Eels Blogs

How do we field a competitive side based on our top 30?

Posted by Nitram on April 6, 2026 at 8:44pm

Mitchell Moses
Josh Addo-Carr
Will Penisini
Jonah Pezet
Isaiah Iongi
Brian Kelly
Bailey Simonsson
Sean Russell
Joash Papalii
Ronald Volkman
Richard Penisini
Jake Tago
Jordan Samrani
Apa Twidle
Araz Nanva

1 - Twidle

2 - ?

3 - Kelly

4 - ?

5 - Addo-Carr

6 - Papalii

7 - Moses

It's even crazier considering Twidle is third choice fullback and Kelly was only picked because Penisini and Samrani are injured.

Positives:

- interested to see how Twidle goes.

- penisini and russell will be back the following week.

- Opinion- having two halfbacks doesnt work. Interested to see how we go with papalii at 6.

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Replies

- LB > EA April 6, 2026 at 9:07pm
  
  This is where we need a loan deal at least just to cover until Samrani is back in Round 9 then we have him at least to play Wing.
  
  There are players in Cup who can do a job for now; James Schiller, Alofiana Khan-Pereira, Mark Asomua, Tyrell Sloan, Junior Pauga, Blake Wilson.
  
  There are options. I feel we also need a quality forward if able to nab one.
- macybrown > EA April 6, 2026 at 9:13pm
  
  Gawd devastating stuff :(
  
  BnG doll been on the end of some massive pin pricks this year :(
- Nightmare Off-Season > EA April 6, 2026 at 9:13pm
  
  There's no silver lining to some of these injuries I know, but, it might force the Eels into negotiating more aggressively for recruits.
  
  Or, we'll use injuries to justify results, masking over the issues most saw in pre season, as we did in 2024.
macybrown April 6, 2026 at 9:06pm

Clear as day, Walker needs to step in at 6 and already that is a huge improvement for our side esp against titans!

Papalii fb

Twiddle wing
Eels95 April 6, 2026 at 9:13pm

There are holes in our roster no doubt and that is something that needs to be addressed but any team with this many injuries is going to struggle to field an nrl team? Even Penrith, the best team in the comp.

You take out Edwards, Jenkins, McLean, Alamoti, Blaize, Yeo and Sorenson. I'm pretty sure even their team is going to look like a reserve grade team. Particularly in the backs. And Tago is also out because he's the equivalent to Sammrani. First choice back up.
Muttman April 6, 2026 at 9:30pm

We have 2 open spots and Matterson. That's 3 players we don't have. We could use 3 NRL quality players right now. Once again the R&R showing their quality. I'm sure they'll have plenty of excuses. We're not interested in winning comps. We're just participating. Yay.
Angry Eel April 6, 2026 at 9:51pm

I wonder what haze dunster is up to
- SuperEel 22 > Angry Eel April 6, 2026 at 9:52pm
  
  Rehabbing a torn Achilles