Two underperforming teams collide under the night lights on Sunday, as a Cronulla Sharks side that can’t get out of its own way hosts an Eels outfit that finally won a game this season. Neither team will feature in finals football, but there remains plenty at stake as both sides look to avoid the dreaded spoon.
In Round 7, Parramatta were terrific in a spirited 30-18 home win over the Bulldogs, racing to a 24-0 half-time lead in a flawless first half that put the result beyond doubt.
They completed at 86% with 54% possession, ran for 9.4 metres per carry, and created seven line breaks in the kind of performance that had been missing this season.
Meanwhile, up north the Sharks’ campaign kept spiraling; Cronulla went down 30-18 on the road to the Cowboys, again beating themselves more than their opponents did.
They had 70% set completion, 31 missed tackles, and conceded five line breaks while having 51% possession.
It’s the Sharks who need last week’s mess to be the exception, not the pattern that defined their year.
Game Info
Date: Saturday, August 23, 2026
Kick-off: 6:15 PM AEST
Venue: Ocean Protect Stadium, Sydney
Referee: Rochelle Tamarua
Broadcast: Foxtel and Nine Gem
Live Stream: Kayo & Nine Now
Team Lists
Parramatta Eels
1. Abbi Church 2. Zali Fay 3. Rory Owen 4. Jasmin Morrissey 5. Martha Mataele 6. Cassey Tohi-Hiku 7. Rachael Pearson 8. Elsie Albert 9. Taneka Todhunter 10. Boss Kapua 11. Fontayne Tufuga 12. Mahalia Murphy 13. Keilee Joseph 14. Layne Morgan 15. Ryvrr-Lee Alo 16. Chloe Jackson 17. Khyliah Gray 18. Jayde Herdegen 19. Tess McWilliams 20. Rueben Cherrington 21. Fleur Ginn 22. Kate Fallon
Lindsay Tui suffered a syndesmosis against the Bulldogs. Given the nature of the injury, she will be out for the last four games of the season.
Parramatta freshen their lineup with Jasmin Morrisey shifting to centres and Zali Fay on the wing.
Chloe Jackson
Ryvrr-Lee Alo and Chloe Jackson return to the side on the six-player bench after completing the concussion protocols.
Cronulla Sharks
1. Jada Taylor 2. Milla Elaro 3. Tiana Penitani 4. Cassie Staples 5. Marewakiterangi Samson 6. Georgia Hannaway 7. Madison Ashby 8. Ellie Johnston 9. Quincy Dodd 10. Manilita Takapautolo 11. China Polata 12. Rhiannon Byers 13. Annemarie Kiria-Ratu 14. Koffi Brookfield 15. Tegan Dymock 16. Caitlan Johnston 17. Jacinta Carter 18. Talei Holmes 19. Leilani Ahsam 20. Olivia Herman 21. Chantay Kiria-Ratu 22. Filomina Hanisi
The Sharks get Rhiannon Byers back on their side after she has recovered from a knee injury.
She replaces Jaydika Taufa in the back row, who has been suspended for the clash against the Eels.
The Game
There’s no dressing it up. Cronulla has been the competition’s most self-destructive side in 2026.
Missing more than 30 tackles for the second week in a row, the Sharks currently sit with a record they expected to be better. This points to a discipline problem that fresh faces alone won’t fix.
Cronulla have flashes of what they’re capable of, but flashes aren’t enough when playing sides with any structure.
Their leading try scorer, Georgia Ravics, is sidelined, removing their most reliable finishing option.
It has created less certainty about executing their attack when their forwards and also their halves, Georgia Hannaway and Madison Ashby, create opportunities.
Without settled combinations, new inclusions make every week tougher, and the need for perfection becomes too much.
The combinations up the middle and out wide never get time to click, and the technical gaps around their edge defence and completion under pressure keep resurfacing round after round.
A strange fact about this side is that Cronulla has a 1-9 record in games kicking off after 5pm. That’s too consistent to be a coincidence.
Parramatta, by contrast, looked like an entirely different team against the Bulldogs. They took the match to their opponents and apart from a brief resurgence by Canterbury midway through the second half, they maintained the ascendancy for the vast majority of the match.
Mahalia Murphy found her mojo and Keilee Joseph produced yet another classy display.
Layne Morgan
Rory Owen remains the Eels most dangerous strike weapon out wide, while Abbi Church is in superlative form, scoring tries and providing inspiration in attack. Watch for Layne Morgan to again impress off the bench.
Rachael Pearson and the spine found their best form of the season last week, and a repeat performance against the Sharks should provide a genuine platform for the Eels to make it back-to-back wins.
I have the Eels winning in a close match, as the Sharks are a side that are yet to compete for the full 70 minutes.
Prediction: Eels by 8
Player of the Game: Rory Owen
No mention of Hiku – as usual !!
Wrong Frank and I therefore take exception to your replies. I can only assume that you don’t read the previews each week or listen to our podcasts. Cassey has been praised and referenced by us during her entire career at Parra.
Last week her return was part of Kye’s preview. An image of her smashing an opponent in a tackle was also included with the caption of “the Tohi-Hiku school of defence”
Here is the paragraph from last week’s preview:
“ Parramatta’s forwards will look to play with the physicality that’s been missing, and if Tohi-Hiku and Pearson can get back to what makes their combination work best with shape and variety, there’s a platform to at least be competitive in the NRLW’s Battle of the West.”
Now to this week’s comment which I point out below. Cassey is part of the spine. So for that matter is Todhunter and Church. Here is Kye’s comment on the spine. Surely he can say “the spine” and readers know who he is referencing?
“ Rachael Pearson and the spine found their best form of the season last week, and a repeat performance against the Sharks should provide a genuine platform for the Eels to make it back-to-back wins.”
As stated above, Cassey Tohi-Hiku is referenced on a regular basis, especially in our podcasts, both in our preview podcasts and our news podcasts. This week John and I discussed her try against the Bulldogs and how she backed herself in that run. It’s what we want to see from her.
Prior to last week Cassey had been suspended for two rounds, so she wasn’t included then, other than to mention her suspension.
In reply to your statement about years of support, though I’m not the author of this post, I am the editor and I am 65 years old so you can do the maths on that.
How long have you guys been supporting Parra ?
Prior to 1968 ?? I have !
Well done girls two in a row. Pity about the very poor start to the season but at least they should avoid the spoon. That’s about all the club seems to be aiming for.
I watched the game and enjoyed it so much I watched a replay last night.
As for the “no mention of Cassey”; I don’t mention her much either.
You know when something or someone needs attention and you see Cassey nearby you immediately feel safe that it is covered.