Last Friday, Junior Paulo etched his name into club history as the tenth most capped Eel of all time. It speaks to his endurance and resilience over 13 seasons.
At nearly 32, many wondered if Junior was a spent force over the last few seasons. Instead, 2025 is his renaissance. He dropped weight in the off-season and is averaging around 60 minutes per game, more than at any point in his career. It’s a reminder why Ryles and the club kept faith in the former captain despite tough calls on senior players like King Gutho, RCG, Maiko Sivo, Joe Ofahengaue, Dylan Brown, Matterson, and Shaun Lane. Ryles was prepared to let them go, even if it hit the cap, in one of the biggest cleanouts seen in some time at the Eels and it left many perplexed.
Paulo’s milestone hasn’t stood alone. Last week, speedster Josh “The Fox” Addo-Carr marked his 200th NRL game and scored his 150th try back in round 21. Four more tries and he enters the top ten all-time scorers. Like Paulo, he slimmed down and has had a career resurgence where no other club was prepared to take a punt on him. It's no accident Sean Russell is having his best season to date inside him. The Fox has shown nous, anticipation, and an on-and-off field voice and leadership.
Two weeks ago, Dylan Walker, soon 31, reached 250 games in his 13th season. One premiership. Two Blues jerseys. Four Kangaroos caps. His signing puzzled some fans, but he’s proving why Shaun Johnson highly rates his footy nous. He has simplified Hopgood’s game by taking over the Link-Man role at lock, freeing Hopgood to shine at prop as he did last week with 80 minutes, 61 tackles, and just one miss.
This week, Wil Penisini, 23, hits 100 NRL appearances.
Importantly, these milestones have come with results. Wins in 4 of the last 6 including gritty wins over heavyweight final contenders: the Warriors, Roosters, and Broncos. After a poor start to the year and struggles, the team chocablock full of rookies and sprinkling of heavy experience is finally learning to grind out victories.
The milestones feel less like individual achievements and more like evidence the Eels might be building something. Something that's been missing for as long as I remember. Even in their standout 2022 season of thirteen years they were vulnerable. Less Jeckyll-Hyde, more Sybil's sixteen multiple personalities. Even Mitchell Moses admitted they were up and down then, and essentially just content and surprised to make the grand final.
The Eels don’t have billionaire sugar daddies or Hollywood stars and players to thrill fans and make them dance with bells and whistles. But they are beginning to show something harder to buy. Resilience. Symbolic of Jason Ryles’ and the squad’s off-season commitment to Kaizen: The relentless pursuit of improvement. For the team. The jersery. The Club. Themselves. As players and people.
It’s early days but it's a trajectory worth believing in and not giving up on. Legacies is something Nick Politis talks about regularly. Something few have managed this century outside the Storm, the Panthers dynasty, and Roosters. But only if the work never stops. Not in victory. Not in loss.
Milestone Tracker, R19-27, 2025
| Junior Paulo | 200th NRL Game for Eels | R19 vs Panthers. Loss 32–10, Commbank |
| 10th Most Capped Eel | R26 vs Warriors. Win 26–22, Commbank | |
| The Fox | 200th NRL Game | R26 vs Warriors. Win 26–22, Commbank |
| 150th Try | R21 vs Broncos. Win 22–20, Suncorp | |
| Fastest Speed of Season | R23 vs Cowboys. Win 19–18, Commbank | |
| Dylan Walker | 250th NRL Game | R25 vs Roosters. Win 30–10 at Commbank Stadium. |
| Will Penisini | 100th NRL Game | R27 vs Knights. Result TBD (final round) |
Replies
Congrats Junior. He is like The Bear reincarnate but not quite. A lot like Ericson was "Sparrow" (not quite the Crow), I am surprised that Junior hasn't got a nickname like "Grizzly" (not quite the big brown Bear)
Great article HOE. Very enjoyable reading. You can feel that something is brewing, a lot like 1975. The rebuild is on. A couple of astutue signings for next year and we are top 4. Semi and Marky Mark would do just fine thank you.
Would love to see a "where are they now" article, going back to our earliest players.
lol Grizzley I like it
When you look at that list, it's a huge achievement for Junior to be in it with our club legends. It's a shame we lost him for a couple of years at Canberra.
He's been huge this year, hoping he has another next year for us. Congrats Junz.
Home Is Where the Heart Is Song by Elvis Presley ‧ 1962 - Jr is in career best form, it only happens in the right environment, expecting a huge win this Sunday. Great way to end the season, but if the Knights cause an upset it is what it is.
What a great read HOE, nice one mate.
Congrats Junior well played sir, what a turnaround that has come from commitment and great work by our coach with junior and all our players in general.
I am looking forward to next year as I have not for a long long time.
Going out on a limb to predict we make the top 4 next year and we challenge for the trophy in October.
I believe we have the players and definitely the coach to do it ( maybe throw in a big forward to dent the line and a classy centre) we will be has dangerous as the best.
As long as Lady Luck looks after us regarding injuries and we can contain the suspension side of things, why not!!
Australia's real GDP grew by 1.8% over the year to the June quarter 2025, with 0.6% growth in the June quarter itself, according to the Australian Bureau of Statistics
What would you know haha some positive news.
Dont comment Ploppa economics is not on your wheelhouse! Lol
(ABS). Growth was driven by household consumption and government spending, though public investment was a drag, while the Reserve Bank of Australia forecasts 3.3% average annual growth for the 2025 calendar year in its August 2025 Monetary Policy Statement.
Does this read like a creepy post?? Lol muttman ?? Haha how would $100 be paying for the Eels to landing in 10th position? You would have Made money.Facts.