UPDATE: Both teams struggled, and the low restart and penalty count meant teams could figure it out for themselves. The clunky Dogs had the lion's share of field position, and possession. Again the Eels fought hard for the seventh week straight for no result. Too many errors at critical moments (12-9), poorer completions (78% v 83%) and a few critical penalties against them. There were forward passes from both sides but not all made by the Dogs were picked up. The controversial no try ruling at the death of the first half – where Galvin seemed to lose control of the ball –proved a critical call against the Eels. That's three games and six competition points that have gone begging this season.
The Eels face their oldest foe in their 160th clash in a must win for the Dogs with their season on life-support.
Monday clashes and Accor Stadium have not been happy hunting grounds for the Eels in recent years.
History paints a grim picture for the Eels. They have won only one Monday clash against the Dogs since 1955, losing 6 from 7. The Eels have lost 7 of their last 9 games at Accor in the last five years. They have lost 3 of their last 4 against the Dogs. Their only win against the Dogs since 2022 was round seven's 38-20.
They also carry the worst injury toll in the competition and will have used 30 players, the most of any club alongside the struggling reigning premiers, after Teancum Brown's debut. Congratulations to Eel #872. We wish you a long NRL career. With us.
The Dogs will be desperate and look to bash, barge and ambush the Eels early.
Dogs 14th v Eels 15th
Weather: 18°, cloudy, some earlier showers possible
Referee: Todd Smith (on-field), Dave Munro and Belinda Sharpe (touch judges), Adam Gee (bunker, senior review official)
TAB: Dogs $1.43, Eels $2.85, Eels odds have lengthened a bit as the week went on.
Key team notes: Connor starts at one, with Kiraz to the wing. Edwards starts with Tayln Da Silva to the bench.
Dogs: 22. Connor Tracey 1. Jacob Kiraz 3. Bronson Xerri 4. Stephen Crichton 5. Enari Tuala 6. Matt Burton 7. Lachlan Galvin 8. Max King 14. Bailey Hayward 10. Leo Thompson 11. Sitili Tupouniua 12. Jaeman Salmon 13. Harry Hayes
Bench: 2. Jethro Rinakama 15. Jed Reardon 16. Jack Underhill 17. Josh Curran 19. Sean O’Sullivan 21. Lipoi Hopoi
Cut: 9. Kurt Mann 23. Marcelo Montoya 20. Logan Spinks
Head Coach: Cameron Ciraldo
Eels: 1. Isaiah Iongi 2. Brian Kelly 3. Jordan Samrani 4. Sean Russell 5. Josh Addo-Carr 6. Joash Papali’i 7. Ronald Volkman 8. Luca Moretti 17. Harrison Edwards 10. Jack Williams 11. Kelma Tuilagi 12. Kitione Kautoga 13. Jack de Belin
Bench: 9. Tallyn Da Silva 14. Dylan Walker 15. Sam Tuivaiti 18. Apa Twidle 19. Teancum Brown (debutant) 20. Charlie Guymer
Cut: 22. Araz Nanva 16. Toni Mataele 21. Ryley Smith
Head Coach: Jason Ryles
Under Fire
The Eels remain short on experience in key positions and have had little time to build combinations, with Joash Papali'i and Ronald Volkman only playing their second NRL game together in the halves. It is very much a rebuilding roster in progress.
The Eels showed plenty of character against Newcastle last week. If not for a stack of errors and several bombed try-scoring opportunities, they likely would have walked away with a genuine upset victory. If they won the golden point against the Tigers they would be in finals contentions. What Eels fans? Yes. So close, yet so far. A game of inches, momentum and critical moments.
They are Undermanned. Inexperienced. Lambasted by many of their own fans on social media 24/7 as bottom-tier and not NRL quality. If the club, coaching staff and players listen to that noise, they may as well put up the white flag hand in their NRL licence.
The Dogs are under pressure. Last year's top-four contenders desperately need a win and should come out firing. They have injury concerns of their own, with Viliame Kikau and Jacob Preston sidelined, while Jacob Kiraz has overcome some minor concerns and is expected to play.
They have improved over the past fortnight and, if not for some courageous Tigers defence last week, could easily be coming into this game on a two-match winning streak. Kiraz has been averaging close to 300 metres a game at fullback, and their outside backs have consistently generated strong yardage.
Where the I4Give Cup could be won or lost
The Dogs will try to play up-tempo, force errors, and gain momentum through the middle and exploit Parramatta's edges, particularly the right side, which has leaked more tries than any corridor across both teams.
To stand a chance, the Eels need to do the fundamentals better. Some of the things they failed to do against Newcastle. Starting with Ben Gardiner's Three Pillars: reduce errors, play direct rather than side-to-side, and manage the ruck better. They also need to kick for at least 600 metres, maintain that output in the second half, improve their kick chase, and take their opportunities when they arise.
If the restart count balloons under Todd Smith in the Dogs favor in the first half, the game will almost be lost by then even if the ledger gets balanced later.
Bottom line
The Eels' fight over the past six weeks, despite little reward, has impressed even hardened Bulldogs fans such as Chad Townsend's faboulous sidekick, Hectic Eric, who despises Parramatta with a passion. Is this the week the Eels drop away? Or will the fight continue?
The bookmakers, history, and most experts will favour the Bulldogs. Not many outside the Eels camp will give them much chance. Few will believe in the Eels.
But the players must believe.
Replies
This is the same story every year - our depth is never up to scratch. And yes I know we are injury ravaged, but other teams are copping it too (eg Rabbitohs and Cowboys) and are still fighting for Top 8.
Injuries have definitely cost us a place or two on the ladder, but they haven't changed the fact that our Top 30 squad is very sub standard and so far the plans to change that appear missing with the only recruit coming our way so far coming to us from the only team lower than us on the ladder.
Reece Walsh was easily holding his own in first grade NRL at a year younger than Lorenzo is now. Dylan Brown was a year younger than Lorenzo on his debut too. If he's not ready now, then maybe he isn't the "all our eggs in this basket" player he's being presented as and maybe we shouldn't be looking at a stop gap (eg Pezet) but an actual ready made product to replace Brown.
Our depth has been a laughing stock for a long time now.
Bunnies have only won 50% of their games (byes drive them up the ladder). Cowboys are 2-2 post-Dearden. I don't disagree that the Eels' depth is problematic. At the start of the season I was in blogs asking what would happen if we lost some outside backs or middles. And Eels have lost both.
The so-called Injury Ladder has Eels ways out "in front" and not in a good way, but I suspect what matters is outs in important positions?
For instance, the issue at Bunnies is probably Latrell and Fifita, as Bunnies hum along attack-wise when both are there on the left. Cowboys shot themselves in the foot to lose to the Eels but they were 6-3 W/L at that point and (including diabolical loss to Eels) have went 2-3 since. Dearden's injury is a big out for them.
So, yes we can ask about depth at the Eels. But context matters. Losing players across prop, outside back and spine? Going into 2026 after Lomax defected, and Simmo gets injured early, just exposed that third and then (post-Penisini) forth ip outside back would pose problems. But how many clubs are flush at Back No. 4 & 5 being first up? Ditto at middle: Hopgoode and Doorey and then Paulo? That means you are blooding rookies and that takes a little time at least? Then the spine. Pezet wasn't going great but that doesn't change that losing Iongi and Pezet undoes alot of the pre-season training. Then add Moses out and against Knights and Dogs you have a spine with little experience running a team: Iongi is the most experienced at one season.
What about the game before 60- 4 or something and the knights game we are officially in the funk
So once again showing immense levels of heart yesterday we lost. Oh well.
But Teacum Brown debuted and I noted that he looked to bust the line everytime he took up the ball. Then he made a line break which was gorgeous. Sam Tuavaiti in contrast doesn't have the same goals, he only looks to thro himself into the line.
In cup the back up hooker Kruz Niultili-Schmidt looked the goods.
Maybe, RJ. But many teams give props specific "missions" in sets. For instance, where it is the second run that is "a play". First run is meant to drag an extra defender in and get a fast play the ball and the next run aims to break the line.
It's simply too early to tell what roles Tuivati and Brown would play. Say, the first or the second "punch". But a) we shouldn't overlook the importance of the "throwing yourself into the line". Not flashy but it's a team game and strategy matters, including setup for next play. And b) watch the video of Brown getting his jersey and his Mum refers to his junior days as a speedy centre! Obviously filled out but maybe the Eels will try to get Brown running wide off a non-flashy but tough-as-nails "throwing into the line" by Tuivati?
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