NRL Team List
Round 22 vs Wests Tigers, Sunday 4:05PM, CommBank Stadium
This is going to be a difficult game to try and read. Both the Eels and Tigers come into Round 22 on last start losses – the Eels with a courageous loss to the Panthers while the Tigers were annihilated by the Raiders. There have been off-field tribulations as well. Wests have been engulfed by the feud between Adam Doueihi and Benji Marshall (with Doueihi named to play at halfback this week) while Parramatta are facing a massive challenge from the Perth Bears for the services of Junior Paulo in 2027 and beyond.
Just another week for the Tigers and Eels I guess.
In terms of the teams we have a smidgen of change. Paulo, at the centre of that tug-of-war, has returned from injury to form part of Parramatta’s bench rotation on Sunday. He makes a clean like-for-like substitution with Luca Moretti this week due to Luca’s Category 1 concussion forcing a mandatory stand down between Rounds 21 and 22.
Tallyn Da Silva looks to have escaped concerns about either a concussion or a neck injury after his accidental charge down of a booming Nathan Cleary clearing kick. Will Penisini pushed through his first NRL action in near 3 months last week and has been green lit to play again this week in a positive sign.
It will be interesting to see how Jason Ryles juggles his forward pack against the Tigers. Jack Williams made a pre-game shift to right edge against the Panthers and enjoyed a hugely productive opening stint alongside Mitchell Moses. The switch also yielded a powerful effort from Kelma Tuilagi from the interchange bench.
Are we set to see a similar reshuffle?
For our opposition obviously the big news is the return of Doueihi in the halves. While their overall form has flailed and waned, he has remained one of their most dangerous players throughout the season. How much will his return boost them when weighed against the drama and disharmony the entire saga has caused? Their backline has also been bolstered by the return of Heamasi Makasini.
| Parramatta Eels | Wests Tigers | |
| Isaiah Iongi | 1 | Jahream Bula |
| Brian Kelly | 2 | Junior Tupou |
| Will Penisini | 3 | Heamasi Makasini |
| Jordan Samrani | 4 | Patrick Herbert |
| Josh Addo-Carr | 5 | Sunia Turuva |
| Ronald Volkman | 6 | Jarome Luai |
| Mitchell Moses | 7 | Adam Doueihi |
| Sam Tuivaiti | 8 | Terrell May |
| Tallyn Da Silva | 9 | Apisai Koroisau |
| Jack Williams | 10 | Fonua Pole |
| Kelma Tuilagi | 11 | Samuela Fainu |
| Kitione Kautoga | 12 | Sione Fainu |
| Jack De Belin | 13 | Alex Twal |
| Interchange | ||
| Dylan Walker | 14 | Heath Mason |
| Junior Paulo | 15 | Charlie Murray |
| Teancum Brown | 16 | Alex Seyfarth |
| Harrison Edwards | 17 | Tony Sukkar |
| Joash Papalii | 18 | Tristan Hope |
| Toni Mataele | 19 | Starford To’a |
| Reserves | ||
| Araz Nanva | 20 | Javon Andrews |
| Ryley Smith | 21 | Ethan Roberts |
| Jonah Pezet | 22 | Bunty Afoa |
NRL Injury Report
Coming and goings on the injury report this week. Junior Paulo and Apa Twidle are finally released from the infirmary while Luca Moretti missed 1-game due to a Category 1 concussion. Richard Penisini unfortunately has his season ended with a meniscus tear to his right knee.
| Player | Injury | Return Date |
| Luca Moretti | Concussion | Rd 23 |
| Baily Simonsson | Ankle Fracture | Rd 23 |
| Sean Russell | Abductor Tear | Rd 23 |
| Richard Penisini | Meniscus Tear | Season |
| Charlie Guymer | PCL | Season |
| J’Maine Hopgood | ACL | Season |
| Matt Doorey | ACL | Season |
NRLW Team List
Round 5 vs Newcastle Knights, Sunday 3:15PM, Geohex Park
While they were desperately unlucky in falling short of a breakthrough win in 2026, the Eels notched a much improved team effort against the Warriors in Round 4. They need to find a way to harness any sort of momentum out of that game as they head into Magic Round in Wagga Wagga to tackle the Knights.
As has been the case with every game this season, the loss has extracted a heavy toll on the Blue & Gold. Rory Owens is out with a TBC designation due to concussion in a hefty blow to Parra’s ability to score points. Fleur Ginn returns from the injury ward to replace her at left centre.
That is the solitary change to the top roster this week but Chloe Jackson does feature in the extended team sheet as she too returns from injury.
| Parramatta Eels | Newcastle Knights | |
| Abbi Church | 1 | Lucy Spain |
| Zali Fay | 2 | Shanice Parker |
| Fleur Ginn | 3 | Sidney Taylor |
| Lindsay Tui | 4 | Tenika Willison |
| Martha Mataele | 5 | Ocean Mercedez Taulelei-Siala |
| Rosemarie Beckett | 6 | Kirra Dibb |
| Rachael Pearson | 7 | Georgia Roche |
| Elsie Albert | 8 | Tayla Predebon |
| Taneka Todhunter | 9 | Olivia Higgins |
| Ryvvr-Lee Alo | 10 | Tiana Davison |
| Fontayne Tufuga | 11 | Amelia Pasikala |
| Mahalia Murphy | 12 | Jules Kirkpatrick |
| Keilee Joseph | 13 | Kayla Romaniuk |
| Interchange | ||
| Rueben Cherrington | 14 | Botille Vette-Welsh |
| Tess McWilliams | 15 | Sienna Yeo |
| Boss Kapua | 16 | Grace Giampino |
| Kyliah Gray | 17 | Simone Karpani |
| Reserves | ||
| Jasmin Morrissey | 18 | Cheyelee Robins-Pati |
| Jayde Herdegen | 19 | Nakia Davis-Welsh |
| Chloe Jackson | 20 | Fane Finau |
| Kiana Takairangi | 21 | Joeli Morris |
| Kate Fallon | 22 | Stella Lewis |
NRLW Injury Report
| Layne Morgan | Orbital Fracture | Rds 6-7 |
| Kennedy Cherrington | Eye Socket | TBC |
| Rory Owen | HIA | TBC |
NSW Cup Team List
Round 22 vs Western Suburbs Magpies, Sunday 1:00PM, Lidcombe Oval
The Eels enter this round off the back of a season best performance after their stunning 10-6 defeat of the Penrith Panthers on the weekend. The Cup squad deserve plenty of praise for the whole hearted effort with plenty of young stars standing up to produce high water mark games.
Equally though, it can’t be a one-off and their focus needs to be fully on backing up against the Magpies on Sunday this week.
Apa Twidle has been named to play fullback as he returns from injury. Joash Papalii is unlikely to be available for this game given the scheduling of the NRL and Cup games so I expect Apa to play in the #1 come Sunday.
It appears to be the only major deviation from the roster that sprung the massive upset against the Panthers so once again the real challenge here comes in the form of their mental preparation. Can they lock in for consecutive strong outings?
| 1 | Apa Twidle |
| 2 | Jake Tago |
| 3 | Araz Nanva |
| 4 | Siamani Leuluai |
| 5 | Devonte Vaivela |
| 6 | Lorenzo Talataina |
| 7 | Jonah Pezet |
| 8 | Ryda Talagi |
| 9 | Ryley Smith |
| 10 | Max Tupou |
| 11 | Tyrese Lokeni |
| 12 | Jezaiah Funa-Iuta |
| 13 | Saxon Pryke |
| Interchange | |
| 14 | Kruz Niutili-Schmidt |
| 15 | Max Popo |
| 16 | Jackson Koina |
| 17 | Damascus Neemia |
NSW Womens Premiership Team List
Round 8 vs South Sydney Rabbitohs, Saturday 10:00AM, Redfern Oval
Round 7 Place Holder List.
| 1 | Tess Staines |
| 2 | Zyon Ligaliga |
| 3 | Kiana Takairangi |
| 4 | Josie Lenaz |
| 5 | Freedom Crichton Ropati |
| 6 | Jayde Herdegen |
| 7 | Aaliyah Soufan |
| 8 | Alana O’Loughlin |
| 9 | Ava Jones |
| 10 | Laura Came |
| 11 | Tia Matthews |
| 12 | Kate Fallon |
| 13 | Jessica Kennedy |
| Interchange | |
| 14 | Bailey Ma-Chong |
| 15 | Ella Carlisle |
| 16 | Leonia Vei |
| 17 | Mitszy Cairns |
| 18 | Teagan Long |
Jersey Flegg Cup Team List
Round 22 vs Western Suburbs Magpies, Sunday 11:00AM, Lidcombe Oval
Round 21 Place Holder List.
| 1 | Nathan Howlett |
| 2 | Lorima Rokosuka |
| 3 | Dakota Kakoi |
| 4 | Harley Walker |
| 5 | Druzel Taula |
| 6 | Ioane Lui |
| 7 | Lincoln Fletcher |
| 8 | Saumaki Saumaki |
| 9 | Lachlan Coinakis |
| 10 | Jordan Miller |
| 11 | Trace Beattie |
| 12 | Christopher Petrus |
| 13 | Zack Visconti |
| Interchange | |
| 14 | Jack Hudson |
| 15 | Callum McMenemy |
| 16 | Wesley Tongamoa |
| 17 | Steven Nunn |
| 18 | Stirling Faumui |
I feel for Richard Penisini, but while maybe we keep ihim in the club for the foreseeable future, in the event we have a strategy or plan for the future, i don’t think you can count on him being in it at this point in time – not in a meaningful way anyway.
I’m a bit bemused why we don’t have Fletcher and Talataina playing side by side as often as possible? If they’re the future, and presuming at times next year they will be called up indidivually to get their chance, then use every possible game to get them playnig side by side – especially when lower grades are not playing for anything of import.
Richard has had a truly dire run of misfortune but you are spot on. You simply can’t factor him in for any plan moving forwards. A callous truth but the truth nonetheless.
I have said as much in recent podcasts regarding Fletcher and Talataina. Ryles clearly has a threshold he wants these young players to reach in Cup before they are ready for the NRL so why squander opportunities in the present for players who are moving on at the end of year. Fair frustration to voice.
Re Fletcher & Lorenzo pairing/reps, agree it’s very bemusing and doesn’t give much confidence there’s a plan… and still no sighting of Bamblett 😢
Surprised and disappointed Will Penisini is named at centre. That first try of panthers last week, and the ridiculous penalty conceded, underlined everything about Will’s limitations that have never improved – ball watching (laziness) and a lack of footy IQ/smarts. IMO his only strength is carries/yardage which doesn’t offset all his deficiencies (in addition to afore mentioned also includes a lack of speed, agility, aerial ability and defensive competency). But I’m not the expert…
Where are the signings for next year? Where is Bamblett? What is the plan for juniors? Surely Bamblett should be in cup fullback with Lorenzo and fletcher in halves? Is that too optimistic? What’s the plan? Is there a plan?
Lots of questions