They don’t get bigger than this in the Junior Pathways! The Parramatta Eels have earned the right to defend their 2025 Tarsha Gale Cup Premiership following a brilliant campaign in 2026 in which they have lost just the solitary game. Indeed, their only loss came in Round 1 against the Wests Tigers and the Eels have won 9 straight games since – including a tough and torrid 10-6 battle against the opposition today in the Cronulla Sharks.

We are set for a cracking contest as the Blue & Gold look to secure one final victory in order to claim a rare piece of glory in the Junior Representatives – the back-to-back premierships!

Join me from 1:30PM as we cover each and every play from today’s decider!

Tarsha Gale Team List

 

1	Irae Savea
2	Zyon Ligaliga
3	Billie Va’a
4	Jessamine Aloalii
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
14	Bailey Ma-Chong
15	Shire Thocolich
16	Leonia Vei
17	Mitszy Cairns
20 18	Sualo Lafoga Olivia Saba

 

Late Mail

 

Eels are per the program for the big dance. We are locked in for the final match of 2026!

Match Updates

 

First Half

 

Parramatta will kick off to start this decider. They are running towards the bay in the first half.

Ava Jones to get us underway.

Cronulla field the kick on the bounce and look to centre the ball but some driving defence wins the first ruck for the Eels. Ooh! Shot from Falaniko next tackle as well. Good energy in the early exchanges. Cronulla shift left to change the point of attack but again the driving defence of the Eels is pinning them on the back foot.

Savea fields the clearing kick and returns it with interest. The Eels start their set on halfway as a result. Crichton Ropati and Va’a rip in through the ruck next as Aloalii gets in on the cavalcade of backs rucking it out. The set is completed with a grubber kick from Soufan but the Cronulla custodian Boyce reads it well and claims the ball in the field of play.

Solid set from the Sharks in reply now. They fight their way to their 40m mark and hoist a clearing bomb but again Savea is all over it. Ligaliga has a nice charge from dummy half as we go to Aloalii next. Right from the ruck with a dart from Freedom as Jones feeds on her carry with a scoot and offload to Gray! They Eels are surging now as the last is signaled. Jones turns a rampaging Falaniko underneath but excellent defence from the Sharks barely repels the powerful bookend.

The Eels are pinged for infringing inside the 10m early in the following set.

For the first time today the Sharks fight their way into Parramatta’s half. Another nice set from them as they gradually work from right to left. Their five-eighth dabs it in behind on the last but that only brings the monster that is Freedom Crichton Ropati into the game! She weaves and bulldozes her way through half a dozen defenders as she bursts into open space for a tremendous 50m return! Ligaliga seizes on that with a great carry of her own as the Eels look to switch back to their right from there. Gray is brought down within 10m of the line to bring up the last as Gunn-Tauai dummies and runs and like Falaniko earlier – she is just brought down short of the line!

Terrific defence from Soufan and Matthews has forced an error! The Eels set a scrum 10m out and play right to Freedom who does well to stay in the field of play. The expansive shift to left is the key to unlocking the Sharks though as Ligaliga smashes her way over in the corner!

 

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

Eels lead 4-0

12min gone

 

Apologies for the tech issues. I think we are back. In the mean time the Sharks have hit back following a penalty for a high tackle. They are able to catch the Eels short on their goal line as their fullback Tegan Boyce manages to split our edge defence and burrow over.

 

Try scored by the Cronulla Sharks. Conversion successful.

Sharks lead 6-4

16min gone

 

A swing for the Sharks now as they drive the ball into Parra’s half and then earn a drop out when Savea just gets her positioning wrong in-goals and puts a foot on the sideline.

Huge set of defence here for the Blue & Gold. They are tested through the middle and down their left edge but they stand tall. Some important work done there by Gray and Ligaliga but the ref has ruled they were offsides on the last tackle! Wow! Huge opportunity for the Sharks now as they get their third straight set.

Parramatta are desperately defending their line here. They effort is enormous! Heroic stuff and they win a 20m restart! The grubber kick is too heavy from the Sharks and their chase can’t get there in time.

Ligaliga and Crichton Ropati with the first two touches next set. Va’a steams through defenders from dummy half before Savea uses Aloalii on the next tackle. Big ruck metres from the backs now. Soufan turns Shire Thocolich into the fray before Savea sets up the last tackle. Soufan rolls it along the carpet but it is a pretty benign kick clean up for the Sharks and alas the Eels concede another penalty in the ruck. The Sharks get a free ride out of trouble on their goal line.

Solid set from Cronulla here but it ends in similar fashion to Parramatta’s last possession as the grubber kick is taken without any trouble by the fullback – Savea in this instance.

Geez Ligaliga is unlucky not to win a penalty for a slow ruck after another dominant charge. Vei sets up the last as the Eels go for the midfield bomb but Boyce takes it on the run in a sharp take.

Huge effort from Thocolich in defence now as he sends the runner to the underworld with a -10m carry.

Alas the Eels have the next stumble as Ligaliga gets a kick clean up all wrong and has a soft drop. It puts the Sharks on the goal line and with a huge shot to build on their slender lead.

Obstruction city. There were 2 or 3 Sharks just standing in the defensive line there but the referee is happy no one was impeded. The Sharks play out a pretty inoffensive set and in trying to play hot potato on the last tackle they cede a good 10m as they turn the ball over on tackles! Another brilliant goal line stand.

Aloalii nearly splits the Sharks open through the middle as the Eels fight hard for field position. Crichton Ropati helps there with another storming run. It sets up an attacking bomb that Zyon contests but is ruled to have lost forwards. Close call there. Could have gone against the Sharks too I reckon. Real coin toss in the catch and certainly not a bad call from the official. Just a close one.

The Sharks find some traction in the ruck with a half break but the Eels scramble quickly to minimise the damage. Cronulla still pushing here but again they hold out! A grubber kick deflects off of Tia Matthews, who wasn’t playing at the ball, and Parramatta are able to wrap up the secondary attempt to play on.

Ma-Chong! Lovely run and offload to Savea for a big gain. Quick shift left to Ligaliga with two plays and seconds left on the clock! She almost finds a way to fight through the tackle and get into space but she is barely dragged down! Time enough for one more play? No! Dang! The Eels were stacked up to the right and who knows what could have been but we head to the sheds in this pulsating clash between the Eels and Sharks!

 

Half Time

Cronulla Sharks 6 lead the Parramatta Eels 4

 

Second Half

 

Cronulla to kick off in the second half.

Squibber from the Sharks as Va’a swoops on it quickly. Tufuga centres the ball as Vei gets in behind the ruck next tackle. Left again as Gray dummies and goes and spins through a tackle! Excellent run! Left with Savea as she earns a fresh set when her pass is tipped by a defender but alas Ma-Chong spills it at the base of the ruck due to an aggressive roll back. Great chance goes begging there but obviously plenty of time left in this half!

More solid ruck work from the Eels in their next set. Their foundational work has been great today, just need to find that extra gear at the end of their sets. it doesn’t come this possession as they somewhat awkwardly run it on the last. Crichton Ropati and Savea do well to stay alive but the set ends in a hurried kick from Sammy-Lee and the Sharks are not challenged in the catch at all.

A great defensive set is undone by an error from Savea under the high ball as she tries to attack a falling bomb aggressively but spills it forwards. The Sharks are gifted an unexpected set and thrust into a critical goal line stand. The left edge does brilliantly early on to hold up a surge over the line and Gray and Ma-Chong combine on the last for another massive tackle. Gee that was needed.

Va’a and Crichton Ropati carry the Eels out of dangers as Savea runs and offloads to Aloalii for even more metres. Matthews brings the Blue & Gold over halfway as  Gray sets up a shift to the right but again the Eels are out of sync as the pass from Va’a sails over Freedom’s head and into touch.

Cronulla are really committed to running it on the last inside the red zone and again the Eels are their match – although the disparity in field position will eventually take a toll.

Right on time! Freedom Crichton Ropati not only provides another splendid surge but wins a penalty! Tap restart uses Tufuga to bring the ball in field and over halfway. Left to O’Loughlin coming back underneath before Bailey Ma-Chong injects herself into this contest! She sprints out of dummy half and takes on the fullback! She has Boyce beat and then dances through the cover defenders before she is dragged down metres short. They have to score! They do! Rapid shift to the left puts Ligaliga into an inch of space and she finishes it like a pro with a dive and put down out wide! Great ball work from the interior players in Gray and Aloalii.

 

Try scored by Zyon Ligaliga. Conversion unsuccessful by Bailey Ma-Chong.

Eels lead 8-6

41min gone

 

Zyon was left very dusty after that finish. She was grabbing her abdomen and hopefully she is ok.

Va’a fields another squib kick and makes a huge carry as she barely stays in the field of play. Probably should have won a penalty for a slow ruck too. Lots of extra curriculars from the Sharks there. Crichton Ropati and Tufuga pour on the pressure from there with the latter winning a penalty as she is driven past the horizontal.

Tap and go as Bailey unleashes Alana on the Sharks. To the left now as Soufan and Matthews combine on an unders line before Gray powers towards the line. Excellent run and it lays the table for the ever vigilant Ma-Chong! If she spots an iota of space she is going for it and she pounces on the rapid ruck from her captain as she knifes her way over with a thunderous slam of the ball to the ground to confirm the try!

 

Try scored by Bailey Ma-Chong. Conversion successful by Bailey Ma-Chong.

Eels lead 14-6

45min gone

 

Finally a slightly deeper kick from the Sharks as Gunn-Taui fields it on the bounce and sends O’Loughlin into the fray. Early shift to the left unleashes Ligaliga as she cuts back inside and brushes through multiple defenders for a big run! Second phase footy from the Eels as Ma-Chong and Gray keep the ball alive to get the Eels into the red zone. They want to run it on the last down their left edge as they spin it quickly to Aloalii. She tries to bait the edge defence into jamming on her to free up Zyon out wide but the Sharks are disciplined and force the turnover on tackles.

Huge break for the Sharks. Wow. They are nearly cut open by a gorgeous inside ball from Gray to Savea before they let the kick from Soufan bounce! Crazy. The play ends with Soufan regathering the ball and falling over but the call is a knock on against the Eels – despite some firm protests from the Eels. Not sure who got a hand on it first though.

Oh my lord. What a player. What a play. BEAST MODE. Freedom Critchon Ropati, take a bow. She has stood up and taken complete control of this game with a monstrous run that will be a season highlight reel for years to come. She splits the Sharks through the middle and then sends poor Tegan Boyce to the shadow realm with a Sivo-esque fend as she finishes the 60m run and score in emphatic fashion. Unbelievable solo try.

 

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

Eels lead 20-6

53min gone

 

The Sharks finally get a result from their shortish attempts as they wrest control of the ball away from Sammy-Lee is a fierce contest. Cronulla are desperate to strike immediately but have to settle for a line drop out when Irae Savea barely knocks on in a sharp slips catch attempt on the goal line.

The prolonged possession almost yields much needed points for the Sharks but in a mad pile on for a grubber kick, seriously there were 5 or 6 players around the ball, the referee rules that the Sharks knocked on and that will probably see the Eels home from here.

A great set follow for the Eels and they nearly put the icing on the cake as Soufan stabs a cheeky grubber kick in towards the posts. The bounce just doesn’t favour the effort from Tia Matthews as she chases through perfectly. It kicks up wickedly and she ends up knocking on when anything remotely kinder meant a near sure fire try.

A rather amusing sequence now as Soufan gets doinked in the back as the Sharks try to fish for an attacking kick. Freely as you imagine she turns around and claims it before making a nice return.

Here come the leg cramps. Fatigue or gamesmanship – you make the call.

Ref? Hello? That was a huge knock on! I guess the official is ready to go home because the Sharks just dropped an attacking bomb from the Eels stone cold. A mega knock on. And now Savea has been taken in the air! Lightly mind you but a clear penalty. I think the official is ready to go home after a largely cleanly called game.

Just moments left in this one as the Eels are poised the make history in the Tarsha Gale by becoming the first ever back-to-back premiers! Ava Jones runs it out as the siren rings around the grounds!

All conquering. Utterly dominant. Irrepressibly brilliant. History making!

Your Parramatta Eels are the 2026 Tarsha Gale Cup Premiers and back-to-back premiers over seasons 2025 and 2026.

Take a bow girls. Take a well deserved bow!

A salute to the Cronulla Sharks as well who played some outstanding footy today. Against plenty of other opposition I reckon they come home with hardware but this Parramatta squad is the definition of built different!

 

Full Time

Parramatta Eels 20 defeat the Cronulla Sharks 6