Form and fortune have swapped between the two sides as round 9 arrives at CommBank Stadium.
Our Parramatta side recorded their second win of the season last week, and are currently in a groove nobody saw coming, except us Parra fans!
In contrast, the Brisbane outfit, a premiership favourite, is out of form and out of luck.
Last week the Eels were outstanding in a 42-16 demolition of Cronulla, with Rachael Pearson steering the side around while the forward pack consistently won the field position battle, letting the outside backs play with newly-found confidence.
It’s a stunning turnaround. After going winless through the first six rounds and managing just 66 points in that stretch, the Eels have piled on 72 points in the past fortnight alone in two statement wins over the Bulldogs and the Sharks.
Meanwhile in Brisbane, the Broncos’ season continues to slip through their fingers; a 28-20 loss to the Titans was another to their tally, leaving what remains one of the competition’s most talented rosters staring down the barrel of three straight losses.
It’s the Broncos who need last week’s missed opportunity to be the wake-up call as they hope to recapture the form that made finals berths a formality.
Game Info
Date: Saturday, August 30, 2026
Kick-off: 1:45 PM AEST
Venue: CommBank Stadium, Sydney
Referee: Belinda Sharpe
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. Kennedy Cherrington 19. Rueben Cherrington 20. Tess McWilliams 21. Fleur Ginn 22. Kate Fallon
There are no changes to the winning side from last week’s demolition of the Sharks,
That said, representative forward and fan favourite Kennedy Cherrington, has been named the 18th player as she pushes for a return from a facial fracture.
Brisbane Broncos
1. Tamika Upton 2. Kerri Johnson 3. Deleni Paitai 4. Georgia Bartlett 5. Julia Robinson 6. Ali Brigginshaw 7. Jesse Southwell 8. Shannon Mato 9. Jada Ferguson 10. Reegan Hicks 11.Lauren Dam 12. Romy Teitzel 13. Lillian Yarrow 14. Rhemy Hinckesman 15. Chelsea Lenarduzzi 16. Bree Spreadborough 17. Harlem Walker 18. Caitlin Urwin 19. Tavarna Papalii 20. Tara McGrath-West 21. Linneke Gevers 22. Amanii Misa
A massive boost for Brisbane with Ali Brigginshaw back from her suspension, partnering Jesse Southwell in the halves and shifting Georgiia Bartlett back to the centres.
Julia Robinson moves to the wing, Reegan Hicks is promoted to prop, and Lillian Yarrow shifts to lock.
Destiny Brill is out after a Grade 2 calf tear suffered against the Titans, with Bree Spreadborough moving onto the bench.
The Game
Parramatta remain outside the top four, but the manner of their last two wins suggests they may yet have something to say about the finals race.
Keilee Joseph marked her 50th NRLW game against the Sharks with 139 run metres and 18 tackles without a miss.
Finding form, and victories, has inserted belief within the team. Second phase play with purpose, and early ball to strike weapons like Rory Owen and Abbie Church has redefined the Eels attack.
For Joseph, there’s an extra layer, as she spent the 2024 and 25 seasons at the Broncos and tasted premiership glory with them last season before moving south.
Keilee Joseph
Zali Fay has become a major beneficiary of the inspired Eels attack. Two tries last week put her back on the scorers list. It coincides with Cassey Tohi-Hiku causing havoc for the defence against both the Dogs and the Sharks.
Special mention must go to Pearson’s kicking game and organisation, which has been instrumental in Parra’s territorial advantage in the last fortnight, as well as her sides attacking shapes.
As for Parra’s opponents, they created plenty of chances against the Titans but couldn’t capitalise and hold their nerve in the crucial moments.
Nonetheless, the Broncos remain one of the competition’s most experienced and dangerous squads, and the return of Ali Brigginshaw, gives them the class to arrest their current slump.
Brisbane play rugby league 101 – physicality in the middle with their forwards building a platform for their key players to play freely.
Rachael Pearson
For mine this match could be decided by the that battle in the middle and then what use is made by the respective halves – Pearson’s control and Tohi-Hiku’s running game against Brigginshaw and Southwell’s ability to find their strike players on the edge. Throw in Upton for the Broncos, and Church for the Eels, and it becomes a battle of the stars.
The Eels must contain those key players, and not let the visitors get the space for their attacking shapes. Georgallis’s use of the interchange could be key as fatigue sets in.
I hope Parramatta win; these last weeks have felt like a miracle, but given the opponents the club faces this weekend, we have to be realistic.
Prediction: Broncos by 10
Player of the Game: Tamika Upton
Damn that first half was a tough watch. 34-0 ouch.