Welcome to winter weather, as the cold finally kicks in and we shiver our way through another Eels v Rabbitohs contest. These games have been misery personified for Parramatta fans for the last decade, but maybe, just maybe, this time is the one. It’s not just Mitchell Moses’ return, but his 250th first grade game. Can he carry us to victory?

I don’t blame Eels fans for being skeptical. Aside from recent form, where close contests the last three games have flattered a side that can’t hold on to the ball, the weight of history suggests a heavy defeat is on its way any time the red and green of the Rabbitohs comes to town. We’ll certainly find out if our edge defence has actually improved, or if it was just the inept displays of Canberra and Canterbury that made it look that way.

Yep, it is another one of those previews. Don’t worry, I find some reasons for hope, but I caution strongly against building said hopes any higher than your calves. It is safer that way. Let’s dig in!

Game Info

Date: Thursday, June 25, 2026
Venue: CommBank Stadium, Parramatta
Kick-off: 7:50 PM AEST
Referee: Gerard Sutton
Bunker: Chris Butler
Weather: Wet, cold
Broadcast: Nine, Fox League, Kayo

Sixties Speculates (All odds quoted are NSW Tab)

To come…

Sixties

Teams

Parramatta Eels

1. Isaiah Iongi 2. Brian Kelly 3. Jordan Samrani 4. Sean Russell 5. Josh Addo-Carr 6. Ronald Volkman 7. Mitchell Moses 8. Luca Moretti 9. Tallyn Da Silva 10. Jack Willliams 11. Kelma Tuilagi 12. Kitione Kautoga 13. Jack de Belin. 14. Dylan Walker 15. Sam Tuivaiti 16. Teancum Brown 17. Harrison Edwards 18. Joash Papalii 19. Charlie Guymer. 20. Apa Twidle.

Parramatta are developing some much needed continuity in the lineup, with the addition of halfback Mitch Moses the only change to the side of the last two rounds. Moses pushes Joash Papalii to the interchange where he takes the “emergency outside back” role from Apa Twidle. Charlie Guymer is the forward reserve, but expect the standard bench of the last few rounds to take the field with Da Silva, Walker, Tuivaiti and Brown. You aren’t fooling anybody by naming Harrison Edwards in the 17 again Jason, we know he’ll be starting.

South Sydney Rabbitohs

1. Jye Gray 2. Alex Johnston 3. Latrell Siegwalt 4. Tallis Duncan 5. Ed Kosi 6. Cody Walker 7. Ashton Ward 8. Tevita Tatola 9. Brandon Smith 10. Keaon Koloamatangi 11. David Fifita 12. Euan Aitken 13. Cameron Murray. 14. Lachlan Hubner 15. Jamie Humphreys 16. Liam Le Blanc 17. John Radel 18. Jayden Sullivan 19. Dayne Jennings. 21. Bronson Garlick.

Cam Murray returns from Origin duty for Souths, who are more defined by the player that hasn’t returned: Latrell Mitchell. A tweak this week sees him stay on the injury list alongside Campbell Graham and Jack Wighton. That leaves a very makeshift looking backline of Latrell Siegwalt, Tallis Duncan and Ed Kosi alongside talisman Alex Johnston.

The Rabbitohs forward pack by contrast is basically full strength, with only depth options on the injury report. Brandon Smith has taken the starting hooking role, with Peter Mamouzelos now in Cup and either Jamie Humphreys or Jayden Sullivan taking up the utility role. A bench of Hubner, Le Blanc and Radel looks very light on, but there is enough size in that Bunnies starting pack to make up for it.

The Weight of History

Praise be that he returns

For the last decade a Rabbitohs logo looming on the draw has been a good sign to go and find something else to do with your weekend. The Eels have claimed only two victories over Souths since 2017, feeling the sting of defeat 11 times over the same period with an average margin of 16 points, a number that doesn’t reflect how uncompetitive the Eels have been in these contests. In one of those two wins the Rabbitohs spine consisted of Corey Allan, Connor Tracey, Adam Reynolds and Billy Brittain, with Ethan Lowe and Adam Doueihi in the centres and no Alex Johnston in the side. You could barely call that a Rabbitohs team, but given that game makes up half of our wins against them in the last decade, I’m counting it.

The Rabbitohs left edge carves the Eels apart for fun, running the same shape they’ve always run with Cody Walker leading the side and finding results time after time after time. Forget investing in SpaceX or NVIDIA, the surest way to multiply your money is Alex Johnston anytime tryscorer bets against the Blue and Gold. It might not get the attention it used to but Souths are still the most successful left side attacking team in the competition, and they’ll be running at an edge where Kelma Tuilagi, Jordan Samrani and Brian Kelly will be parked.

Beyond a style mismatch that, were it a fight, wouldn’t be licensed in most states, there are some encouraging signs for the Eels. Souths are a possession team, completing well and holding the ball, but despite that possession advantage in most contests they are among the worst teams in the NRL for post-contact metres, tackle breaks and offloads. It points to a forward pack that has struggled to dominate contests, with their few game breaking attacking weapons injured for large parts of the year or counting the days until the chopper takes them down the coast. Parramatta are a different side when they can hold the middle in a contest, and this matchup presents an opportunity for them to, at the very least, match their opposition.

One key to that will be holding the damn ball. In the last two matches the Eels have been able to get away with poor handling and completions because of inept attack by their opponent, and even then still lost one of those games. Conditions will be slippery so perhaps that will curb the Eels love of a crap offload out the back to an unsuspecting recipient, but ball security and decision making must be better. The return of Mitchell Moses should help that, if only because the team will have a bit more confidence in their direction and be less inclined to make something happen individually.

Backup Parts

Kitione has been the man most likely for several weeks

The Rabbitohs backline will always be dangerous to Parramatta, but it is operating with a lot of spare parts this weekend. The centres are second gamer Latrell Siegwalt and back rower Tallis Duncan, depth winger Ed Kosi is on the right side and halfback Ashton Ward, whilst highly touted, is cracking his bakers’ dozen of first grade appearances. Brandon Smith will be good for at least three or four wombat burrow attempts (and knowing us, will probably get through on one) but he isn’t known for crisp service at dummy half. Things could get clunky for the Bunnies.

Dropping Mitchell Moses into this side will hopefully be the secret sauce. Both Kautoga and Tuilagi should be more dangerous for running off of Mitch, while the extra attention he draws will be beneficial to Dylan Walker and Isaiah Iongi when they take on the line. He is a massive defensive improvement and marks up on that dangerous edge, though the weakness of Ronald Volkman is only shifting to the other side of the field where the Rabbitohs could choose to run David Fifita at him, another contest that should be taking place on international waters.

I’d also expect the Eels to run their “Fox two in” play several times, aimed squarely at getting him one-on-one with Tallis Duncan. We should also be reversing the “run at the little guy” ploy on the Rabbitohs and getting Kelma and Kitione one-on-one with Walker and Ward. Support play will be crucial, and it would be nice to see Kelma looking to offload a bit more when taking on smaller men.

The Game

There will be big mismatch chances for the Fox this week

I feel a bit better having written those last few paragraphs, but I know better than to hope against South Sydney. It will be cold, wet and miserable at CommBank Stadium before kickoff and odds are long that things will improve by the full time whistle. Aside from Melbourne in round one, there is no worse matchup for the Eels over the last ten years. Set expectations accordingly.

The Eels will hopefully stand up tall and make a good account of themselves in Mitch’s 250th game, and in what has been a cursed season, yet another rebuilding year, if I see good effort and improvement then that is a result. A win would be even better; ultimately you leave a football game happy if you win, sad if you lose; but realistically miles in the legs and experience under the belt of young players is worth more to the Eels right now than points on the ladder.

So let’s hope first that the effort is there. Against the Rabbitohs more than any other side it hasn’t been, like a boxer windmilling with their left arm then jabbing us in the face with his right round after round and landing the blow every time. If that first South Sydney attacking raid down the left side results in Alex Johnston crossing untouched then I might just walk straight out the gate.

Go you Eels!

Prediction: Rabbitohs 32 d Eels 16

Man of the Match: Cody Walker

Gol

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