NRL Team List

Round 24 vs North Queensland Cowboys, Saturday 5:30PM, CommBank Stadium

Will second time be the charm for Jezaiah Funa-Iuta? The rookie edge forward has been named on the bench – this time inside the Top 17 – as the Eels prepare for their home leg of Indigenous Round(s). As the edge forward, ahem, edges towards a potential debut in Round 24 there are other changes to go over as Jason Ryles navigates injury at fullback and makes tweaks to his bench following the frenetic loss to the Rabbitohs on Saturday night.

Surprisingly, Apa Twidle has won the opportunity to replace the injured Isaiah Iongi at fullback this week. Twidle beats out Joash Papalii in something of a twist this week given Apa’s expiring contract with the Eels. Twidle’s form line has been perfectly fine this year so this isn’t an outrageous selection on that front but it is a curious decision.

Having said that, Ryles has backed plenty of other players who are either departing or who are on expiring contracts with Jack De Belin holding his place at lock forward while Dylan Walker rejoins the bench after getting rested last week. I do think there is a pretty compelling argument to use this remaining month of footy to rotate these kind of players out of the team to give the likes of Lorenzo Talataina, Ryda Talagi and Tyrese Lokeni a taste of first grade. For now though we will have to settle for the hopeful debut of Funa-Iuta.

One bit of shocking news that emerged from the member’s event on Monday night was the unexpected loss of Sam Tuivaiti to a MCL injury. The high grade sprain was confirmed by the club today and it rules the young bull out for the remainder of season 2026. That has paved the way forward for Junior Paulo to start alongside Luca Moretti this week and thus increasing the odds of a debut this week.

Sean Russell will provide outside back coverage on the bench this week after the disaster that was last week – although the decision has come at the curious demotion of Ryley Smith to the extended roster. This could be a benign gambit from Ryles given that Smith was in a similar position on Team List Tuesday last week before ultimately starting against the Rabbitohs but it is hard to see the value in said move.

The Cowboys get Reed Mahoney back this week in something of a poetic twist to the Round 24 clash. As for their team overall, the bounce back factor was in play for North Queensland after their legendary humiliation job at the hands of the Roosters back in Round 22. They comfortably dispatched the Titans last week but remain one of the most mercurial rosters in the NRL. Which version of them will we see on Saturday? In the same vein, which version of the Eels will rock up? These two sides played out a hectic golden point affair earlier this season and it wouldn’t shock me in the least if there was more bonus footy on the cards this weekend.

NRL Injury Report

NRLW Team List

Round 7 vs Canterbury Bulldogs, Saturday 3:15PM, CommBank Stadium

A courageous first half effort against the Roosters unfortunately gave way to a second half shellacking as the Roosters ran in 32-points after oranges. The heavy loss was expected but they did stick it to the outright favourites for the title in some tough conditions for at least a while on Sunday night.

Now the Eels make the turn to host the Canterbury Bulldogs in what is likely their best shot at a victory in the remainder of this season.

Steve Georgallis has brought back Rachael Pearson and Martha Mataele following a week out for both due to concussion. Jasmin Morrissey wins a spot on the opposite wing as both flanks due subbed out to account for Mataele and Morrissey. Concussion strikes again as Ryvvr-Lee Alo and Chloe Jackson are lost to protocols this week so Boss Kapua starts in the front row while Fontayne Tufuga takes over on the right edge.

Layne Morgan looks set to finally make her club debut in an exciting development this week and has replaced Rueben Cherrington as the dummy-half utility option on the bench. That said, Georgallis looks set to run with two utility options this week with Jayde Herdegen also named in the Top 17.

NRLW Injury Report

NSW Cup Team List

Round 24 vs North Sydney Bears, Sunday 3:00PM, North Sydney Oval

The Eels dueled the Rabbitohs in an exciting clash at Redfern Oval on Saturday as Lorenzo Talataina led the Blue & Gold to victory with a 73rd minute try assist to fellow young gun Tyrese Lokeni. The Eels now look to conquer a different cardinal direction of the city as they shift their focus from the South to the North to take on the Bears this week.

North Sydney ran Parramatta off the park earlier this year and the 2nd-placed Bears again loom as a tough opponent this week. The Eels have tweaked their roster this week. Sean Russell has been named in the centres while Lincoln Fletcher has been called up to partner Talataina in the halves – a call which I applaud.

Ryley Smith has been named to start at dummy half but the presences of Harrison Edwards and Kruz Niutili-Scmidt give the team a stack of flexibility there should he be enlisted in first grade again. Kelma Tuilagi will turn out on the edge opposite of Lokeni while Markuz Ofanoa gets his second NSW Cup cap from the bench after debuting last week.

NSW Womens Premiership Team List

Round 9 vs Newcastle Knights, Saturday 12:00PM, James Hardie Centre Of Excellence

Updated for Round 9.

Jersey Flegg Cup Team List

Round 24 vs Kaiviti Silktails, Saturday 9:00AM, Lawaqa Park

Round 23 Place Holder List.

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