successful club and never will be it’s not in our DNA