This is the 7th annual Magic Round Caxton Carnival.
We’ve lost five of six Magic Round games (16% win rate), conceding an average of 36 points per game.
That’s actually worse than what we’re leaking this year as the worst defence in the competition.
Since 2023, we’ve lost four from six at Suncorp.
Both teams have struggled this year but the Storm have the wood on us.
Melbourne have slaughtered us twice at Magic Round: 64-10 and 48-16. And who can forget the last two first round games: 52-4 and 56-18.
We’ve also lost the last seven-straight against the Storm, last beating them in 2022 while conceding almost 36 points per game across that stretch.
The Eels were gritty, executed the fundamentals, and produced a few clutch moments to cause a 33-30 boilover in Townsville against the high-flying Cowboys.
The Storm have now lost seven-straight and own the worst red-zone defence in the competition in what has become a horror season.
Yet they’ll likely fancy themselves against a depleted Tigers side missing key personnel in Apisai Koroisau, Jahream Bula, Terrell May, and Adam Doueihi. Could that be the circuit breaker that kick-starts their season?
The Eels leak the most points per game in the competition at 34.5 per game (with the Dragons second-worst at 34.3). The Storm are third-worst.
Can we finally get redemption against a side that has treated us like their personal piñata? Or will the Storm keep the misery rolling?
Comments
Which record is better in the Jason Ryles era? Their start to 2025, or their start to 2026? Relatively speaking, as each is a losing record with 2x 50+ thrashings.
Eels in Rounds 1-10 of 2025 Win-Loss (2-7):
- Games: 18-56 (Storm), 6-32 (Tigers), 8-16 (Dogs), 12-26 (Manly), 23-22 (Dragons), 12-50 (Raiders), 38-22 (Tigers), bye, 18-28 (Sharks) and 16-20 (Dolphins).
- Points and ladder: The Eels were dead last, having scored 151 and conceded 272 for a -121 differential. They were scoring 17 pts per game and conceding 30 pts per game.
- Context: Moses only returned to play in their R7 win over Tigers. Brown had announced his departure after R1. From the teams they played, 5/9 were Top 8 in that period: Storm, Dogs, Manly, Raiders, Sharks.
- Next round: In Round 11 the Eels beat the Knights 28-6 in Newcastle. I flew up for that game (yay).
Eels in Rounds 1-10 of 2026 Win-Loss (4-6):
- Games: 4-52 (Storm), 40-32 (Broncos), 30-20 (Dragons), 20-48 (Panthers), 20-22 (Tigers), 10-52 (Titans), 38-20 (Dogs), 18-33 (Manly), 14-36 (Warriors) and 33-30 (Cowboys).
- Points and ladder: The Eels are 14th, having scored 227 and conceded 345 for a -118 differential. They are scoring 23 pts per game and conceding 35 pts per game.
- Context: Massive injury riddle toll. From the teams they have played, 5/10 are currently Top 8: Panthers, Manly, Tigers, Warriors, Cowboys. Oddly Storm, Broncos and Dogs are out of the Top 8. Who expects that to last?
- Next round: The Eels of course now face their bogey team the Storm (again) in Brisbane, in Magic Round, where they have been flogged before, and the Storm just crackled back into form against the Tigers.
IMO because of a) context (injuries in 2026), and b) played more highly ranked teams but more wins, I think the Eels' 2026 record is objectively better. A strange conclusion given the poor defensive record, but I think the facts lend it fair support.
PS: the Eels clearly do not like Rounds 1 and 6, having conceded 50+ in each round in both 2025 and 2026! Also the Eels bounced back from conceding 50+ in Round 6 of both 2025 and 2026 to win in Round 7 each year and score 38 points each time. Who said numerology isn't true?!
Faalongo had his face smashed so he should miss next week which is good for us.
Do we get any cattle back this round?
Storm have plenty of inexperienced players playing with their fair share of injuries.(Faalongo, Kamikamica, Wishart, Katoa and Coates.)
Thanks tigers you grub's playing storm into form🙄
They were die a win. Hopefully they will revert next week, but Parra will need to play out of their skins for this one.
Did you hear Munster's comment when asked about their opening 20 minute scoring blitz? Munster said "we were due". Entitled little canetoad twat
Guess who's about to find some form.
Is it us Kurupt? Is it us???
I really hope it's us
I bet it's us.
I'm so happy that it's us
But...It's never us'
fuck
It's not us is it?
Statler & Waldorf routine never gets old