Eels Blogs

Every year, mostly, a player comes out of nowhere and you think "The hell did that come from?". Isaiah Papali'i in 2021, Bryce Cartwright in 2023, could argue Kelma Tuilagi in 2024 (Seeing a pattern here with back-rowers). 

But more so to me a breakout player is one you least expect it from. For example, if Iongi has a great year i wont call him breakout as i am sort of expecting him to have a good season. Though there are a few players who could break the mold and come out to improve their career, for the better. More so these are players who need to get going or just came to the club seen as depth and could breakout, i.e. like Papali'i in 2021. 

I want to go through a few players who have a bit on the line but could break through in 2025 under a new regime.

Matt Doorey: Let's be fair, i think 99% of fans were shocked when Doorey was extended for a further season to 2026. Doorey originally came as a former junior, signed til 2024, then extended for 2025, then again for 2026. Doorey has attributes as a great hole runner, with a decent build while not being overly tall. The issue for Doorey for a long time has been injuries and fitness, we brought him in to be an 80min back-rower. In NSW Cup last year he started to become that. 13 of his 16 NSW cup games he played 80mins. Doorey has potential, just can never stay on the field long enough to show it. He only received 3 NRL games in 2024, including a disasterous game against Gold Coast where he started and dropped 2 balls in space of 5 mins. It seemed he tried to hard in his start. In 2023, Doorey started for the start of the year and was not too bad. He came back from a year off in 2022 from ACL injury, took time to get going again but now is the time for him to really stamp his authority. He has 2 years left on his deal but if he does not get a spot in 2025, Ryles will look elsewhere, leaving Doorey to succomb to being a back-up in 2026.

Wiremu Greig: Who would have thought this time last year i would be putting Greig in a list like this? Greig had a great 2023 season, seeing him being a constant top 17 selection. Greig is an older fashioned Prop, that big body up the middle for impact. That should be his role, come on late in 1st half as impact against a tired middle. But, he's been used as a starter under BA and Barrett, setting the tone for first 20. I feel that didn't suit him at all. Now we all know the issue with Greig, fitness. He was listed at 124kg, now i doubt he is that big now, but was seen as a big body to put into our pack. But just never was able to get into a rhythm. He manages to get decent game time in Cup, though gets injuries in NRL with his body adapting and of course his fitness can let him down. Now, Greig could be a decent 15-20min impact Prop off the bench for us. His stats in Cup are decent where he puts up big minutes and decent workrate. Time is running out for Greig, who is only signed for 2025 despite some media claiming he was signed til 2026. He has a chance to cement a spot in the 17 with RCG moving on. Unless we sign another Prop, he has a chance to either start or get a bench spot. Plus, his competition is limited too. Luca Moretti and Sam Tuivaiti are the only top 30 depth Props on the roster. I still like Greig, not sure what happened in 2024, just seemed out of sorts with BA then Barrett brought him straight in once he got interim role. 2023 alone showed Greig can be good, can play a role. He is 25, still a lot of football in him, could be a victim of growing into his own body leading to injuries but now is his chance with a new start with a new coaching staff, including a former test Prop in Jason Ryles now coaching him.

Haze Dunster: Now before you, particularly Poppa, get your pitchforks out he does fit into this category. In that not much is expected and this is his last chance to really do something. Dunster had a decent 2021, i do not care what anybody says, he was solid for us late 2021. The semi against Penrith i would argue he was top 3 best on ground in that game. However, we could also see none of his attributes are not considered world class. He didn't really have any aspect of his game that was above decent. Speed, agility, strength, high ball, defence etc was all good and lower. Does he have a chance to secure a Wing spot in 2025? Well sure, though it is very, very, very, very unlikely. Considering JAC was just signed, Simonsson is signed, Russell and Tago are there, also rookies AMS and Penisini. But Dunster is on his last shot not with Parra but in the NRL itself. He needs a massive pre-season or could miss out a spot in NSW Cup. Backline could be Papali'i, AMS, Penisini, Russell and Tago. If Papali'i plays 14 then AMS or Russell will be Fullback, but then Alamaddine could come onto the Wing. No guarentees for Dunster. I wanted to include him since he is top 30, but is very unlikely. But if he manages to do it then great. 2022 injury just seemed to ruin his career, he would have gotten a bit of game time in 2022 as well and developed further. It is a pity.

Toni Mataele: Someone who came into the top 30 in 2024 but was on the scene for us in 2023. Has not developed the way it was planned. Mataele was seen as a future back-row option for us, showed good line running and demonstrated some aggression in attack. Was became evident was his defence on the edge was not up to the standard to warrant an NRL debut. Added was injuries stunting his development further leads to Mataele going into year 2 of his top 30 deal, 23 years of age holding onto his NRL career tightly. The decision by old staff was to move him into the middle, which seemed to work and could help him in the future by assisting with his defence. New regime mean opportunites for players like Mataele with these coaches coming in with open minds for players to impress. Mataele is still young enough to make an impact and it could be needed for our depth but until his defence is considered good enough and can stay on the field, he will continue in reserve grade limbo which will lead to being outcasted to lower grade England or park football, or maybe he gets a train and trial at another NRL club. He has talent. His game is similar to that of a Marata Niukore, we have yet to replace him so hopefully Mataele can put it together.

Luca Moretti: More of a safer player, in that he is more likely first in the team if injury hits the forwards. Though, he has a deal for 2025 only, now is his chance to set his career, especially at Parramatta. Again, RCG gone and no replacement opens a chance for him to make a mark as a starter. Moretti is on the lighter side of a forward, however has that leg drive Ryles seems to be looking for. Moretti i can see being a Ryles player, but is he good enough to be a constant 17?

Sam Tuivaiti: There are some expectations on Tuivaiti but not a lot compared to other juniors. He has a bit more on his side than the rest on this list, particularly age. Though, spent the year in Flegg, has only one NSW Cup game (in 2023) under his belt, therefore that makes it evident he wont see FG until mid 2025 at the earliest. Like the other middles mentioned, he has a chance to get a spot in the 17 each week. He could be seen as the Paulo replacement, he has a similar play style in his hard running. I have not seen too much of Tuivaiti play, he is 19, would have liked to see him get some NSW Cup minutes late in the year but under Ryles could be different. Could be thrown straight in. Tuivaiti has a chance to jump both Greig and Moretti as the first choice depth Prop, or even get onto the bench, looking to start in 2026. He is a big boy, seems to run low to gain extra metres using his weight. Also, from U19's Origin, has a decent speed play the ball. Very keen kid. Though only signed for 2025 also, if he has a good start in 2025, i can see us extending him, even then if he starts pre-season in January well we will just do it before Round 1. But if he has an off year, even starting in Flegg and never really getting out of that level he will be moving on. I doubt that happens though, he surely gets on the bench in Cup as a minimum.

Now i am going to now look at some outside of the top 30. These options can breakthrough to be NRL depth players or more. 

Brock Parker: More likely on a 2nd tier deal, since he is training with FG. Parker is your typical 80's type player. Just a worker. You put him on the field and the bloke will just go until he is pulled off the field.  His stats aren't ground breaking, however for his first full season playing Cup he was consistent. Is he banging down the door for a debut? No, not at this stage. But if 2025 is becoming an average year and Ryles looks to blood players, Parker is one who can take advantage. Parker could be that standard back-up like Makatoa was, where he comes in for certain amount of games and can do a job. He also is able to play big minutes in the middle of the field. Not saying he is going to be a star, but Parker has an opportunity to debut in 2025 and perhaps be a depth player or a constant 17 player in 2026.

Ethyn Martin: Created a bit of cult following. We all know him, possess blistering speed and agility. He even appeared at Centre in a trial. Though, injuries cost his 2024 season. But on top of that was the odd choice to have him in Ron Massey Cup to start 2024. We had a backline of Talagi, Lumelume, Cini, Loizou and Dunster. Martin surely could have fit into the squad somewhere, even over Loizou. Yes Loizou scored 4 in Round 1, Martin was training with FG, he could have gotten the chance. He got his chance and was good, though defence was an issue. But then he got an injury that kept him out for a while. Including during a time against Gold Coast where Lorenzo Mulitalo got a debut due to the need for a Winger. Now no guarantees but i do feel had he been fit Martin could have gotten a debut in that game over Mulitalo. But this is a massive year for the Union convert. He is 23 this year, he needs to make an impression. This year, with AMS and Richie, both being fit and young, options get limited for Martin to break into NSW Cup. But if he is good enough, he has the talent, he could really make a good crack at an NRL career. 

There are a few, let me know what ones you have hope have a breakout year that you might not be expecting much from.