Eels Blogs

SQUAD FOR 2026

Top 30 contracts for 2026:

As you can see we have 19 players definitely contracted to our top 30 for 2026. I expect that the 4 players on options all to stay at the club for various reason, however there place in the top 17 not to be guaranteed.

• Adocarr should stay but hopefully is next to a centre that knows how to put him into space.
• Pensini has not developed since his debut which is a real shame because he did/does have heaps of potential. He is still young which is in his favour. Pre-season would have not helped him at all. Trained fulltime at left centre but he has moved back to right centre after just 4 games. He still has too many defensive and mental lapses during games. However, I see him staying at the club. 
• Lane. I want him gone. We all know he is mored suited to the middle than the edge which has not helped him this year. But its more the attitude that has turned all fans away from him. Often seeing him left on the floor or walking in defence. Ryles probably wishes he could get rid of him ASAP but no club would touch him so we will be stuck with him for 2026 due to the dum fuck manage doing these PO.
• Matterson has always been on the wrong side of fans since that suspension/fine situtation. Super did say he is actually in JR good book however just needed time to get match fitness and recover from injuries. Hence, I will back Super's claim and say he will be used by JR alot in NRL since he will obviosuly take his dumb PO. I do prefer him more than Lane to be fair.

Development Contracts for 2026

NRL Off-contract players in 2025

• Dylan Brown - Obviously signed with knights. GONE
• Joey Lussick - We need depth in the dummy half spot as we only got Hands and Smith signed. I recon the clubs options are go to the market to find a depth 9 or promote Jack Hudson (Jersey Flegg) and Lachlan Coinakis (SG ball) through the grades. I recon its the latter option. Hence, Lussick = GONE
• Toni Mataele - Has had a strong start to the year in cup. FInally playing injury free and lets hope that continues. There is no rush to make a decision so I recon the club will see how he goes for the full year in NSW Cup. Personally, I see him as someone JR will continue developing on a cheap contract. So I recon he will RESIGN.
• Joe Ofahengaue - Like most of our forward pack, he is ageing and does not suit the modern game. He is probably on a decent wicket too. Cannot see him staying. He is a bench prop/back up prop at best these days. Given the fact we will already be stuck with other older forwards, there is no value in keeping him at all. GONE
• Bryce Cartwright - I think its clear he is way down Ryles pecking order. I recon he knows he is gone. Watching him play cup, he is carefree doing risky plays. He is showing signs he has given up playing for the eels. GONE
• Sam Tuivita - If he is not already re-signed or in the process of being re-signed than the club is fucking worse than I realised. The future of the forward pack. So young and will only get better. RESIGN.
• Wiremu Grieg - Game does not suit him at all. Cannot defend at NRL standards. Showed promise that one patch in 2023 but has not been the same since. GONE
• Haze Dunster - Slowly finding his way back to his oldself in cup. Been very strong in yardage and finishing tries. Still yet to be tested in the speed/acceleration side of the game. Again, another player that the club will be in no rush to resign. I think it will be a simple wait and see. See if he continue to display that good form again and importantly stay fit. He has been unlucky so I hope everything goes good so I will say RESIGN.

If Mataele, Tuivita and Dunster resign and the rest leave the club, we will have 26 players with a top 30 contract,

Development Off-contract players in 2025

• Dan Keir - A valuable member of the cup team but if we are meant to be a development club, we cannot have someone like him blocking upcoming players. JR seems to be alright with him. He has already reached his ceiling which is not high at all. I think he is more suited to a train and trial deal at the club. Whether Keir would want something more is something else to consider. GONE
• Arthur Miller-Stephen - Was having a decent start to the cup season before tearing his ACL for the second season in a row. Unfortunately, for someone yet to establsh themselves as an NRL player and without the high ceiling, its hard to give him another contract. Perhaps the best thing for him would be a fresh start back home in QLD cup for him. GONE

Train and Trial Players in 2025:

• Will Latu - Currently injured but a player I do rate and a smokey for a top 30 or development contract for 2026. Hopefully he is back next week as planned and gets good minutes in cup. A backrower with athelicism which is something we are dying to have. I recon he will stay but not sure on what type of contract. I assume it will depend how his season goes in cup. STAY
• Josh Lynn - Currently back in Jersey Flegg. A player some of you really like but someone I am not too high on. He is only 21 this year so is very young but to me, I would develop him to be a back/up half. Does not have the ceilng to be a top line NRL half in my opinion. My concern is that he is not eligible for Flegg next year and with Twiddle, Papalii and Hawkins at the club, is there even a spot for him to develop next year? Perhaps its best for his own interest to leave? UNSURE
• Ethyn Martyn - Has not played NSW Cup this year. Was injured to start the year but return in RM as the fullback. He did not play last week which perhaps means he is injured again? Someone with great potential and even trained with the NRL boys on the wing during pre-season. So surely he is in JR's plan. He needs to stay fit and get a chance in cup espicially with AMS and Lomax injured. I think its a simple wait and see before we know what will happen with Martyn. UNSURE
• Brock Parker - Somene that I believe is falling down the pecking order. He trained with the NRL team during pre-season but NSW/RM players are overtaking him in the NSW CUp team. Not a high ceiling player. Similar to Makatoa. He is only 23 this year but I think his pathway to the NRL is blocked at eels. GONE
• Ronald Volkman - Volkman gives me the Asi/ Field/ Pryce, etc vibe. Too good for NSW Cup but not sure if they have the next level to make them NRL players. He is only young and coming back from injury so probably not fair to rule him out. So have to wait and see how he goes in NSW Cup this year and see whether eels or other NRL clubs are interested in him. But my early prediction is that he is GONE.

Upgrading Players from the pathways:

• Ryley Smith - Probably will be promoted into the top 30 considering he is seen as the the best dummy half at the club. He has heaps of energy and great fitness but obviously has a lot of work to do on his game which will no doubt happen throughout the year and another pre-season. His upgrade would take the top 30 to 27 players but leave 3 development spots free for 2026.
• Will Latu - as I said above, he will be pushing for a top 30 or development contract for 2026.
• Etyhn Martyn - if he gets a shot at NSW Cup and kills it, another players who will be pushing for a top 30 or development contract for 2026.
• Mohammad Alamadine - Pretty sure a report said he is on a development contract for 2027 where he will be 22 years old. Would not be surpised if that happens in 2026 instead if he continues on his progression path. 
• Arnaz Nanva - Already played a couple games of cup this year. Apparently had a great pre-season in Flegg hence why he was used in the NRL trial game. He is a big lad. Not quick or fast. Interesting to se if he has enough athelticism to make it into the NRL as an outside back. He turns 21 this year.
• Teancum Brown - Along with Nanva, played in the NRL trial game on the back of a great pre-season in Flegg. He turns 21 this year too. Given how highly the club viewed his pre-season it would not surpise me if he is in the NSW Cup team next year as he continues to develop. A very big mobile forward.
• Jack Hudson - Has played in the QLD cup last year but is in Flegg this year. He is only 19 or 20 years old this year. Has been good in Flegg this year so no doubt someone that will keep developing and possibly in the NSW Cup team next year. Possible development contract.
• Domenic De Stradis - Turns 21 this year. Atheltic backrower but not very big. Has played NSW Cup already. Interesting year for him. Been strong in flegg but given its his last year its all or nothing for him.
• Tyrese Lokeni - Made his cup debut last week. Turns 20 and another young and athletic backrower. Can tell the club view him as a prospect. But perhaps needs a bit more time before earning any NRL contract. Does have the extra year in Flegg up his sleeve.
• Domenic Farrugia - Club rate him as they gave him an NRL pre-season at 19 years old and in SG ball. But to be fair, I do not rate him. May get a chance in Flegg later this year since the club rate him.
• Lorenzo Talatina - Hopefully plays Flegg when SG ball season is over. Had a quiet game this week. But I expect a bounce back. He knows there may be a 5/8 spot for him in the NRL soon so he needs to play for it.
• Lachlan Coinakis - Should be promoted to Flegg when SG ball is over. Will probably play 14. Could play 9 if Hudson gets promoted to cup. A development deal is not beyond the cards for him.
• Max Popo - Been up there with the best forward for eels in SG ball this year. Big motor as a lock. Good footwork and defence. May only be able to crack the Flegg side if injuries occur or next year given their forward pack is already strong. Turned 19 this year.
• Jezaiah Funa-Luta - The other player from SG ball to get an NRL pre-season. He had a shocker this week in the finals of SG Ball. I rate him more than Farrugia but not as an elite talent. WIll probably get a decent amount of games in Flegg since the club rate him.

Players we are interest in for 2026:

• Galvin* - I put an atrix because he is not off-contract till 2027 but I think there is a good chance that tigers release him. The ideal replacement for Brown. Roosters and Pathers are probably the main competition.
• Finau Latu - the dragon lock forward is on our radar but reportedly toured knights facilities. Would be a good player to develop.
• Lyhkan King-Togia - The dragon 5/8 is a good prospect we could develop. But will he be turned off joining here if we sign Galvin.

Positions we need to target for 2026 and beyond:

• Backrow - we have the worst forward pack in the NRL and I do not think its debtable at all. I think it is the truth. A big reason for it is that we have no backowers that are NRL quality. Like the club, I had high hopes of Tuilagi but his defence was awful. Cartwright is essentially gone. Lane is a middle but playing backrower due to lack of options. Kautoga has decent potential but is currently at the level of a NSW Cup player. Guymer is a middle but is not NRL ready either. Internally, I believe the club will keep developing Kautoga and Latu to be our backrow pairing for 2026. Then beyond that, Samrani should seriously be developed to play backrow. However on the market one player I would be looking at is Junior Nsemba from Wigan Warriors. A young and athetlic backrow. Signed long-term but I think he has NRL get out clause. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bxrTQZB3on8.
• Centre - we need a centre that can put Fox away. We have Russel as depth. Richie that we are developing. W Penisini who is going backrwards. Simmo that has been good. Could we develop Twiddle as a 1-6 utility.
• Five-eight - obviously Galvin is the obvious target. Other external targets will be Wishart (I think he is a 9), King-Togia and Douehli. Internal players would be Papalii, Twiddle, Volkman, Lorenzo.
• Hooker - I recon we just develop this internally through Coinakis and Hudson. Got Hands as depth for now while Smith keep developing
• Prop - With Paulo on the decline and more of a bench prop, we badly need an alpha/elite prop in the team that gives us a 8/10 performance minimum every week. We need someone to start with Williams. 

How Does the Line up look in NRL and Cup for 2026 so far:

This is a mix of my team and what JR is heading towards

* Needs to improve or go NSW Cup

BOLD = need to sign

NRL

1. Iongi
2. Lomax
3. Simonsson
4. W Penisini *
5. JAC
6. Galvin
7. Moses
8. Willliams
9. Smith
10. Matterson
11. Samrani
12. Nsemba
13. Hopgood
14. Walker
15. Paulo
16. Tuivita
17. Moretti

NSW Cup

1. Papalii
2. Dunster
3. S Russel
4. R Penisni
5. J Tago
6. Twiddle
7. Hawkins
8. Mataele
9. Hands
10. Lane
11. Kautoga
12. Tuilagi
13. Guymer
14. Hudson
15. Doorey
16. Pryke
17. W Latu

Extra Players: Lynn, Martyn, Nanva, De Stradis, T Brown

Jersey Flegg:

1.  
2. Domenic Farrugia
3.  
5. Mohammad Alamadine
6. Lorenzo Talatina
7.  
8. Sebastian Piakula
9. Lachlan Coinakis
10. Jaelyn Taewa
11. Tyrese Lokeni
12. Jezaiah Funa-Luta
13. Max Popo
15. Javanah Stevenson Hala
16. Elijiah Shane-Tapau
17. Isaac Jim