Back to the cycle of the NRLW season in Eels land, where the team looks promising, and then things don’t go to plan.
In a shocking start to the 2026 season, injuries are compounding the woes for a team that seems devoid of confidence after consecutive poor losses against opponents they were favoured to defeat. In fairness, the team is performing like a shell of the team that was on display in the trial.
A fortnight of losses doesn’t determine the rest of the season, but replicating the story of mixed form and injuries year after year around this point of the season is quite telling for an Eels side that has not made an appearance in the finals since 2022.
The Titans looked dangerous with the ball in their hands last week, and Jaime Chapman showed why she is one of the best players in the league, scoring four tries all in different ways while defeating the Bulldogs 36-10 in Round 2.
These two sides play so differently, making this game the battle of playing styles: speed vs structure.
Game Info
Date: Sunday, July 19, 2026
Kick-off: 11:50 AM AEST
Venue: Cbus Super Stadium, Gold Coast
Referee: Tori Wilkie
Broadcast: Foxtel and Nine Gem
Live Stream: Kayo & Nine Now
Team Lists
Parramatta Eels
1. Abbi Church 2. Fleur Ginn 3. Rory Owen 4. Lindsay Tui 5. Martha Mataele 6. Cassey Tohi-Hiku 7. Rachael Pearson 8. Elsie Albert 9. Rueben Cherrington 10. Ryvrr-Lee Alo 11. Fontayne Tufuga 12. Mahalia Murphy 13. Khyliah Gray 14. Taneka Todhunter 15. Tess McWilliams 16. Rosemarie Beckett 17. Rysh’e Fa’amausili 18. Zali Fay 19. Jasmin Morrissey 20. Kate Fallon 21. Kiana Takairangi
The Eels experience another round of changes due to injury, with Kennedy Cherrington on the sidelines with an orbital fracture and Chloe Jackson out with a rib injury.
Khyliah Gray goes into the starting lineup, replacing Kennedy, and Fontayne Tufuga also goes straight into the back row to replace Chloe.
Gold Coast Titans
1. Lily Patston 2. Georgia Grey 3. Jaime Chapman 4. Phoenix-Raine Hippi 5. Indie Bostock 6. Teagan Berry 7. Lauren Brown 8. Laikha Clarke 9. Georgia Hale 10. Fanua Rimoni 11. Evania Isaa’ako 12. Ivana Lolesio 13. Sienna Lofipo 14. Lily Kolc 15. Sarina Masaga 16. Natasha Penitani 17. Takoda Thompson 18. Enah Desic 19. Aleksaandra Tunufai 20. Jasmine Solia 21. Pauline Piliae-Rasabale 22. Eta Sikahele
The Titans won their first game of the season and will want to continue their momentum.
Given that Karyn Murphy made the late change to play Evania Isa’ako in the back row position before playing the Bulldogs, the Titans will play the Eels with the same lineup.
The Game
Gold Coast’s system is deliberately lopsided.
Coach Karyn Murphy has assembled one of the most dangerous left-edge attacking formations in the competition, with halfback Lauren Brown favouring that corridor occupied by Indie Bostock and Jaime Chapman.
Everything flows toward that side.
Brown’s flat, unpredictable passing game is designed to put Chapman on the front foot in an expansive style that opens up her game or to have Bostock finishing on the outside.
The bigger tactical shift, though, came in the middle of the field. Captain Georgia Hale moved into a new position at hooker last week and the switch was pivotal in Gold Coast’s domination of the Bulldogs.
The tempo changed completely, and now, Hale is the one deciding whether to go short into the ruck or spread it wide early, rather than working as a conventional dummy-half.
Evania Isa’ako keeps her role in the forwards and has the ability to carry the ball hard into the defensive line, adding a dimension to the Titans tactic of getting the ball into Chapman’s hands.
Laikha Clarke and Fanua Rimoni carry the middle load, with Sienna Lofipo as the link between the forwards and getting well-timed sparks of taking charge creatively between Brown and Hale.
When it comes to the Eels, a few things stand out when it comes to problems that have become consistent with this side.
Similar to the Eels NRL team, injuries have been a nightmare for the Eels NRLW side.
Losing Keilee Joseph, Kennedy Cherrington and Chloe Jackson to significant injuries, along with a two week suspension to Boss Kapua who looked primed for a massive year, and the absence of such players has stopped Steve Georgallis from assembling his planned pack.
Elsie Albert
In my opinion, the bench selections don’t help the cause, with a double utility setup with Taneka Todhunter and Rosemarie Beckett leaving the Eels stretched too thin in their forward pack otations, and therefore increasing the load on Elsie Albert.
Against the Dragons, Parra couldn’t get their hands on the ball to start the game, with the Red V having 13 sets of six before the Eels touched it. Poor discipline, conceding penalties and six agains all sealed their fate.
Such repeated errors and penalties the Eels defence, and with the Eels looking gassed in conditioning, there was nothing left in the tank for their attack.
It’s a recurring theme, not a one-off for this side.
Rachael Pearson
Rachael Pearson’s kicking game is not on song as yet. Though it can still be a genuine weapon, a strong boot in the halves will not solve the Eels woes.
If Parramatta continue their poor starts by handing multiple repeat sets to their opponents, the Gold Coast will thrive on the good field position and possession coming their way.
You can’t win football games without the football. It’s as simple as that, and for the Eels to turn things around, everything begins from that point.
The winner?
I could tip with the heart, but a genuine match preview must be evidence based. Unfortunately, until the Eels can show evidence of better discipline, especially in the opening half, it is impossible to tip them to win. I expect the Titans to be victorious by a comfortable margin.
Prediction: Titans by 10
Player of the Game: Jaime Chapman
